Tuesday's Daily Briefing on Iran

DoctorZin reports, 1.10.2005:

Three Major News Reports on Iran.

Osama dead in Iran?

• Michael Ledeen, National Review Online reported that Osama Bin Laden died three weeks ago in Iran.

The Air Crash in Iran. A roundup.

• Nasser Karimi, The Associated Press reported that a small military jet crashed in northwestern Iran on Monday, killing the commander of the ground forces of Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards.
• Dan Darling, WindsOfChange.net argued that as a result of the crash there is going to be a lot more short-term power consolidated into the hands of IRGC's commander-in-chief Major General Yahya Rahim Safavi and his deputy General Mohammed Baqir Zolqadr.
• DEBKAfile reported that its Tehran sources note the high importance of the dead commander who was appointed only three months ago.
• Kenneth R. Timmerman, Foundation for Democracy in Iran reported news of potential sabotage behind the air crash.

Iran resumes nuclear program. A round up.

• CNN News reported that as expected, Iran said it would resume its nuclear research program Monday.
• Deutsche Presse-Agentur, Monsters and Critics reported that Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said: 'Those countries which now threaten us with sanctions should know that such threats will have no impact and not intimidate us."
• Arnaud de Borchgrave, The Washington Times reviewed Iran's leaders statements on their nuclear intentions and finds them all in agreement, including the so-called moderate leaders.
• BBC News reported that EU leaders say they are very concerned at Iran's plans to resume sensitive nuclear research in the coming hours.
• Hemscott reported that French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy has urged Iran to instantly reverse its decision to resume highly-sensitive nuclear activities.
• Kuwait News Agency reported that EU chief Wolfgang Shussel has warned Iran on Monday of manipulating nuclear activities for military purposes.
• Voice of America reported that the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council have sent strong messages to Iran to halt plans for nuclear fuel research and resume talks with European powers.

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

• Zalmay Khalilzad (the U.S. ambassador to Iraq), The Wall Street Journal wrote about the challenge before us in Iraq.
• The Washington Times reported that young Iraqis are receiving training in Iran for political indoctrination and militia training.
• Kathryn Jean Lopez, National Review Online thinks that Congressman Eric Cantor becoming the House majority-whip slot would be a nightmare for Ahmadinejad.
• Rezapahlavi.org published excerpts of a live primetime televised interview with Fox News' in which Reza Pahlavi called for regime change in Iran.
• Iran Focus reported that the government of radical Islamist Mahmoud Ahmadinejad plans to segregate Iran’s pedestrian walkways on gender basis.
• And finally, The Middle East Media Research Institute published video excerpts from a rally of Iranian pilgrims in Mecca where the speaker addresses the crowd in front of a backdrop showing the World Trade Center and an American flag in flames.