Tuesday's Daily Briefing on Iran

DoctorZin reports, 12.20.2005:

New Limits on Travel Abroad

Adnkronos International:

Iran's president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has issued a circular warning all ministers and state bodies that "no official may go abroad, on a mission or for personal reasons, without prior authorisation and without coordinating with the foreign ministry". In the circular, signed by the deputy president Parwiz Davoodi, no reason is given for the decision. "The aim is to avoid misunderstandings," a presidential source told the Iranian news agency Fars. READ MORE

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

• Mehran Riazaty reported that the two close Shiite friends of Iran in the Iraqi election, Hakim and Ahmad Chalabi are together so far had won 122 seats.
• SMCCDI reported that a draftee soldier killed three militiamen in the Varche Military post. Many army members and residents still consider him as a hero for having revolted against injustice.
• Mehran Riazaty reported on Iran’s Qods operation in Turkey.
• SMCCDI reported that a former Militia officer was gunned down in the western City of Sannandaj. Local rumors are stating about the involvement of the regime's intelligence circles as Tchapari was known for openly criticizing many aspects of the daily life and his regret to have taken part in "the creation of a monster".
• Kenneth R. Timmerman, The National Review reported that Iran’s Christians have a high price to pay.
• The Washington Post published the full text of President Bush's news conference where he said of Iran: "There are Consequences for Not Behaving."
• Reuters reported that an Iranian of the Bahai faith has died in his jail cell of unknown causes, 10 years after being imprisoned by Tehran for abandoning Islam.
• Radio Free Europe reported Ahmadinejad's anti-Israel statements reflect the official line. A must read.
• FOX News reported that hard-line President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has banned Western music from Iran's radio and TV stations.
• Islamic Republic News Agency reported that Iran condemns the recent EU positions on Iran as 'unacceptable.'
• Bill Steigerwald, The Jersey Journal published an interview with Ilan Berman, Author of "Tehran Rising."
• Michael Ledeen, National Review Online published the truth about Tenet's installation of Ahmadinejad as Iran's new president. A clever conspiracy theory.
• Dieter Bednarz, Erich Follath and Georg Mascolo, Spiegel Online reported on Ahmadinejad's challenge to the world.
• René Wadlow and David G. Littman, FrontPageMagazine published a reminder of the UN's Convention on Preventing Genocide and the UN's failure to act on it.
• Reuters reported that Iran denied reports that a firefight last week in the country's lawless southeastern borderlands was an assassination attempt on President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
• The Jerusalem Post criticized the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to ElBaradei.
• And finally, Sobh.org, an Ansar Hezballah web site published more propaganda against the state of Israel.