A Daily Briefing on Iran: Week in Review

DoctorZin provides a review of this past week's [11/27-12/03] major news events regarding Iran. (The reports are listed in chronological order, not by importance)

Ahmadinejad.

The Guardian UK reported on how Ahmadinejad's radicalism is now hurting even his allies.
Reuters reported that Iranian President Ahmadinejad is in no hurry to nominate a fourth candidate for oil minister.
Iran Focus reported that the former Supreme Commander of Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guards, Mohsen Rezai, has recently switched his allegiance from Rafsanjani to the new hard-line Iran president.
DefenceNews.com reported that the deputy chief of Iran’s hardline Revolutionary Guards has been appointed as deputy interior minister for security and police.
Meysam Tavab, Rooz Online reported that President Ahmadinejad has ordered a review of all the appointments in government agencies that took place during the last 8 years. The president’s directive calls for more rigorous ideological screening of applicants to government positions.
Meysam Tavab, Rooz Online reported that one of the first acts of Farhad Rahbar, responsible for drawing up plans and budgets for the country was to categorize a large number of documents formerly available to the public as ‘Confidential.”
Iran Focus reported that the Supreme Commander of Iran’s elite Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) reaffirmed his force’s “solid support” for President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
Newsweek reported that Ahmadinejad has lost the full faith of Iran's Supreme Leader.
Khaleej Times Online reported that Ahmadinejad has shunned a VIP jet plane bought by his predecessor.
IranMania reported that Ahmadinejad is expected early next week to make another attempt at confirming a candidate for oil minister. Four name have been cited as likely candidates.

Ahmadinejad's Worldview.

The Financial Times reported that a leading website in Iran has published a transcript and video recording of President Mahmoud Ahmadi-Nejad claiming to have felt “a light” while addressing world leaders at the United Nations in New York.
Compass Direct reported that Ahmadinejad recently vowed: “I will stop Christianity in this country.”
Golnaz Esfandiari, Radio Free Europe reported that the Iranian media have been reporting that in an official meeting Ahmadinejad said that the Hidden Imam will appear in two years.
Lindsey Hilsum, Channel 4 reported that Ahamdinejad is talking of reorienting the country's policies to be ready for judgement day, the equivalent of Tony Blair telling Britons to prepare for Christ's second coming.

Iran's Nuclear Program.

Reuters reported that Britain, France and Germany agreed on Sunday to hold talks to see whether there were grounds for resuming formal negotiations.
Spiegel provides more details on attempts by Tehran to lend Pyongyang a helping hand against western pressure for North Korea to end its nuclear weapons program.
The Wall Street Journal asked how can we trust the Russians to resolve the Iranian crisis over its nuclear program given its own history.
Hemscott reported that French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin said an agreement with Iran on its nuclear plans is possible if the country accepts European proposals.
The Wshington Times in an editorial reported that Iranian officials have been gloating over what appears to be the latest retreat by the European Union 3 to seek further talks with the Iranians.
Expatica reported that Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel warned Iran not to back away from cooperation with the U.N. nuclear supervisory body, the International Atomic Energy Agency.
Dow Jones Newswires reported that Ahmadinejad reiterated Wednesday that Iran would never give up its nuclear program, adding: Our enemies have to know that the Iranian people will develop their nuclear technology to the limit.
Reuters reported that Germany, France and Britain will resume nuclear talks with Iran only if Tehran signals it truly wants to dispel international fears about its atomic program.
Arutz Sheva, IsraelNN.com reported that Gen. Ze’evi Farkash, the head of Israeli intelligence said: The Iranian nuclear arms race has reached a point of no return.
The Jerusalem Post asked whether Israel can continue to sit silently on the sidelines, pretending that the international community is successfully blocking the Iranian bomb.
Spacewar reported that British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said Tuesday it was an "incontrovertible" fact that Iran was developing long-range missiles.
Rooz Online published reported that the Iranian press has been instructed not to publish news about the country nuclear dossier. They did so anyway.
Iran Press News reported that Alireza Akbari, Director of the Establishment of Advancement of Resolution, said of Russia's nuclear proposal: Russia’s proposal is beneficial neither in the short term nor the long term.
Ha'aretz reported that for the EU, the ball is now in Iran's court.
The Jerusalem Post reported that Israeli Military Intelligence Chief Aharon Ze'evi Farkash said: it is clear that Iran has passed the point of no return ... unless Iran encounters a major interference, it will have a functioning nuclear arsenal within one or two years.
Richard Bernstein, The New York Times argued that Mao's 'Fight Talk' strategy is a winning one for Iran.
DEBKAfile reported on the abrupt firing of Alexander Rumyantsev as head of the Russian Agency for Atomic Energy, trusted by the US and Israeli governments.
CBS 2 Chicago reported that Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said that he is confident all diplomatic efforts will be exhausted before any military action might be taken against the Iranian nuclear program.
Reuters reported that Russia plans to sell more than $1 billion worth of tactical surface-to-air missiles and other defence hardware to Iran.
PakTribune reported that El Baradei said a meeting with A Q Khan is vital to solve Iran nuclear puzzle.
Stratfor weighed in on an apparent shift in Israel's Iran policy.
Dow Jones Newswires reported that German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier traveled to Moscow Saturday for talks with Russian officials, including President Vladimir Putin on topics including Iran's disputed nuclear program.
Caroline Glick, The Jerusalem Post reported the cost of the international communities incompetence on the Iran issue. She cited this blog.
Ron Kampeas, JTA News reported that with time short on Iran nukes, AIPAC criticized the Bush approach.
The Associated Press reported that Iran's hard-line constitutional watchdog approved a bill Saturday blocking international inspections of atomic facilities if the nation is referred to the U.N. Security Council for possible sanctions.
Bangkok Post reported that Iran said it sees no need to give any explanations over its $1-billion-dollar missile deal with Russia.
The New York Times reported that the US and EU3 a seeking the declaration on Iran from the five major nuclear weapons powers.

