A Daily Briefing on Iran: Week in Review

DoctorZin provides a review of this past week's [12/18-12/24] major news events regarding Iran. (The reports are listed in chronological order, not by importance)

Ahmadinejad.

Mehran Riazaty explained Iran’s Political Strategy: Creating crisis, shifting crisis to opportunities then take advantage of these opportunities.
Baltimore Sun reported that when Ahmadinejad called the Holocaust a "myth" his harsh rhetoric was also an effort to signal that Iran, not al-Qaida, is the leading force behind militant Islam.
Ali Akbar Dareini, St. Paul Pioneer reported that the recent remarks by Iran's hard-line president are part of a strategy to keep anti-Israel sentiment alive in the Middle East.
ABC News reported that Iran's foreign ministry spokesman said the West should be more tolerant of Ahmadinejad's views.
Hamed Irani, Rooz Online reported that while the Majlis (Iran’s Parliament) has a law that bans members of City Councils to hold government posts, there are numerous City Council executives who hold second posts inside the government.
Adnkronos International reported that 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".
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.
Dieter Bednarz, Erich Follath and Georg Mascolo, Spiegel Online reported on Ahmadinejad's challenge to the world.
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 Associated Press reported that hard-line President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's ban on Western music fell on deaf ears.
The Guardian reminded us that the Iran's president's threats were consistent with Iranian Supreme Leader.
The Wall Street Journal reported that now that Ahmadinejad has called for banning western music in Iran, we should remember that as Vaclav Havel once said, music can also be a tool of liberation.
The Associated Press reported that despite Ahmadinejads recent western music ban, music still plays in Iran. But not on TV or radio.
Meysam Tavvab, Rooz Online reported that IRGC personnel and commanders continue their take over of the government, now focusing on the law enforcement agencies.
Karim Sadjadpour and Ray Takeyh, The Boston Globe gave their interpretation of Iran's belligerent foreign policy toward Israel.

Ahmadinejad's Worldview.

The New York Times reviews Ahamdinejad's devotion to Khomeinist ideology.
Scott Peterson, The Christian Science Monitor published a report on Shia Islam's version of "Waiting for the Rapture in Iran."
IRIB News reported that Ahmadinejad criticized "suppressive nations" for suppressing "any voice under the pretext of maintaining freedom of expression and impose medieval values and manners in modern disguise on nations." The president then expressed his confidence that all kinds of oppression would come to an end once rule of Islam prevails in the whole world.
Tom Porteous, Prospect visited Jamkaran, the site of a water well where the 12th and last imam of Shia Islam, the Mahdi, is said to have disappeared a little over a thousand years ago. He discussed Ahmadinejad (and his new leadership) believes that total chaos must be created in order to hasten the return of the Mahdi and the establishment of Islamic rule throughout the world. An interesting read.

Power Struggle inside of Iran.

Farshad Ghorbanpour Sheikhani, Rooz Online reported that despite the numerous government hurdles, a recent Tehran seminar took place at Tehran University where academicians debated the role of the University.

Iran's Nuclear Program.

