Thursday's Daily Briefing on Iran

DoctorZin reports, 11.24.2005:

China Closer to Supporting U.S. on Iran

ABC News:

Washington and its European allies, in a diplomatic coup, are gradually enlisting Chinese support on how to deal with Iran and its suspicious nuclear activities, diplomats and officials said Wednesday.

Beijing's backing before a key meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency on Thursday adds additional clout to an ambitious international Iran strategy that has recently seen Russia join the Americans and Europeans in pressuring Iran to give up technology that could make nuclear arms. ...

A European official told The Associated Press that "the Chinese are very, very constructive and on board with the (U.S.)-European position" engaging Iran on giving up uranium enrichment, while indirectly keeping the possibility of Security Council action alive. READ MORE

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

• Ilan Berman, The National Review argues that in dealing with Iran both the U.S. and Europe have substituted diplomatic negotiations for a serious strategy.
• Reporters Without Borders today condemned a wave of summonses being issued to journalists to appear at the intelligence ministry'’s offices where these journalists are being intimidated into not to criticizing the new government.
• Parinoosh Arami, Reuters reporting that Iran expects new EU nuclear talks after the IAEA meeting, Thursday.
• TurkishPress.com reported that Iran's parliament rejected President Ahmadinejad's third nominee for oil minister.
• Amy Kellogg, FOX News released part two of her reports from inside Iran: The Younger Generation. Video also available.
• Michael Ledeen, The National Review argued that our problems in Iraq have their origins in our complete denial see the war in Iraq as just part of a larger regional war which includes Iran and Syria.
• Iran Mania reported that Brigadier General Mohammad Baqer Zolqadr, an IRGC commander, has been appointed the new deputy interior minister for security affairs.
• Adnkronos International reported that important newspapers in Tehran have been "advised" to reject any advertisements for products made in South Korea, in response to South Korea's support for referral of Iran to the UN Security Council.
• Timothy Garton Ash, The Guardian UK provides insight into Iranian popular thought on the current international crisis with Iran adding that the Iranian people want western nations to stick together and gave a consistent policy on Iran. A must read.
• And finally, Adnkronos International reported that Iran's religious minorities have slammed recent controversial remarks by a top aide to the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, describing non-Muslims as "sinful animals who roam the earth and engage in corruption."