Week in Review

DoctorZin provides a review of this past week's [1/23/06 -1/29/06] major news events regarding Iran. (The reports are listed in chronological order, not by importance) READ MORE

Rumors of War.

• The Scotsman reported that Iran warned Israel it would be making a "fatal mistake" if it took military action against Tehran's nuclear program.
• Reuters reported that firebrand Iraqi cleric Moqtada al-Sadr has assured Iran that his Shi'ite Muslim militiamen will support the Islamic Republic if it comes under attack.
• Dow Jones Newswires reported that Prime Minister Tony Blair said: "We have no desire whatever to act against people in Iran."
• Christopher Dickey, Newsweek reported that if Iran initiates an Armageddon, those who survive will look back and see the warnings.
• News Max reported that former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich says that Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is as big a threat to global security as Adolf Hitler.
• FOX News reported that according to their polling Americans think Iran is the country that poses the greatest immediate danger to the United States. Read the poll results.
• Gerard Baker, The Times argued that we need to prepare ourselves for the unthinkable, saying: War against Iran may be a necessity.
• Asia Times believes that the Bush administration planning for possible military action against Iranian nuclear facilities appears to have focused on commando operations to sabotage them rather than on air attacks.
• Middle East Newsline reminded us that just last month; Iran completed a huge military exercise that tested Teheran's ability to attack Western shipping and Arab oil facilities in the Gulf.
• Countdown argued that if the more ideologically oriented Iranian armed forces 9IRGC, etc) crumble for any reason (including strikes by the US) the traditional Iranian army has the potential to step in and end the conflict. That could be our winning card.
  

Other Options? How about an Internal Regime Change?

• David E. Sanger, The New York Times argued that while the US can execute a devastating attack on Iran's nuclear program the problem is managing the aftermath.
• Reuel Marc Gerecht, The Weekly Standard offered a frank discussion as how to head off the imam bomb. Must Read.
• David R. Sands, The Washington Times suggested why the US response to Iran is different from Iraq.
• The Jerusalem Post reported on the Herzliya Conference where differing views on the degree to which Iran's nuclear program poses a threat to Israel and the effective strategies for combating that threat were on display.
• Michael Ledeen, National Review Online reminded us that the Iranian regime is increasingly vulnerable to an internal regime change if the west would invest the resources necessary to broadcast the truth about the regime to its people.
• Kenneth R. Timmerman, NewsMax.com reported that Iran's apocalyptic President is creating internal fissures in the regime that the US needs to exploit now.
• Daveed Gartenstein-Ross, The Weekly Standard reported on how to understand and exploit Iran's internal fissures.
• 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..."
• The New York Sun in a Staff Editorial called for a regime change in Iran.
• Jeff Jacoby, The Boston Globe argued that the best solution for the Iranian crisis would be a regime change in Iran.
• Robert Kagan, The Washington Post reported that despite the Iranian threat and the Iranian people's desire for real democracy in Iran, the Bush administration has done little to push for political change or to exploit the evident weaknesses in the mullahs' regime.
  

Ahmadinejad.

• Al Jazeera reported that Iranian President Ahmadinejad said that the Middle East conflict has become “the locus of the final war” between Muslims and the West.
• Rooz Online reported on an emergency meeting attended by Ahmadinejad, Rafsanjani and friend.
• The Jerusalem Post reported that Iran threatened, if were Israel to attack Iran's nuclear facilities, they would respond so strongly that it would put the Jewish state into "an eternal coma."
• European Jewish Press reported that Iran said it was willing to send a team of "independent investigators" to visit former Nazi deaths camps across Europe.
• The International Herald Tribune reported that Iran has asked the United States to allow direct flights between the two countries.
  
• Meysam Tavab, Rooz Online reported that Ahmadinejad's government has asked Iran's Parliament to stop making foreign policy pronouncements.
• Shahram Rafizadeh, Rooz Online argued that the increasing international pressure on Iran has motivated Iranian leaders to search for younger neighboring allies, instead of depending on traditional diplomacy.
• IranMania.com reported that Iran congratulated the Islamist Palestinian group Hamas for its election victory and declared last month that they represented a "united front" against Israel.
  

Ahmadinejad's Worldview.

• Hossein Bastani, Rooz Online reported how Ayatollah Mesbah Yazdi applies his ideology, in his own words.
  

