Friday's Daily Briefing on Iran

DoctorZin reports, 1.20.2005:

Has the West waited too long? Will Iran test a nuke in March?

• United Press International reported that an Iranian opposition group claims that Tehran is planning a nuclear weapons test before the Iranian New Year on March 20, 2006.

The Tough.

• Spiegel Online reported that French President Jacques Chirac on Thursday threatened states developing weapons of mass destruction with nuclear retaliation.
• Daily News reported that acting Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said: Israel will not allow Iran to get the bomb.
• Economic Times reported that Nicholas Burns, the US under secretary of state for political affairs speaking about the current crisis with Iran, said: “This is the most serious issue before the world."

The Not so Tough.

• Financial Times reported that Mohamed ElBaradei, the head of the UN’s nuclear monitor, has turned down a request by the European Union to issue a far-reaching condemnation of Iran’s nuc­lear program before the next meeting of the IAEA.
• The Financial Times reported that China reiterated its calls for restraint on Thursday in the growing crisis over Iran’s nuclear program.
• Reuters reported that Germany's foreign intelligence agency believes that Iran is at least three or four years away from getting a nuclear weapon.

Hillary is Suddenly Tough on Iran.

• The New York Times reported that Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton last night criticized the Bush administration for its response to Iran's nuclear program.
• Daniel McKivergan, Weekly Standard Blog argued that while Sen. Clinton suddenly talks tough on Iran, she hasn't explained why the Clinton-Gore Administration helped arm Iran with "highly threatening military" equipment.

Iran is not just a threat to Israel.

• Ilan Berman, National Review Online reminded us that Ahmadinejad's animus isn't simply directed toward Israel. Ahmadinejad has announced: "The skirmishes in the occupied land are part of a war of destiny . . . a historic war between the oppressor [Christians] and the world of Islam."

Iranian Opposition asks for help from the West.

• Magna Carta, a new Iranian opposition group, issued a letter to the international community calling for political and media support for their efforts to create a free and democratic Iran.

Iran Preps for Sanctions.

• Asharq Al-Awsat reported that Iran is ready to transfer 8 Billion Dollars from the EU to Asian banks.
• SBS TV reported that a US senator has announced legislation that would urge the international community to impose tough sanctions on Iran.

Iran/Syria Update:

• Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting reported that President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad arrived in Damascus, Syria, on Thursday on a two-day official visit.
• The Daily Star explored how the growing rapprochement between Iran and Syria will affect Lebanon.

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

• Kenneth R. Timmerman, FrontPageMagazine.com said that when making a revolution, allies matter, arguing that the MEK/MKO are the wrong allies.
• Reuters reported that an Iranian Sunni militant group said it had killed one of a group of Iranian soldiers it has held hostage.
• Reuters reported that Iran said it will hand over nine Iraqi coastguards who Baghdad says were "kidnapped" by Iranian forces.
• Human Rights Watch released its 2006 Human Rights Watch World Report.
• And finally, Memri.org published a video and transcript of a disturbing interview with a Bahraini women's rights activist regarding Shia Islam and women.