Week in Review

DoctorZin provides a review of this past week's [1/01/06 -1/07/06] major news events regarding Iran. (The reports are listed in chronological order, not by importance)

Ahmadinejad.

• Monsters and Critics reported that Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said the crimes committed by Zionists against the Palestinians were the same as the crimes committed by the Nazis in the Second World War.
• Nahid Siamdoust, The Los Angeles Times reviewed the political challenges of Ahmadinejad.
• Malaysia Star reported that Ahmadinejad told lawmakers the foreign policy of detente adopted by his two predecessors had achieved little and reduced Iran's standing in the Islamic world.
• Reuters reported that Iran announced on Tuesday a long-awaited shake-up at its key Oil Ministry.
• Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting reported that a member of the Majlis said that Ahmadinejad had assessed as "positive" the global reactions to his remark on Holocaust.
• Alan Peters reported thatPresident Mahmoud Ahmadi-Nejad's office privately leaking to the Tehran newspapers that Iran already has four nuclear weapons obtained from the Ukraine.
• Yahoo News reported that Iran's president said he hoped for the death of Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.
• The Daily Telegraph reported that the US blasted as "hateful and disgusting" remarks by Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad hoping that Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon does not survive his massive stroke.
• Iran Focus reported that Iran's President continued to push for "relocation" of Israel.
• Adnkronos International reported that Iran is quickly putting together an international conference on the Holocaust.
• Spiegel Online reported on the rise of the Iranian hard-liners. The German media is awakening to the danger of the Islamic Republic.
• Islamic Republic News Agency reported the Supreme Leader's representative for Haj affairs has urged Iranian pilgrims to spread the real Islam to the world.
  

Ahmadinejad's Worldview.

• Scott Peterson, The Christian Science Monitor reported on Iran's Bright Future News agency where you can learn all the latest developments regarding the 12th Imam, the Shia savior many expect to conquer the world.
• Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting reported that Iran's Supreme Leader said: Iran should regain its ancient status as 'mother of science.'
  

Power Struggle inside of Iran.

• Hemscott reported that Iranian Kurds have formed a new reformist front.
• Omid Memarian, Rooz Online reported that former Iranian President Khatami warned of an attempt to control the Experts Assembly by those that "neither believes in the supreme leader nor in the constitution.”
  

Iran's Nuclear Program.

