Week in Review

DoctorZin provides a review of this past week's [8/14-8/20] major news events regarding Iran. (The reports are listed in chronological order, not by importance)

Iran's Nuclear Program.

• TurkishPress.com reported that Iran warned the United States that any use of force over its nuclear program would be a mistake.
• Yahoo News reported that Germany's conservative opposition said Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder's warnings against using military force to make Iran give up its nuclear program risked undermining international solidarity for electoral gain.
• The NY Daily News said that when it comes to chutzpah, Iran's turning into an Olympian champion and there is danger in ignoring Iran's dare.
• 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.
• The Moscow Times reported that the Russian Foreign Ministry on Wednesday warned Western countries not to use force in the standoff with Iran over its nuclear program, insisting purely diplomatic means be pursued.
• Alex Morales, Bloomberg reported that Iran made thousands of centrifuges, breaking its pledge to the EU3.
  
• The New York Times reported that Ms. Rice said of the the recent IAEA statement: We had agreed in advance with the Europeans that we would seek a strong statement. This would be a two-step process.
• The Economist reported that theoretically, the Security Council could take a whole range of measures to against Iran: from selective visa bans for those involved in its nuclear program, through embargoes of various kinds, to tough economic sanctions. The UN is not the only recourse.
• UK Presidency of EU 2005, Presse 208 published the EU's Declaration on Iran's Unilateral Resumption of Nuke Activity.
• Deutsche Welle reported that while Germans are worried about US President Bush's unwillingness to rule out military action against Iran, they said the US and Europe should concentrate on supporting Iran's democracy movement.
  
• Eli Lake, the New York Sun reported on the Free World's guess about Iran's future.
  
• Radio Free Europe published a brief series of interviews with experts on Iran's pursuit of the nuclear-fuel cycle and its lack of political transparency.
• Voice of America News reports that while the world community has been focused on Iran's nuclear ambitions, Tehran has also been developing and deploying ballistic missiles that some believe could further destabilize the region and prompt an arms race.
• Daily Times reported that the UN nuclear agency has concluded that highly enriched uranium particles found in Iran were from imported equipment and not from work in making what can be the raw material for atom bombs.
• Khaleej Times said the poker game of European diplomacy with Iran has almost run its course. While no side can claim victory yet.
• The Daily Times reported that the IAEA will meet with Pakistani officials next week as part of its efforts to determine if Iran was using smuggled Pakistani equipment.
  

Akbar Ganji's hunger strike: Has he ended his hunger strike?

• The NY Daily News reported that Iranian dissident Akbar Ganji now has the unanimous support of dozens of political leaders among Iran's domestic political spectrum.
• 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.
• IranMania.com reported that Iranian dissident journalist Akbar Ganji has "officially" ended his hunger strike.
• VOA News reported U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan demanded the release of Iranian dissident journalist, Akbar Ganji.
• Dr. Jerome Corsi, World Net Daily laments: Iranian dissident Akbar Ganji continues hunger strike ... Is anyone watching?
• Roya Hakakian, The Washington Post said the nuclear debate in Iran is eclipsing the most important current headline about Iran. That headline is simply the name of a man: Akbar Ganji.
• Reporters Without Borders today hailed a report received from a reliable local source of an improvement in the health of imprisoned journalist Akbar Ganji.
  

The unrest against the regime spreads in Iran.

• SMCCDI: The Islamic republic regime is preparing itself for its last stand against the Iranian People and the world community.
• SMCCDI reported that hundreds of workers and civil servants protested, today, in the strategic City of Abadan.
• SMCCDI reported fresh clashes rocked, yesterday afternoon, several areas of the northwestern City of Mahabad.
  

Increasing violence inside of Iran.

• News24 reported that about 300 Islamist students bombarded the British embassy in Tehran with stones and tomatoes on Sunday in protest at Britain's role in opposing Iran's nuclear activities. SMCCDI responded.
• SMCCDI (Information Service):A brutal militiaman was able to escape from an ambush in the City of Varamin.
• AFP reported that a group of some 30 Islamist protesters Tuesday burnt the French flag outside France's embassy in Tehran.
  

Ahmadinejad becomes President.

• WorldNetDaily reported that the new minister of defense of Iran has direct ties to the suicide bombing in Beirut that killed 241 Marines in 1983.
• The Times UK reported that Iran's ultra-conservative President has announced a hardline Cabinet, signaling a tougher line in negotiations with the West and sounding the death knell for the reform movement in Iran.
• Washington Post reported on the coming confrontation between John Bolton and Ahmadinejad, next month at the opening of the United Nations.
• Rooz Online reported that Ahmadinejad is reportedly the first and only president who chose his cabinet without consulting even the leader of the republic.
• Robert Tait, The Guardian reported that Iran's new leader is already showing ominous signs of realising the worst fears of his liberal-minded opponents.
• Shahram Kholdi, ScanIranic translated Iranian hardline bios of Ahmadinehad's cabinet. Part two is here. He argues it is a wartime cabinet.
• Yahoo News reported Sen. Chuck Hagel called for the United States to open talks with Iran's new president.
• The Australian former US deputy secretary of state Richard Armitage called for a formal US dialogue with Iran.
  

Iran's Troublemaking.