Iranian Dissidents.

Iran Press News reported that the regime’s high tribunal affirmed the sentences of 3 activists.
Iran Press News published a photo of a political prisoner chained to his hospital bed.
Bill Samii and Fatemeh Aman, Radio Free Europe reported on how Iran is breaking the will of political prisoners.
Gooya news reported that the wife of Akbar Ganji said: I think something might have happened that they have cancelled our visiting with Ganji !
The Foreign Press Association reported that Akbar Ganji was a recipient of the "Dialogue of Cultures" Award.
Rooz Online reported on yet another unlawful imprisonment.

The Unrest Inside of Iran.

Iran Press News reported that disabled war veterans protested in front of Ahmadinejad’s office.
Iran Press News reported that Tehran University students protested and threw out the new Mullah president of the university installed by Ahmadinejad. Photos.
Iran Press News published a statement regarding the installment of a Mullah to presidency of Tehran University.
Rooz Online reported that the cleric Zahedi, recently appointed as Chancellor of Tehran University, quickly resigned after massive student demonstrations.
Iran Press News reported on the regime’s laughable description of Tehran University demonstrations.
Iran Focus reported that there were more than 420 recorded political protests in Iran over the past month.
Iran Press News reported that protesting workers blocked the Rasht-Bandar’eh Anzali main road.

Human Rights/Freedom of the press inside of Iran.

Iran Press News reported on the worsening conditions for women including: a cash penalty for improper veiling.
Lillian Swift, The Telegraph UK reported on Iran's War on Weblogs citing this blog is blocked by the Iranian regime.
Agence France Presse reported that an Iranian convicted of armed robbery has had his left foot amputated in a prison.
Iran Press News reported on the prosecution of four publishers and editors-in-chief.
Iran Press News reported that the deputy of Iran's family court said: Women are subjugated to legal violence.

Iran's troublemaking.

The Telegraph UK reported that Iran is secretly training Chechen rebels in sophisticated terror techniques to enable them to carry out more effective attacks against Russian forces.

The Economy.

Iran Press News reported that Iran has imported 3 times its export of Gas.
MehrNews reported that the Chairman of the Majlis Energy Commission said that preparatory measures have been taken to sell oil in euros instead of dollar, adding: the United States would soon realize that it is not the one who can always inflict economic damages.

Iran's Military.

DEBKAfile reported that Iranian Military instructors have slipped into Lebanon with a new anti tank missile.
CNN.com reported that Iran's space agency is trying to snap up technology from abroad as fast as possible.
Iran Focus reported that the Commandant of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) declared that Iran was exporting its Islamic revolution which would inevitably bring about the downfall of the United States in the Middle East.
Eli Lake, New York Sun reported that Iranian Major General Yahya Rahim Safavi told reporters that his side is winning in Iraq.
Iran Focus reported that Iran’s Supreme Leader has ordered a major reshuffle of the top brass of the armed forces in anticipation of a very tough year ahead.

Iran and the International community.

Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting reported that Khatami Arrived in Spain to attend UN meeting on Civilizations.
Iran Focus reported that Rafsanjani said the United States was faced with the problem of Islamic ideology in Iraq.
Arab Times reported on a conference on Nato and the Greater Middle East wrapped up deliberations here on Sunday.
Iran Focus reported that with the parliamentary elections in Iraq less than three weeks away, several Shiite groups have started to claim that the revered twelfth Imam in Shiite Islam has guided Iraqis to vote for their candidate.
Iran Press News reported on the regime's anxiety over the proximity of the Persian Gulf countries with NATO.
MSNBC reported that Israel carried out a successful test of its missile-interceptor system, an Arrow II missile downed an incoming rocket designed to simulate an Iranian Shahab-3.
Amy K. Rosenthal, The Weekly Standard argued that Italy is getting tough on Iran.
IranMania reported that Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is expected to visit Saudi Arabia early December.
Press Trust of India reported that the United States has taken a low profile position on the reported sale of Russian missiles to Iran.

Can You Believe This?