• CNNreported that Iran's chief nuclear negotiator has rejected a Russian offer to produce nuclear fuel in its plants for Iran.
• Aljazeera reported that Iran has now developed the technology, known as a mixer-settler, to create yellowcake.
• Reuters reported that Iran said it had developed machinery to separate uranium from its ore.
• Barry Rubin, Turkish Daily News reported that high-ranking Turkish officials have started speaking of their concern about Iran's drive to obtain nuclear weapons.
• The Star Online reported that Iran's hardline media said the Russian proposal is unacceptable.
• Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting reported that Iran said the suspended research works on Iran's nuclear activity will be activated again in the next few days.
• Ian Cobain and Ian Traynor, The Guardian published a report after having examined a western intelligence assessment document which alleges that the Iranian government has been successfully scouring Europe for the sophisticated equipment needed to develop a nuclear bomb.
• Channel NewsAsia reported that Ahmadinejad said that Iran would not "step back" on its decision to resume nuclear fuel work.
• Xinhua reported that France urged Iran to maintain its suspension over nuclear activities.
• Reuters reported that the United States on Tuesday warned Iran against resuming atomic fuel research.
• Dow Jones Newswires reported that Israeli military chief Dan Halutz Tuesday said Iran's nuclear program "can be destroyed."
• Reuters reported that Iran said it would resume nuclear fuel research.
• Adnkronos International reported that the head of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, Ali Larijani warned "if ...Europe plays dirty, then we will pass onto another plan that we have worked out and then there will be problems for the Europeans."
• Iran Press News reported that the Islamic regime has threatened the South Korean government, demanding that they do not vote against the Islamic regime in the March meeting of the IAEA or else.
• Middle East Newsline reported that Turkey has quietly agreed to join a U.S.-led effort against Iran's nuclear weapons program.
• Hurriyet reported that Turkey said that newspaper reports that the US had asked Ankara for permission to use military bases in Turkey for possible attacks on Iran, are not connected to reality.
• The New York Times is noticing that the EU3/Iran talks are in turmoil as Iran restarts its Nuclear Projects.
• The Times reported that now that Iran has dropped the pretense, the IAEA must respond to Iran’s nuclear challenge.
• The Associated Press reported that Iran failed to show up for a meeting with the IAEA where they were to provide the International Atomic Energy Agency with details of its plans.
• EUbusiness reported that experts from Iran, in Vienna, returned home on Thursday without explanation.
• Reuters reported that U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said that Iran's resumption of atomic fuel research would signal its rejection of a diplomatic solution to the nuclear crisis.
• Xinhua reported that Iran informed the Syrian leadership of the latest developments concerning the country's nuclear studies.
• P. David Hornik, FrontPageMagazine.com reported that the news about Iran could seemingly shake even Western Europe out of its complacency and pacifism if that was still possible.
• NewsDay argued that now is the time to renew the effort for collective action against Iran.
• Iran Focus reported a meeting was called off between a Russian delegation and Iranian officials in Tehran set to take place on Saturday.
• Jephraim P Gundzik, Asia Times reported the west is running out of options with Iran.
• The New York Times reported more details on the story behind Iran's abruptly canceling a high-level meeting with the IAEA in Vienna and sudden return to Tehran.
• Washington Post reported that Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said the United States and its European allies have the votes to bring Iran before the U.N. Security Council.
• The Age: reported that the five major nuclear powers are working on a joint statement that aims to show unusual unified resolve and put fresh pressure on Iran.
• Paul Anderson, BBC News reported that the first day of talks between Iranian and Russian diplomats and experts on Iran's nuclear programme has ended satisfactorily.
• The Jerusalem Post reported that the European Union told Iran it may doom any further negotiations if it resumes its uranium enrichment program.
• Dow Jones Newswires reported that Iran and Russia began talks Saturday to clarify what Tehran has described as "ambiguities" in a Russian proposal.
• The Economist reported on Ahmadinejad's nuclear gamble.
• Omid Memarian, Rooz Online reported that both Russia and China oppose Iran becoming a nuclear power.
  

The Reports of US and/or Israeli Contingency Plans for an Attack on Iran.

• The Jerusalem Post also reported that the United States government reportedly began coordinating with NATO its plans for a possible military attack against Iran.
  

Iranian Dissidents.

• Servihoo.com reported that the wife of jailed Iranian journalist Akbar Ganji said that her husband's health has deteriorated after four months in solitary confinement.
• Iran Press News published an update on Akbar Ganji. A letter from his wife.
• Marzeporgohar published a profile on Behrouz Javid Tehrani, a story of a political prisoner.
• Iran Press News reported that a human rights activist, Qafoor Mohammadi, was imprisoned in Mahabad, Province of Kurdistan.
• Manya A. Brachear, Chicago Tribune reported on the death of Iranian prisoner, Dhabihu'llah Mahrami, who was repeatedly asked to disavow his Baha'i Faith which he refused to do.
  

The Unrest inside of Iran.

• BBC News reported that Pakistan is working with Tehran to help locate nine Iranian border guards who have reportedly been abducted.
• Iran Press News reported that Tehran's Bus drivers are continuing to demand release of their union leader.
• CNN reported that Arabic-language network Al Arabiya has aired video of what it said were Iranian soldiers recently kidnapped near the Iran-Pakistan border.
• Peter Ackerman and Ramin Ahmadi, International Herald Tribune reported that there is positive news on Iran, that the world should not miss: civic defiance against Ahmadinejad's authoritarianism is increasing.
• Iran Press News reported on series of what it described as "incidents" at the Shahreh-Kord prison.
• Iran Press News reported on the 200 workers from Miral Glass Factory who had gathered to protest months of non-receipt of their wages.
  

