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

DoctorZin reports, 10.13.2005:

UK 'sells' nuclear bomb material to Iran

British officials have approved the export of key components needed to make nuclear weapons to Iran and other countries known to be developing such weapons.

An investigation by BBC Radio 4 program File on Four will disclose that the Department of Trade and Industry allowed a quantity of the metal, Beryllium, to be sold to Iran last year.

That metal is needed to make nuclear bombs.

Britain has had an arms embargo to Iran since 1993 and has signed up to an international protocol which bans the sale of Beryllium to named countries, including Iran. ...

Beryllium is a metal with a limited number of high-tech uses in civilian industry, but is mostly used in defense applications and is a vital component in a nuclear bomb.

The program has also interviewed a leading nuclear weapons expert in the UK who says that the Beryllium and other items which the DTI has licensed to Iran add up to a shopping list for a nuclear weapons programme. READ MORE

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

Iran Press News reported that the three Kurdish journalists, who were arrested and charged with being party to the incitement of the July/August protests in Kurdistan, have been found guilty of "Combat against God."
Iran Press News reported that Bina Darab-Zand, member of the Central Committee of the Democratic Front of Iran who had been ordered to appear in court for a hearing, refused to attend.
Iran Press Service reported that Iran wants to restart the nuclear negotiations without preconditions, except their precondition of having the right to develop the full nuclear cycle.
Iran Focus reported that at least 1,300 Iranians remain in Iraqi prisons of which 98 percent are undercover military or intelligence agents to Iraq under the cover of pilgrims.
SMCCDI reported that an Islamist judge was wounded by an individual who had planned to burn his victim and himself in sign of protest against the Islamic regime's judiciary system.
Jahangir Amuzegar, Middle East Policy Council produced an appraisal of Iran's Third Development Plan. For instance, the report criticizes Iran's centralized planning of the economy.
Reuters reported that U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will lobby Russia to pressure Iran over its suspected nuclear arms program.
Reuters reported that two Pentagon consultants said: Can the United States live with a nuclear-armed Iran? Despite its rhetoric, it may have no choice.
Reuters reported that UK Defense Secretary John Reid stepped up accusations on Thursday that Iranians were behind a series of roadside bomb attacks on British troops in southern Iraq.
Nazila Fathi, The New York Times thinks there was a shift in Iran when it said they would agree to resume nuclear talks.
Martin Sieff, United Press International reported that suddenly, Iran's growing influence in Iraq is top of the national security agenda again in Britain and America. The question is, what to do about it?
Gulf Times reported that the European Union severely criticized Iran’s human rights record yesterday, saying its performance on the death penalty, freedom of expression and religious liberty had deteriorated.
Rooz Online reported on that Ganji was still not being permitted visitors, is apparently in solitary confinement and the spokesman for Iran's Judiciary admitted: We have tried to put Mr. Ganji off the spotlight...
Scott Peterson, The Christian Science Monitor reported that Iran's new president, more than 100 days into his term, faces persistent discontent at home.
Shahram Rafizadeh, Rooz Online reported on the current offensive against Human Rights Groups in Iran.
Shirin Ebadi, Rooz Online said that based on Iran’s constitution, all court hearings are to be public, except in very rare legal situations. ... but this a measure that has not been observed in many of the judicial cases.
AME Info reported that Iran has shut down production from two oil fields because of difficulties selling the heavy oil the sites produce.
And finally, Cox & Forkum published another cartoon: Outside Influence.