Iran's Nuclear Program - The Coming IAEA Showdown.

• The Washington Post reported that the United States has been unable to win international support to officially report Iran to the U.N. Security Council.
• Iran Focus reported that Rafsanjani said: “The nuclear arena is one area where the Europeans seem to have problems making one enormous decision”. “The enemies are trying from to stop us from reaching our goals using different tactics”.
• The Financial Times reported that Iran’s top nuclear official warned Tehran would resume efforts to enrich uranium on an industrial scale if its case was reported to the UN Security Council.
• The Jerusalem Post reported that John Bolton, the US ambassador to the United Nations, said: US President George W. Bush will not accept a nuclear Iran.
• Reuters reported that U.S. President George W. Bush said on Monday he was concerned a future nuclear-armed Iran could blackmail the world.
  
• The U.S. Department of State said Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Italian Deputy Prime Minister Gianfranco Fini called for the international community to take a tough, unified position on Iran’s suspected nuclear weapons program.
• Telegraph added that Tony Blair insisted he did not want to take any action against Iran, saying it would be a "terrible miscalculation."
• Dow Jones Newswires reported that German Chancellor Angela Merkel called for a step-by-step diplomatic approach in the standoff with Iran.
• The Wall Street Journal reported that as U.S. and European officials press to have Iran brought before the United Nations Security Council, they are also promising that Tehran won't face serious punishment there -- for quite a while.
• Sara Esfahani, Rooz Online reported that an Iranian leader complained that the Russians were not supposed to make their nuclear proposal public and that the revelations of the plan made its acceptance by the more radical elements of the government very difficult.
• Reuters reported that El Baradei, the IAEA chief said "no" to a broad Iran report for February meeting.
• Telegraph reported that Iran has secretly extended the uranium enrichment plant at the centre of the international controversy.
• The Christian Science Monitor reported why the US doesn't trust Iran on nukes.
• Tod Lindberg, Washington Times examined the complexities dealing with a nuclear Iran.
• 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."
• 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.
• The New York Times reported that the foreign ministers of Britain, France, Germany, Russia and China and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will meet in London on Monday in an effort to resolve their differences on how best to punish Iran for its nuclear activities.
• The Financial Times reported that Robert Zoellick, the US Deputy Secretary of State said China has emphasized its support for international efforts to stop Iran’s nuclear program.
• Iran Focus reported that Iran’s chief nuclear negotiator is due to travel to Beijing on Thursday.
• Yahoo News reported that a landmark nuclear deal between India and the United States will "die" in Washington if New Delhi supports Iran.
• Ynet News reported that Israel's Ambassador to the U.N. Dan Gillerman said it is the U.N. Security Council's duty to prevent "another Holocaust."
• The New York Times reported that President Bush and the Chinese government both declared their full support for a Russian proposal. See also BBC News.
• BBC News reported that China's government has said: Plans to enrich uranium in Russia for use in Iran could help break a global stalemate over Tehran's nuclear aims.
• USInfo.State.gov reported that UN Ambassador John Bolton said that placing the Iran crisis under the spotlight of the Security Council, will “help dramatize the extent of world opposition to Iran obtaining nuclear weapons and demonstrate to them that the course they are pursuing is not acceptable.”
• Reuters reported that U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said: Iran is "feeling the heat" of international pressure over its nuclear program.
• BBC News reported that India has summoned the US ambassador to Delhi after comments he made over India's relations with Iran.
• Forbes reported that ElBaradei called on the United States to provide Iran with nuclear reactors.
• The Financial Times reported that Kofi Annan strengthened Iran's hand in the nuclear stand-off.
• Reuters reported that Iran's chief nuclear negotiator dampened hopes that Tehran was leaning toward a compromise.
• Reuters reported that Iran has pledged access for U.N. inspectors to equipment from the former Lavisan military site in a possible bid to avert a crackdown by the U.N. nuclear watchdog (IAEA) next week.
• Josh Gerstein, New York Sun reported that Bush's endorsement of a plan to end the nuclear standoff with Iran has left some of his supporters baffled. The proposal, essentially adopts a strategy advocated by Senator Kerry.
• Mortimer B. Zuckerman, US News & World Report reminded us that while Russian President Vladimir Putin has been supporting the Iranian regime, the author in an interview several years ago with him before the Iraq war said: "the real threat is Iran."
• The Guardian reviewed the EU's use of "soft" power and reminds us that it is an American invention that at its core involved the promoting the US as a beacon of prosperity and openness.
  

