Monday's Daily Briefing on Iran

DoctorZin reports, 10.3.2005:

The "Supreme Leader" turning to Rafsanjani for help with Ahmadinejad?

Rooz Online: a pro-reformist website

Sharg newspaper carried this headline: “The Expediency Council is responsible for supervising the implementation of the grand policies of the three branches of government.” This is the product of an interview Sharg reporter Akbar Montakhabi had with Mohsen Rezai from the Expediency Council. The relegation of some of the authority of the Leader to the Expediency Council has been the subject of recent talks as a solution to end the current crises and impasse in the political sphere. This council was created during the life of ayatollah Khomeini to resolve some of the serious political issues facing the country then, and Hashemi Rafsanjani was appointed to head it, a post that he still occupies. According to Rezai, the changes to the charter had been sent to Khamenei who has approved them.

Political observers view the announcement of this measure which comes on the same day that president Ahmadinejad participated in a meeting of the Expediency Council for the first time as an important even that may help reduce the current and growing competition and battles at the highest levels of the Iranian regime. Of the principal contenders in the current political struggle are the revolution’s first and second generation leaders. READ MORE

It appears the Supreme Leader is feeling the need rein in Ahmadinejad. The Europeans will love this. But remember, Rafsanjani's position on the nuclear crisis is no different from that of Ahmandinejad.

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

• Iran Press News reported that $200 billion in capital has left Iran since Ahmadinejad's installation to presidency. It appears people are voting with their pocketbooks.
• Iran Press News reported that Rafsanjani is now meeting with diplomats in what is believed to be an attempt to calm the fears of western diplomats over recent statements by Ahmadinejad's government.
• Iran Press News reported that the Revolutionary Guard spokesman said: The danger of having to submit to the west is more dreadful than the referral of our nuclear dossier to the U.N. Security Council.
• Iran Press News reported that the regime's own analysts are criticizing some of the extreme remarks made by Senior Iranian officials.
• Iran Press News reported that 110 workers of the Bushehr nuclear plant were fired.
• Iran Press News reported that in Iranian Kurdistan, 23 wedding halls were closed down and pad-locked, charged with disobeying religious law. Security forces noticed a lack of respect for Islamic decency such as inappropriate [glittery] women's clothing, men and women dancing and celebrating together.
• Iran Press News reported that a million more people are added to the illiterate population of Iran.
• Iran Press News reported on the disastrous 3-day military maneuvers conducted by the Basij and Revolutionary Guards. They expected 20,000 Basij to take part but on only 1400 showed up and all did not go well among those that did.
• Eli Lake, The NY Sun reported on a leading Iranian dissident, Abbas Fakhravar, is planning his escape from the Islamic Republic after learning this weekend that the country's secret police have an order to shoot Mr. Fakhravar on sight. He is asking for US support for an internal regime change in Iran.
• The Guardian UK reported that the United States urged governments to end nuclear projects with Iran.
• RIA Novosti reported that the Russian Foreign Ministry urged Iran to comply with the additional protocol to the International Atomic Energy Agency.
• Breitbart.com reported Iran's airwaves have been buzzing with two new tunes designed to rally public support for the regime's increasingly tense stand-off with the West over its nuclear ambitions.
• Iran Focus reported that Iran has set up a torture chamber in Baghdad where agents of its notorious Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS) have brutally tortured Iraqi youth.
• Rooz Online reported on recent calls for the release of Abdolfattah Soltani, attorney for Akbar Ganji and the Kazemi family.
• Hamid Ahadi, Rooz Online reported that as a result of Iran's recent economic threats the Europeans are responding. For instance, France is restricting Iranian diplomats to their Embassy.
• Hamid Ahadi, Rooz Online reported that Ahmadinejad threatened Rafsanjani.
• Erik Sass, Foreign Policy published a report of the MEK [and its desire now to become friends of the US] and said: With friends like these...
• And finally, Atlas Shrugs found this great cartoon: Iran Considers the UN's Deal?