Wednesday's Daily Briefing on Iran

DoctorZin reports, 1.11.2005:

As the world awakens, signs the regime may be fracturing as it prepares for a confrontation.

Iran Breaks The Seals and the World Wakes Up.

• Reuters reported that the U.N. nuclear watchdog confirmed that Iran had broken U.N. seals at the Natanz uranium enrichment plant.
• The Financial Times reported that European diplomats said an emergency meeting could be held this week.
• The New York Times reported that the White House said if Iran continues on its current nuclear course, it will leave the international community no choice but to refer Tehran to the U.N. Security Council for possible actions.
• The Times reported that Jack Straw, the UK Foreign Secretary, warned the Iranians today that they were "pushing their luck."
• Bloomberg reported that French President Jacques Chirac said Iran and North Korea risk making a ``serious error'' by pursuing its nuclear activities.
• Yahoo News reported that Germany's foreign minister said Tehran had "crossed lines which it knew would not remain without consequences."
• Spiegel Online reported that German newspapers, both right and left, have given up on negotiations with Iran.
• Kuwait News Agency reported that Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Tuesday expressed concern about Tehran's decision to resume enrichment of uranium.
• Turkish Daily News reported that Turkey's ambassador to the United States said that Iran was "irreversibly" heading for acquisition of nuclear weapons.
• Telegraph reported on the predictably lame response from the International Atomic Energy Agency.
• James S. Robbins, National Review Online reported that there is a buzz at Foggy Bottom - low level, but growing - that maybe it would not be so bad if Iran went nuclear. A very bad idea.
• The Times reported that Iran was likely to be referred to the UN Security Council for punitive sanctions by the end of the month.

The Air Crash... Sabotage?

• Mehran Riazaty reported that the air crash could be an inside job. Photos suggest a possible internal explosion brought down the aircraft. Before and after photos. More Photos.
• Stratfor published an analysis of the air crash saying it could indicate foul play aimed at undermining Ahmadinejad's power base and influence.
• Eli Lake, The New York Sun reported that the eleven top Iranian Revolutionary Guard commanders died yesterday in a plane crash came as tensions among the ruling mullahs are rising.
• Iranian Student News Agency published photos of the military commanders that died in yesterdays air crash. Plus reports by Ken Timmerman and Dan Darling.

The Regime Prepares for a confrontation.

• Iran Press News reported that 0il revenues to be taken out of foreign banks and transferred back to Iran, in anticipation of possible freezing of Iran's assets in foreign banks.
• Iran Focus reported that Rafsanjani said: “Our enemies are poised to take advantage of the situation inside the country to begin another mischief against Iran, but we don’t know where this mischief will begin.”

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

• Daniel Pipes, Frontpagemag.com provided a report on the foreign policy implications of the expectation by the "faithful" in Iran that anticipates the soon return of the 12th Imam. Leading Iranian thinkers to conclude that if "the Mahdi will come in two, three, or four years, why should I be soft? Now is the time to stand strong, to be hard.”
• Iran Press News reported that talk in Iran of a hotel being built in time for the 12th Imam's reemergence.
• Iran Press News reported that Islamic Republic of Iran is next to last on industrial growth index of Mid East countries.
• Teamsters.org reported that the Teamster's President Hoffa called on Iranian President to release striking bus drivers. The Unions are finally joining the struggle.
• Iran Press News reported that all of the Islamic regimes government employees live under the poverty line.
• Iran Press News reported that a 17-year-old Nazanin was sentenced to death for protecting her chastity against three rapists.
• Iran Press News reported on more executions in Iran.
• Iran Press News reported that a female member of the Organization for Human Rights in Kurdistan savagely beaten and kidnapped.
• Iran Press News reported that cameras are being installed around Iranian universities in order to tighten control over students.
• And finally, The Middle East Media Research Institute published the first in a series of papers that will include translations of statements by members of the Iranian regime and Iranian leaders on various issues. Plus a cartoon.