Tuesday's Daily Briefing on Iran

DoctorZin reports, 8.16.2005:

Iranian President Coming to America

Hamid Namvar, Global Politican:

According to media reports the United States is considering an entry visa to Iran's new president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to attend a UN meeting in New York City in mid-September. This would send a very wrong signal at a very crucial juncture to the increasingly belligerent Iran. Administration must firmly deny Ahmadinejad entry to the United States. And by all indications, the American public opinion would certainly welcome such a move. READ MORE

Many groups are organizing demonstrations in NY city if Ahmadinejad actually comes. But if the US grants him a visa, Iranians inside the country will almost certainly be bombarded with regime propaganda arguing that the US be giving him a visa is in fact supporting him.

Here are a few other news items you may have missed.

• AFP reported that a group of some 30 Islamist protesters Tuesday burnt the French flag outside France's embassy in Tehran.
• YnetNews reported that the Israeli Intelligence Chief said Iran’s nuclear capabilities are at a much more advanced stages than the United States estimates.
• Middle East Online reported that Iran's new nuclear policy chief, the hardliner Ali Larijani, said Tehran will press on with ultra-sensitive fuel cycle work while continuing talks.
• Daily Times reported US Ambassador to Iraq, Khalilzad, warned Iran's arms are destroying democracy in Iraq.
• The Washington Times reported that two members of an Iranian dissident group living under American protection in Iraq have been kidnapped, and may be turned over to Tehran for execution.
• Ireland Online reported that Iran claimed it had arrested anti-government separatists with links to British intelligence services, accusing them of involvement in violent protests and a recent spate of deadly bombings.
• Islamic Republic News Agency said the best way to confront the US and EU3 dictatorship is to "impose an embargo on oil sales to those countries."
• Deutsch Welle asked if the recent crisis with Iran is the end of German business in Iran.
• Rooz Online reported that doctors at Milad hospital warned that Ganji remains only a step away from his death while on the 67th day of his hunger strike.
• Khaleej Times Online reported that the wife of leading Iranian dissident Akbar Ganji accused the hardline judiciary on Tuesday of spurring her husband on to his death.
• Rooz Online reported that following the assassination attempt on the life of the deputy of Tehran Province’s Judiciary, the writings of the conservative media in Iran have one common thread: accusing the supporters of imprisoned journalist Akbar Ganji in the assassination.
• Eli Lake, The NY Sun reported that the Iranian prosecutor responsible for jailing Akbar Ganji hinted that he would pursue prosecution of family members of the dissident journalist.
• And finally, Rooz Online published another cartoon of Ahmadinejad.