Khaleej Times reported that while the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) seems to have reversed its position on Iran's nuclear plans, the head of the six-member bloc said: It's not worrisome as long as it is restricted to peaceful use.
Iran Focus reported that Ali Larijani, Iran’s chief nuclear negotiator and Secretary General of the powerful Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) described President George W. Bush as an “odd” man.
The Jerusalem Post reported that despite the fact that continued diplomatic initiatives will "not foil Iran's nuclear ambitions," OC Intelligence Maj.-Gen. Aharon Ze'evi (Farkash) told the cabinet on Sunday that "it is important to pursue [them]."
NewKerala reported that Germany has more to lose from any economic sanctions on Iran than other Western countries.
The Financial Times reported that Britain, France and Germany face tense negotiations with Iran on Wednesday when the two sides resume talks on Tehran’s nuclear program.
Radio Free Europe reported that U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said today that Iran cannot be trusted with technology that could lead to nuclear arms.
EU Business reported that Israeli President Moshe Katsav accused the European Union of showing "hesitation and weakness" in the face of Iran's nuclear program.
Islamic Republic News Agency reported that Iran condemns the recent EU positions on Iran as 'unacceptable.'
World Tribune reported that Syria has signed a pledge to store Iranian nuclear weapons and missiles.
Yaakov Lappin, Ynetnews warned us to take Iran seriously.
Spacewar reported that diplomats say Tehran is already laying the groundwork for uranium enrichment, and may even be secretly making parts for sophisticated P2 centrifuges.
ABC News reported that an Iranian exile group called on the U.N.'s atomic watchdog to inspect an extensive network of tunnels which it says the Islamic Republic has built to conceal a clandestine nuclear weapons program.
The Economist reported that a European diplomat warned Iran that the window for a negotiated way out of the impasse over Iran's nuclear intentions “will not remain open indefinitely”.
Reuters reported that European powers on Wednesday reopened talks with Iran over concerns that it is secretly trying to make atomic bombs and said the dialogue would resume in January, halting a spiral into confrontation.
The Jerusalem Post reported that Turkey's ambassador warns the US about Iran's nukes.
John Hughes, Christian Science Monitor reported that the west's patience is wearing thin with Iran's hard line.
Zeev Maoz, Ha'aretz suggested a different nuclear policy in Israel.
Robert Zarate, The National Review reported that the West must get on with that next step of slowing down the proliferation of nuclear weapons.
Iran.org reported that Iran's the nuclear "negotiations" with the European Union are now being guided in Tehran by Revolutionary Guards Corps political director Yadollah Javani, a Rev. Guards general.
The New York Times reported that representatives of three European countries and Iran met Wednesday for five hours of closed-door meetings in Vienna; the delegates said the two sides had agreed to hold further talks in January.
Iran Focus reported that Iran’s new ambassador to IAEA submits credentials.
Mark Heinrich, Reuters published their analysis on the showdown over Iran.
The Associated Press reported that Russia's Foreign Ministry said it made a formal offer to Iran on Saturday to move its uranium enrichment program to Russia.
Mehr News reported that Majlis Speaker Gholam-Ali Haddad-Adel said here that Iran does not want mere talks with the European Union on the nuclear issue.
FrontPageMagazine provided a detailed report that Syria has agreed to store Iran's nuclear material, and Iran will grant asylum to Syrian officials.

The Unrest inside of Iran.

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.
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".
SMCCDI reported that dozens of Iranian women closed the highway by setting up barricades and setting car tyres' ablaze in protest to the bad conditions there.
SMCCDI reported that tens of drivers of the Greater Tehran's Collective Buses were rounded up, today, for intending to protest.

The Iranian Economy.

The Associated Press reported that the Federal Reserve Board ordered ABN AMRO Bank NV to pay roughly 80 million dollars in fines Monday for conducting financial transactions with Iran and Libya that violated U.S. money-laundering laws.

Human Rights/Religious and Press Freedom inside of Iran.

Kenneth R. Timmerman, The National Review reported that Iran’s Christians have a high price to pay.
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.
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 the European Union accused Iran of persistent and grave human rights failings.
Radio Free Europe reported that the European Union issued a statement today criticizing Iran for refusing to resume a dialogue on human rights.
SMCCDI reported on three more public executions carried in Iran.
Christian Today reported that a U.S. evangelist who has been declared an “enemy of the state” by Iran has unveiled plans to broadcast special Christmas television programmes into Iran.
Amnesty International wrote the head of Iran’s Judiciary to express concern at continuing abuses committed against the country’s Baha’i community and they were greatly saddened by the death in custody of a Baha’i prisoner of conscience who had been detained for 10 years solely on account of his faith.
Omid Memarian, Rooz Online reported Iran’s new ultra-conservative Minister of Culture declared that to get a licence to start a publication would require the applicants to show that their publication is different from existing ones and is thus unique.
The Times reported that the place Iranians call “Weblogistan” has grown this year from 5.4 million blogs to today to more than 23 million. The bloggers have proved so wily and hard to censor that the Iranian Government has even considered removing Iran from the internet entirely.

Iran's troublemaking.

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.
Mehran Riazaty reported on Iran’s Qods operation in Turkey.
Eli Lake, The NY Sun reported that early estimates from Iraq's election commission suggest sectarian and religious parties trounced liberals in last week's parliamentary elections.
Asia Times Online reported Rafsanjani said, "We see now that the United States has been defeated [in Iraq]."
The Public Affairs Magazine reported that the week-long violence in Baluchistan is being blamed on Iranian intelligence and their Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
DEBKAfile reported that thousands of Sunni secular Shiite and Kurdish protesters took to the streets of Iraq Friday, Dec. 23, over what they called “the biggest election fraud in Middle East history.”
Eli Lake, The New York Sun reported that the head of Iraq's election committee accused critics of the election of extortion.
Iran Focus reported that Iran’s powerful Interior Minister said that the echo of Iran’s “Islamic revolution” could be heard in Iraq.

