Monday's Daily Briefing on Iran

DoctorZin reports, 12.5.2005:

El Baradei: Iran only months away from a bomb

The Jerusalem Post:

IAEA chairman Muhammad ElBaradei on Monday confirmed Israel's assessment that Iran is only a few months away from creating an atomic bomb.

"If Teheran indeed resumes its uranium enrichment in other plants, as threatened, it will take it only several months to produce a bomb," ElBaradei told The Independent, according to Army Radio.

"On the other hand," he warned, "any attempt to resolve the crisis by non-diplomatic means will open a Pandora's box."

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

• The Jerusalem Post reported that the US is preparing for the possibility that it will have to deal with Iran's nuclear program without the assistance of the UN Security Council.
• Reuters reported that Iran's patience is wearing thin.
• Reuters reported that in its drive to build an international consensus against Iran developing nuclear weapons, the Bush administration has failed to develop an effective strategy.
• The Jerusalem Post reported that Iran would begin construction on two nuclear reactors beginning in March.
• The New York Times reported that young Iranians are following their dreams in Dubai.
• Parisa Hafezi, Reuters reported that acting Iranian Oil Minister Kazem Vaziri-Hamaneh was nominated for the position by Ahmadinejad.
• Reuters reported that Iran said on it had no interest in talking to the United States concerning events in Iraq or about its nuclear program.
• News24 reported that Iran is claiming it has extradited all foreign members of the al-Qaeda network.
• Rooz Online reported on the failure of Ahmadinejad's plans for the creation of the Imam “Reza Charity” fund aimed at promoting and providing financial assistance to help youth intending to get married and find housing.
• Rooz Online interviewed Mohammad Basteh-Negar a member of what is knows as the national-religious movement which focuses on the oppression instead of the oppressor.
• And finally, Rooz Online reported on AIDS in Iran saying that the country is on the verge of an AIDS epidemic.