Wednesday's Daily Briefing on Iran

DoctorZin reports, 1.25.2005:

Influential leaders call for Regime Change in Iran.

• Iran va Jahan reported that the influential US think tank "The Committee on the Present Danger" (CPD) has called for "Regime Change in Iran". CPD said: "We believe the United States's policy objective must be regime change in Iran..."

US Senate united on Iran?

• TheDay.com reported that U.S. Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman, D-Conn., said Iran could face economic sanctions, and possibly military force, if it refuses to back down and that there is bipartisan support among his Senate colleagues to work to peacefully to defuse any such efforts by Iran.

Iran Threats to Cut Off Persian Gulf Oil, if referred to the UNSC.

• Ha'aretz reported that a senior Iranian official threatened that Tehran may forcibly prevent oil export via the Straits of Hormuz if the UN imposed economic sanctions.
• Iran Press News provided more of the statement: if our regime is referred to the security council, we have several options and one of those is to close off the Straits of Hormuz so that not one drop of oil can be exported.

Iran just wants a little nuclear research.

• Moscow Times reported that Iran's top nuclear negotiator, Ali Larijani, said: "Our research is on a laboratory scale, a small scale. If they want guarantees of no diversion of nuclear fuel, we can reach a formula acceptable to both sides in talks."

Germans just want to do a little more business in Iran.

• Forbes reported that German banks want to retain their interests in Iran for the time being.
  

OPEC rejects Iran's proposal to decrease oil production.

• Iran Press News reported that OPEC member nations rejected the Islamic regimes petition to decrease oil production.

Emergency meeting in Iran.

• Rooz Online reported on an emergency meeting attended by Ahmadinejad, Rafsanjani and friend.

Iran blocks BBC Persian website.

• Iran Press Service reported that the Iranian Government has blocked the BBC's Persian language internet site.

Bomb Blasts in Iran.

• BBC News reported that at least six people have been killed and 24 injured in a series of blasts in the south-western Iranian city of Ahwaz, the scence of numerous anti-regime protests.
• Agence France-Presse reported that the double bomb attack in Ahvaz occurred at the same time President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad had been scheduled to visit the city.
• Mehr News Agency published photos of the newest bombings in Ahvaz, Iran.

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

• Iran Press News reported that more than 170 operational factories of industrial and manufacturing units of Iran are facing bankruptcy.
• Iran Press News reported that in the second round of hearings sentenced journalist and blogger, Arash Cigarchi to 3 years in prison for insulting Khamnei, the supreme leader.
• Tulin Daloglu, The Washington Times asked: If former President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani were to be elected, would it change the regime's nuclear ambition? The short answer is "no."
• Adnkronos International suggested that the recent US air strike targeting al-Qaeda operatives in Pakistan was a message that Washington is upping pressure on Pakistan to hand over disgraced nuclear scientist Dr A.Q. Khan for questioning.
• And finally, Cox & Forkum published a cartoon: Huff and Puff.