Iran's Military.

The Jerusalem Post reported that Iran recently acquired 12 cruise missiles with a range of up to 3,000 kilometers.
Xinhuanet reported that Russia will fully comply with a deal with Iran to supply it with the Tor-M1 air defense systems despite US objections.
MosNews reported that Iran is interested in developing military-technical cooperation with Russia.

Iran and the International community.

Iran Mania reported that China is conducting negotiations with Iran on developing Yadavaran Oilfield.
The Associated Press reported that the families of three Americans killed in Palestinian suicide bombings have accused the Italian government of siding with Iran in a legal battle to collect damages from the Islamic regime's assets in Italy.
Expatica reported that Berlin on Thursday has called on the Iranian government to release a German citizen arrested for fishing illegally in Iran's territorial waters.
MichNews reported on a new Secular party formed in exile.

Can You Believe This?

News Max reported that Teresa Heinz Kerry says she is "outraged" that President Bush has been too easy on Iran.

Inside Iran.

DNA India reported that at eight o’ clock each evening, Iran grinds to a halt and tunes into a ground-breaking television comedy about a little village of Barareh, with its corrupt councillors, rigged elections and vocal women’s rights groups, a microcosm of Iran today.

Inside Iran, the Air Crash in Tehran.

Rooz Online reported that a movie camera has been found among the debris of last week’s crash of a C-130 transport aircraft and that the entire conversation of the captain and the control tower was recorded on this camera.

US Policy on Iran.

The Washington Post published the full text of President Bush's news conference where he said of Iran: "There are Consequences for Not Behaving."
Spiegel published a confrontational interview with the US Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs Nicholas Burns.
ABC News reported that US National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley went on the offensive over Iran in a speech this week.
VOA News reported that the United States Friday condemned what it said was the persecution of an Iranian of the Baha'i faith who died in prison last week.

US Sentate on Iran.

DoctorZin reported on an underreported US Senate Resolution on Iran reveals a lack of conviction.
NewsMax reported that the Republican Jewish Coalition (RJC) thanks U.S. Senator Rick Santorum for his resolution on Iran which condemned the recent disparaging and destructive statements made toward Israel
DoctorZin reported that the Americans public demanded the US Senate schedule hearings on Iran.
Brian McGuire, The New York Sun reported that Senate democrats refuse to reveal who stopped pro-democracy Iran resolution.

Must Read reports.

Radio Free Europe reported Ahmadinejad's anti-Israel statements reflect the official line. A must read.
The Jerusalem Post criticized the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to ElBaradei.
Nancy A. Youssef, Knight Ridder Newspapers reported that many Iraqi Sunni Muslims are now diverting their anger from Israel to Iran.
Thomas L. Friedman, The New York Times reported on the real Iran myths.
Jonah Goldberg, Tribune Media Services discussed Time Magazines reporting of Ahmadinejad points to a deeper issue.

The Experts.

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.
Simon Henderson, The Washington Institute published a report: The Elephant in the Gulf: Arab States and Iran's Nuclear Program.
Amir Taheri, The Jerusalem Post reminds us that Iran is not just Israel's problem.

Photos, cartoons and videos.

Rooz Online published a cartoon "wiping out" Ahmadinejad "wiping out Israel."
A photo of an Iranian missile with a banner reading: "Israel must be uprooted and erased from history."
Sobh.org, an Ansar Hezballah web site published more propaganda against the state of Israel.
John Batchelor interviewed DoctorZin regarding the attempted assassination of Ahmadinejad. Audio clip provided.
MEMRI published excerpts from a recent Iranian TV broadcast where Iranian "experts" denied of the existence of crematoria at Auschwitz, and a discussion of how Jewish rabbis in Europe used to kill children and take their blood for use during the Passover holiday. Video.
Seyed Ibrahim Nabavi, Rooz Online developed a creative idea: How About Transferring Israel to Iran? A satire.
Cox & Forkum published another cartoon: Ahmadinejad's Final Solution.