• Agence France-Presse reported that US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said: US forces have found Iranian weapons inside Iraq on more than one occasion over the past couple of months.
• MEMRI reported on the Seekers of Martyrdom Command: Another State-Inspired Organization of Suicide Attackers in Iran (Official Website Based in U.S. and Germany). Video.
  

U.S. Policy on Iran.

• Yahoo News reported that Sen. John McCain said: The president must keep open a military option in dealing with Iran and its nuclear program.
  

The Iranian Military.

• IRIB Newsreported that a Chinese military delegation is expected to arrive in Tehran on Monday.
• Iranian.ws reported that Iran received a military delegation from China in which Brigadier General Nasser Mohammadi-Far, the commander of the Iranian army's ground forces said, Our mutual enemies possess advanced military technology, and undoubtedly they would rely on this technology in any possible future wars. Therefore, it seems necessary that both Iran and China upgrade their defense and military technology.

The Iranian Economy.

• Deutsch Welle asked if the recent crisis with Iran is the end of German business in Iran.
  

Human Rights/Freedom of the press inside of Iran.

• Rooz Online suggested one of the dangers for human rights is to politicize the defense of human rights issues.
• Iranian.ws reported that the government of Iran has banned the use of Blogrolling.com and has ordered all Iranian ISPs to block and filter the blog rolling service.
• Iran Focus reported on a recent scientific study that found 71 percent of teenagers in Iran suffer from depression.
• Bamahang Productions reported that for the first time, underground music from Iran became available for Digital Download over the internet.
• IranMania.com reported that the Guardians Council has approved the Majlis bill on resumption of the press jury's activities.
• Iran Focus reported that Iran’s police forces have been instructed to use all means, including helicopters, to locate and confiscate privately-owned satellite dishes.
• Iran Focus reported Iran’s new Minister of Justice vowed that “improperly-veiled women” will be treated as if they had no Islamic veil at all.
  

Pro-Democracy Efforts for Iran outside of Iran.

• The San Francisco Chronicle reported that hundreds of demonstrators called for the release of student leaders held since 1999 by the Iranian government during a rally Sunday at the Federal Building in West Los Angeles.
• Gooya News reported that there would be a vigil in support of Iranian political prisoners, especially Akbar Ganji, in Paris on Friday.
  

Iran and the International community.

• 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.

Iranian Propaganda.

• 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."
• Persian Journal reported that Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Hamid Reza Asefi said the withdrawal was a victory for legitimate Palestinian resistance.
• The Wall Street Journal reported that officials in Iran have threatened that they might stop the flow of tankers through the crucial Strait of Hormuz.
• Xinhuanet reported that Iran strongly denied a media report that its top nuclear official had threatened to block Hormuz Strait if its nuclear standoff could not be settled.
• Khaleej Times Online reported that Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei accused the US of being behind the terrorist bombings in Iraq.
• The Vermont Guardian reported Iranian newspapers argue that an embargo on oil sales to the United States and European countries as the most potent economic weapon for settling scores.
• The Guardian UK reported Ayatollah Ali Khamenei claimed that Western allegations his country is secretly trying to make weapons are a propaganda trick to deceive their own public opinion.
  

Must Read reports.

• Michael ware, Time Magazine published the results of their investigation which reveals the Tehran regime's strategy to gain influence in Iraq--and why U.S. troops may now face greater dangers as a result.
• Ardeshir Mehrdad and Mehdi Kia, Znet published an analysis: Regime Crisis and Political Perspectives in Iran.
• Hamid Namvar, Global Politican discussed the need to stop the Iranian President from coming to America.
• The Christian Science Monitor reported on the military strike option against Iran.
• Uriah Kriegel, Tech Central Station reported that genuine revolutions are the result of widespread dissatisfaction so strongly suppressed that it eventually erupts.
• The New York Sun reported that if President Bush permits Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to come to America to address the United Nations it will dishearten the freedom fighters in Iran.
• Arnaud de Borchgrave, The Washington Times reported that if the U.S. and/or Israel decide to launch air strikes against Iran's nuclear facilities some 46 Iranian infantry and missile brigades are poised near the common border to move into Iraq.
• KRSI published English translations of their famous Iranian interrogation videos.
  

The Experts.

• Dr. Jerome Corsi, WorldNetDaily.com reported that his predictions in 'Atomic Iran' are coming true now!
• The Heritage Foundation published an Executive Memorandum: Dealing with Iran's Resurgent Hardliners.
• Victor Davis Hanson, Chicago Tribune ponders: Is it best to let others handle terrorists and rogue states through diplomacy and conciliation, or is American proactive intervention to prompt democracy in the place of tyranny the wiser course of action?
• Michael Ledeen, The National Review reminds us that Iran is waging war on us, we are well aware of it, and we are not responding.
• Amir Taheri, Arab News reported on Iran’s Agenda for the World.
  

Photos and cartoons of the week.

• Rooz Online published another cartoon of Ahmadinejad.
  

And finally, The Quote of the Week.

The chief nuclear affairs negotiator, Hossein Musavian in an interview broadcast on Iranian television August 4th:

"Thanks to the negotiations with Europe," he bragged, "we gained another year, in which we completed...Isfahan."