Saturday, September 10, 2005

Saturday's Daily Briefing on Iran

DoctorZin reports, 9.10.2005:

US Turns Iran Screw, Wants India to Join

The Indian Express:
Asserting that seeking UN sanctions against Iran was a “reasonable option,” US Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice today asked India, China and Russia to send a unified message to Tehran that it has to adhere to its international obligations on the nuclear issue.

‘‘Now we need leadership on this. The EU-3 (UK, France and Germany) led on this issue. The United States supported the EU-3 on this issue. But Iran needs to get a message from the international community that it is a unified message, and by this I mean not just the EU and the United States but also Russia, China and India,’’ Rice told reporters here ahead of her trip to the UN General Assembly in New York.

Rice’s remarks come amid reports that the EU is ready to call for Iran to be brought before the UN Security Council as a “clear signal of concernover Tehran’s nuclear activities, according to a confidential document obtained by AFP today. ...

The EU trio ‘‘believe that the issue should be resolved diplomatically but are convinced that this will only be possible by the broader international community sending Tehran a clear signal of concern and appealing to it to return to the negotiating table,” said the “speaking notes” document given to IAEA diplomats this week, according to a diplomat who did not want to be named.

This is highly official. This is the line being presented all over the globe,” a senior EU diplomat said.

The notes said that “by resuming suspended fuel cycle activity, iran is challenging the authority of the IAEA and raising further doubts about her programmes." READ MORE
Here are a few other news items you may have missed.
  • Amir Taheri, The NY Post reported on the "Quiet War" in Iraq and a disturbing recent agreement between Iran and Iraq.
  • The Telegraph UK reported that Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has sought a meeting with George W. Bush on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York next week.
  • The New Zealand Herald reported a company is under scrutiny as part of a global investigation into the black market trade of United States military parts to Iran.
  • Xinhuanet reported that Moscow rejected on Saturday appeals from the United States and other Western countries to support an initiative to submit Iran's nuclear problem to the UN Security Council.
  • The Economist asked: Why is the pressure suddenly seeming to leak out of the diplomacy to persuade Iran to end its nuclear dabbling—just when the regime is flaunting its defiance?
  • The New York Times reported the Bush administration has opened an unusual diplomatic struggle with Russia, China and India to have Iran's suspected nuclear weapons activities brought before the United Nations Security Council.
  • Iran Press News reported that the Democratic Front of Iranian Kurds called for New York demonstrations against Ahmadinejad's presence at the U.N.
  • Iran Press News reported a representative of the Islamic Parliament said: one cannot trust the Russians, Chinese, Germans, French and British.
  • Iran Press News reported that drivers of the Tehran Bus Drivers Association turned on the headlights of their vehicles in protest to non-receipt of their wages and benefits. The regime reacted harshly and arrested several drivers.
  • Iran Press News reported that Hassan Rowhani, the regime's ex-nuclear negotiator said: The conditions being set by Europeans for the continuation of discussions are unacceptable.
  • And finally, Iran Press News reported that the director of the regime's emergency management office confessed that under the rule of the Mullahs, Iran has become the sixth most disaster-ridden country in the world.