Adnkronos International reported that an Iranian parliamentarian, a member of Iran's Zoroastrian religious minority has been summoned to appear before the country's Revolutionary Tribunal for protesting remarks that Non-Muslims "cannot be called human beings but are animals" made by a close aide to Iran's Supreme Leader.
The New York Times reviewed Richard A. Clarke's new novel, "The Scorpion's Gate" which portrays a fictional attempt to wage war on Iran by the US.
Iran Focus reported that senior Iranian Ayatollah Jannati recently said that Iran owed its “victory” in the international stand-off over its suspected nuclear weapons program to its para-military Bassij.
Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting reported that an Iranian morning daily urged Muslim states to set up an Iran-style Basij (volunteer) force.

Inside Iran.

Nazila Fathi, The New York Times reported on the rush to excavate ancient Iranian Sites before they are flooded by a new dam.
CNN News reported that at least five people were killed and five villages largely destroyed when a strong earthquake struck southern Iran.

Iranian Bloggers.

Shahram Kholdi, ScanIranic argued that Roya Hakakian, the Iranian-American writer and documentary film-maker, who just published in the Washington Post a novel approach to the culture of hate-mongering by the Islamic regime of Iran's propaganda machine.
ET, View from Iran provides a peek into a conversation in a Tehran Taxi.

US Policy on Iran.

Agence France-Presse reported that the US State Department has sought to play down plans for the highest-level contact with Iran in decades.
Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting argued that the new Iran-US talks on Iraq in Iran's national interest.
The Financial Times reported Iran’s new president, Mahmoud Ahmadi-Nejad, is an irresponsible radical who is digging a hole for himself, according to Nicholas Burns, the State Department’s number three official.
United Press International reported that U.S. Under Secretary for Political Affairs Nicholas Burns explained the U.S. policy toward Iran.

US/Iran Talks on Iraq?

U.S. Department of State published excerpts of Condoleezza Rice statements on the new direct US/Iran talks scheduled on Iran and her thoughts on sanctions in Iran.
Statfor provided their interpretation of the Khalilzad initiative with the Iranians.
Farhad Mahdavi, Rooz Online reported on the announcement of Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Hamid-Reza Asefi that talks with the US are on Iran’s agenda.

US/Iran Talks on Iraq?

Times of Oman reported that President George W. Bush has asked US Ambassador to Iraq Zalmay Khalilzad to reach out to Iran for assistance in subduing the unrest in Iraq.
The Financial Times reported that Nicholas Burns, the State Department’s number three official appears to see the new battle-lines being drawn in Iran as between the people and government, rather than rather than the regime and the reformists.
Aljazeera reported that Nicholas Burns said: It might be time to consider a different approach towards the new, more radical, more intolerant Iranian regime.
Philip Sherwell, The Telegraph UK reported that in response to President George W Bush authorization for his ambassador in Baghdad to talk to Iranian officials, Michael Ledeen said: The Islamic republic will never do anything to help us, our soldiers, or our allies. The Iranians ... see themselves as our gravediggers.

Must Read reports.

Tulin Daloglu, The Washington Times provided some suggestions to ensure success while dealing with Iran.
Iran va Jahan published "A Word with the Nation, A Warning to the Regime." A statement dated November 2005 signed by 674 personalities including former Members of the Iranian Majles (parliament); well know academics, political and cultural personalities as well as student activists.
Gerald M. Steinberg, Jerusalem Issue Brief examined: Can Diplomacy Still Prevent Iran from Going Nuclear?
MehrNews reported that the Chairman of the Majlis Energy Commission said that preparatory measures have been taken to sell oil in euros instead of dollar, adding: the United States would soon realize that it is not the one who can always inflict economic damages.

The Experts.

Kenneth R. Timmerman, FrontPageMagazine.com provides an excellent review of what Iranian leaders have been saying publicly about their nuclear program. A must read.
Michael Ledeen, The National Review warned the Bush administration that its current approach towards Iran threatens to dismantle the accomplishments of the past 4 years and leave the US more vulnerable.
Michael Rubin, Rivista di Intelligence published a report on: how to deal with kidnappings in Iraq.
Michael Ledeen, The New York Sun argued that Bush's Plan for Victory is a Sucker's Game.
American Enterprise Institute published the ninth chapter of Gaffney's "War Footing: 10 Steps America Must Take in the War for the Free World." A must read.
Amir Taheri, The New York Post reported that having tried to undermine the Iraqi attempt at building a democracy, the Arab League is sending signals that it may be changing the foredoomed policy it has pursued for almost three years.

Photos, cartoons and videos.

Cox & Forkum published another of their cartoons: As Plain As...
Amy Kellogg, FOX News released part six of her reports from inside Iran: Women Worried About Freedoms. Video also available.
Amy Kellogg, FOX News released part seven of her reports from inside Iran: The Ties That Bind Iran, Iraq. Video also available.
Amy Kellogg, FOX News released her final report from inside Iran: Saddam's Iranian Victims. Video also available.
Gooya News published many photos of a demonstration in Tehran's Polytechnic.
Slate published a cartoon: The Perils of Withdrawal.
Cox & Forkum published another cartoon: Mullahs in Space.