The Iranian Economy.

• Radio Free Europe reported that an influential right-wing U.S. think-tank rated Iran as one Of the World's Least Free Economies.
• Kevin A. Hassett, Bloomberg.com reported that Iran, not Iraq, may be the big story of 2006, both politically and economically.
  

Human Rights/Religious and Press Freedom inside of Iran.

• Reuters reported that the Iranian government on Monday ordered the closure of a daily newspaper and banned a new women's bi-weekly from publication.
• SMCCDI reported that two female students were seriously injured by brutal Bassijis who splashed acid to their faces.
• Sunday Times reported that an 18-year-old Iranian woman has been sentenced to death for killing a man she said tried to rape her.
  

Iran's troublemaking.

• Iran Focus reported that Iran’s former President Rafsanjani warned Arab states of the Persian Gulf to “stay away from contentious issues that will only provide the Big Powers with opportunities for mischief-making.”
• Monsters & Critics reported that Israeli security arrested a suspected Iranian spy who was the former head of a local council in the Galilee.
• Adnkronos International reported Ahmadinejad is seeking to forge a commont front against the US between Cuba's Fidel Castro, Venezuale's Hugo Chavez and the recently elected Evo Morales of Bolivia.
  

Iran's Military.

• IranMania reported that the fact finding team working on the C130 crash has delivered its report to Armed Forces Judiciary.
  

Iran and the International community.

• The Sunday Times reported that the Pope launched a veiled attack on Iran’s hardline leadership.
• Reuters reported that German Chancellor Angela Merkel said she opposed banning Iran from the soccer World Cup saying it would be wrong to punish the players for Ahmadinejad's words.
• Gabriele Marcotti, Times Online reported on why FIFA is under pressure to ban Iran from the world cup playoffs.
• Iran Mania reported that Iran is preparing to buy Chinese aircraft to equip its air fleet.
• Dunya Online reported that British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw will visit Turkey later this month and Iran will be on the agenda.
• Forbes.com reported that Kuwait plans to start exploration for natural gas in what it calls 'undisputed' parts of the offshore Dorra field.
• Iran Press News reported that Turkey turned down a visit by Ahmadinejad.
• AFP, Oman Observer reported that Iran's judiciary confirmed that a German arrested along with a Frenchman during a fishing trip off the coast of southern Iran will go on trial today.
• Adnkronos International reported that the leader of the MKO/MEK, Massoud Rajavi is under house arrest in Iraq.
• Adnkronos International reported that Israel is planning to launch a new website in Farsi to counter the anti-Israel campaign of Ahmadinejad.
• Claude Salhani, UPI reported that former Syrian Vice President Abdel Halim Khaddam is planning to form a government-in-exile.
• Michel Abu Najm, Asharq Alawsat published an interview with former Syrian Vice-President Abdul Halim Khaddam, who is now seeking a regime change in Syria.
• Monsters and Critics reported that an Iranian court is likely to hand down a verdict within a week on a pair of German and French deep-sea fishermen who strayed into Iranian territorial waters six weeks ago.
• Zahid Hussainm, The Wall Street Journal reported that suspected separatists have blown up a natural-gas pipeline in southwestern Pakistan.
  

Can You Belive This?

• Iran Focus reported that Iran’s state-run media gave unusual prominence to a historically confused news report of a Saudi King telling FDR in 1954 that Israel should be moved to Europe. Problem is both men were dead in 1954.
• Iran Press News reported that in recent months the regime has been selling donkey meat to people who thought were buying beef. But its ok because the donkeys were slaughtered "Islamic style."
  

Inside Iran.

• The Independent reported that a series of computer-animated adverts is reviving the image of Iran's police force and have acquired a cult following.
• Roxana Saberi, Channel NewsAsia reported on how young Iranians are being hit hard by surging property prices.
  

