A Daily Briefing on Iran: Saturday's Daily Briefing on Iran

DoctorZin reports, 9.17.2005:

Iran Readying for Conflict with U.S.

Amir Taheri, Arab News:

Incredible though it may sound there are signs that Tehran may be preparing for a military confrontation with the United States, and has convinced itself that it could win. ...

the surest sign yet is the military build up under way in the five provinces bordering Iraq. The region, with a population of 20 millions, has been put under the control of the IRGC which has also taken over units of the regular army, including the 88th Division, and the border police. Iran is estimated to have 250,000 troops in the area, its biggest military build-up since the end of the Iran-Iraq war in 1988. ...

In the past few weeks top regime figures, including Khamenehi and Ahmadinejad, have made a series of unscheduled visits to Mash'had, Iran's second largest city. One curious fact revealed during these visits is that a bunker-like structure to house the "supreme guide" is being completed close to the "holy shrine" of Reza, the eighth imam. The complex could also house the top echelon of government, including the president, the Cabinet and members of the Islamic Majlis (Parliament).

The choice of Mash'had is not accidental. The city is located 1,000 km from Tehran and thus as far as possible inside Iran from American fire power in Iraq and the Gulf. The US is also expected to shrink from attacks against the Mash'had bunker for fear of collateral damage to the "holy shrine" of the imam a few hundred yards away. ...

one may guess the outline of Tehran's scenario for what it believes is an inevitable clash with the US: READ MORE

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

Iranian blogger, Mehrangiz Kar, Rooz Online reported that in Iran these days there is talk of replacing detention and flogging as forms of punishment with something more human.
Iranian blogger, Mehdrad Sheibani, Rooz Online reported that President Ahmadinejad surprisingly spoke of the grandeur of Iranians. Yes, these are the words of a president whose normal speeches at home repeat Islam or Islamic in every sentence he pronounces.
SMCCDI (Information Service) reported that Iranian political activists gathered, yesterday afternoon, in front of the building which is hosting the Islamic Republic regime's Representation Office at the UN.
Iranian blogger, Vahid Sabetian, Rooz Online reported that the new hardline government of Iran has tasked the new Minister of Justice to write the bill for defining political crimes in Iran.
Kenneth R. Timmerman, NewsMax reported that former hostage from the U.S. embassy in Tehran, said: out of his 51 interrogations, Ahmadinejad personally had conducted one-third of them.
BBC News reported that the UK government has described as "unhelpful" a speech by the Iranian president in which he asserted Iran's right to produce nuclear energy.
Ynet News reported that Prime Minister Ariel Sharon met with South African President Thabo Mbeki and asked him to advance the referral of Iran’s nuclear program to discussion at the United Nations Security Council.
Roger Kimball, The NY Sun reported on the Hitchens, Galloway clash ina debate on the Iraq War. Plus a video.
CNN reported that Iran's president is absolutely "determined" to pursue a nuclear energy program and will "use every resource" it has to battle the United States and European nations trying to prevent it.
Reuters reported that U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice urged the United Nations on Saturday to stand up to Iran.
The Financial Times reported that Iran is seeking a compromise in its nuclear-fuel stand-off.
The Washington Times reported cracks appeared in the U.S.-European diplomatic drive to curb Iran's nuclear weapons program, when Paris would not object to Mr. Ahmadinejad's suggestion that Iran share its nuclear energy technology with other Islamic countries.
IranMania reported that Iran's President Ahmadinejad met with UN Chief Kofi Annan. a photo.