Wednesday's Daily Briefing on Iran

DoctorZin reports, 2.1.2005:

Iran: The good news and the bad.

Bush's SOTU Speech provides his strongest support for the Iranian people and condemnation of the regime.

• The White House published the text of President Bush's State of the Union Address. We highlighted relevant comments on Iran.

Iran ignores international warnings.

• Yahoo News reported that Iran's leading nuclear negotiator, Ali Larijani said: "Reporting Iran's dossier to the U.N. Security Council will be unconstructive and the end of diplomacy."
• Reuters reported that the IAEA confirmed that Iran had begun preparing for nuclear enrichment.
• Reuters reported that Iran threatened to halt snap U.N. inspections of its nuclear sites and resume uranium enrichment, if it was reported to the U.N. Security Council.

But, Iran no longer threatens to cut off oil exports.

• The Financial Times reported that Iran’s oil minister said Tehran would not halt its oil exports because of growing tensions over its nuclear program.

The Good News.

• Reuters reported that British Prime Minister Tony Blair said world powers had sent a strong signal to Iran by agreeing to involve the U.N. Security Council.
• The Wall Street Journal reported that some of the world's largest finance and energy companies are severing ties with Iran.

The Bad News.

• Debka Files reported that Russian FM Sergei Lavrov told the five permanent UN Security Council members that Russia believe Iran is now capable of carrying out its first nuclear test.
• Andrei Piontkovsky, The Jerusalem Post predicts that in the beginning of March Iran will "reluctantly" agree to Putin's proposal for Iranian uranium enrichment on Russian territory. The world will sigh relief but the nuclear danger from Iran will loom larger than ever.
• Mehran Riazaty reported on the threats by Iran's terrorist allies' plans to create another Vietnam for the US in the Middle East.
  

US Gives Support to the Striking Tehran Bus Workers.

• USInfo.State.gov released a statement that the US government expressed support for Iranian workers and their right to protest for better working conditions. The statement specifically mentions bus drivers in Iran.
• SMCCDI reported on the US Government Statement on the Tehran Bus Strike.
• Libcom.org provided an update on the Tehran bus workers strike.

More Support for Regime Change in Iran.

• Robert Kagan, The Washington Post argued that the US needs to reorient of strategy towards Iran by start supporting liberal and democratic change there.
• Mansoor Ijaz, National Review Online argued that nothing will change the mindset and determination of a regime intent on holding the world hostage to its nuclear blackmail and that regime change is the only solution.

More Analysis.

• Alan Peters, Anti-Mullah considered the question: Can The USA Avoid Attacking Iran? Can We Attack Successfully?
• William R. Hawkins, National Review Online examined China's role as protector of the two remaining "axis of evil" regimes.
• Michael Ledeen, National Review Online examined the hard reality that universally, people often freely choose tyranny.
• Dr. Rachel Ehrenfeld, FrontPageMagazine reported that HAMAS’ triumph is an important springboard towards the establishment of the Caliphate ­– a global Islamic state.

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

• Deutsche Welle Online reported that despite claims that Ahmadinejad lives in an apartment, they claim he lives now lives almost exactly in the same spot cleared by his predecessor, in North Tehran.
• SMCCDI reported clashes rocked a suburb of the western City of Sannandaj.
• And finally, Eyeranian.net published: I want you to attack Iran!