US Policy on Iran.

• Avi Beker, Ha'aretz reported on American Jews' split personality on Middle East Policy.
• Jeannine Aversa, Associated Press reported the Bush administration acted to tighten the financial clamps on two Iranian companies.
• The Associated Press reported that Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice chose unusually blunt language to warn Iran that time is running out to avoid being hauled before the U.N. Security Council.
  

Reports on the controversial book: In "State of War: The Secret History of the CIA and the Bush Administration," author James Risen.

• CNN reported that several U.S. agents in Iran were rounded up after the CIA mistakenly revealed clues to their identities to a covert source who turned out to be a double agent.
• Josh Meyer, The Los Angeles Times reported that in a clumsy effort to sabotage Iran's nuclear program, the CIA in 2004 intentionally handed Tehran some top-secret bomb designs laced with a hidden flaw that U.S. officials hoped would doom any weapon made from them.
• The Guardian published an extract from State of War, by James Risen.
• Michael Ledeen, National Review Online asked: Why should anyone believe anything the CIA has to say about Iran?
  

Must Read reports.

• Thomas Sowell, Townhall asked: when dealing with Iran are we serious or suicidal?
• Steve Forbes, Forbes believes Iran will be the hot potato of 2006.
• James S. Robbins, National Review Online warned us that when faced with a state pursuing an aggressive plan to achieve regional hegemony, the worst move is to seek to institutionalize the status quo.
• Joseph Loconte, The Daily Standard published a valuable review of Fascism, Islamism, and Anti-Semitism. Well referenced.
• Alan Peters reported thatPresident Mahmoud Ahmadi-Nejad's office privately leaking to the Tehran newspapers that Iran already has four nuclear weapons obtained from the Ukraine.
• The Teamsters issued a Press Release which called on the President of Iran to immediately release the Iranian union leaders and members and negotiate in good faith with the Union of Workers of Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company, whose members have not had a wage increase in over four years.
• James P. Pinkerton's, Newsday made a prediction for 2006: Iran could heat up, or start a cold war.
• Austin Bay, Ventura County Star argued that the Iranian regime's greatest fear is a popular, pro-democracy rebellion.
• The Intelligence Summit reported that they will reveal Saddam's personal and confidential weapons of mass destruction tapes next month.
• Farah Pahlavi, The International Herald Tribune responded to Thomas Friedman's article, "A shah with a turban" and reminded readers under the late Shah, Iranians enjoyed incomparably better lives than what they have to endure today.
  

The Experts.

• Michael Rubin, Týždeň, The Middle East Forum argued that Iran means what it says. A must read.
• Amir Taheri, New York Post countered the mainstream media's pessimism by reminding us of what the world won in 2005.
• Kenneth R. Timmerman, FrontPageMagazine.com reported that the massive stroke of Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon marks the likely starting point of the coming nuclear showdown that will pit the Jewish state and the free world against the Islamic Republic of Iran.
• Thomas Donnelly, American Enterprise Institute published an important report: Rising Powers and Agents of Change.
• Amir Taheri, Asharq Alawsat reviewed the new movie, Syriana, and ponders how American self loathing meets Arab conspiracy theories.
• Michael Ledeen, National Review Online asked: Why should anyone believe anything the CIA has to say about Iran?
• Amir Taheri, The New York Post reported on the political earthquake that is following Ariel Sharon's stroke.
  

Photos, cartoons and videos.

• Dry Bones published a cartoon: Nitwits.
• Iranian Student News Agency published photos of today's protest by the students.
• ABC News published a video report on the young people in Iran.
  

And finally, The Quote of the Week.

Deutsche Presse-Agentur, Monsters and Critics reported that Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said:

'Zionism however is a Western ideology and an imperialistic idea created by the Britons which follows secular aims and fascist methods and currently killing Moslems with the help and direct lead of the United States and parts of Europe.'