Iranian Oil a Weapon?

• Terry Keenan, New York Post discussed how Iran is plotting to use its oil weapon against the US.
• 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 Press News reported that OPEC member nations rejected the Islamic regimes petition to decrease oil production.
• The New York Sun Blog argued that while the president may be counting on Iran to reject Russia's offer but it also permits Iran the opportunity to now negotiate with Moscow for months on end, giving Iran more time to build its bomb.
• Agence France-Presse reported that the US cautioned that is was not 100 per cent supportive of Russia's proposed compromise.
• The Associated Press reported that the US ruled out any contact with Iranian delegates before next week's showdown vote.
  

Iran Preparing for Sanctions.

• Kenneth R. Timmerman, Iran.org is launching an appeal to identify and freeze Iranian government assets around the world.
• International Herald Tribune considered the question: If sanctions are the answer, what economic levers could they safely use? Gasoline imports.
• Ali Nourizadeh, Asharq Al-Awsat reminded us that Iran imports most of its gasoline and has only a 45 day supply.
• Iran Mania reported EU Energy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs said he doubted that Iran would cut oil exports in response to threatened sanctions.
• The Financial Times reported that Iran's central bank vice-governor, said on Tuesday Tehran had withdrawn foreign reserves from Italian banks but not elsewhere in Europe.
  

EU Business Responds.

• Forbes.com reported that Swiss banking giant UBS AG said it has stopped doing business with Iran.
• DW-World.de reported that German firms are seeking a lower profile in Iran since they have huge investments there.
• Forbes reported that German banks want to retain their interests in Iran for the time being.
• The Chicago Tribune reported that insurance brokerage firm, Aon Corp., will stop doing business in Iran.
• Reuters reported that German exports to Iran will fall sharply this year as a sweeping purge of officials at Iranian ministries and state companies is causing contracts with German firms to dry up.
  

The Dissidents.

• ReleaseGanji.net published a letter from the wife of Iranian dissident Akbar Ganji on the 2100th day of his imprisonment.
• 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.
  

The Unrest inside of 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.
• SMCCDI reported that Tehran's Collective Bus drivers issued another notice of strike scheduled for Saturday.
• Reuters reported that Iran accused Britain of cooperating with bombers who killed eight people in the southern Iranian city of Ahvaz on Tuesday.
• Bloomberg reported that Prime Minister Tony Blair rejected Iranian claims that British soldiers were involved in two bombings that killed at least nine people in the city of Ahvaz.
• SMCCDI reported that hundreds of Tehran's Collective Bus drivers, technicians and workers have been arrested, since yesterday, following the issuance of a notice of strike, scheduled for Saturday. Major reports expected tomorrow.
• SMCCDI reported that tens of Tehran's Collective Bus drivers, technicians, workers and wives have been wounded by brutal militiamen as a result of Saturday's strike.
• SMCCDI added that several buses have been damaged as angry crowds protested against the presence of Bassij Para-military appointed drivers attempting to break the strike.
• SMCCDI also reported that a fire forced the closure of a Tehran Metro Station, believed to be an act of arson on the same day that many of Tehran's Collective Bus drivers observed a protest action. Metro Station workers were heard shouting slogans by calling for solidarity with the Bus company's strikers.
  

Human Rights/Religious and Press Freedom inside of Iran.

• Rooz Onlinereported on the governments rising confrontation with Iran's students.
• Iran Press Service reported that the Iranian Government has blocked the BBC's Persian language internet site.
  

The Iranian Economy.

• Iran Press News reported that more than 170 operational factories of industrial and manufacturing units of Iran are facing bankruptcy.
• World Tribune.com reported that Iran reported investors have poured $23 billion in the development of the South Pars natural gas field.
  

Iran's Military.

• Ali Nourizadeh, Asharq Al-Awsat examined Iran's military options and noted that Iranian General Kazemi had recently opposed a military confrontation with the US just prior to his sudden death.
• Telegraph reported that the head of Iran's Revolutionary Guards, once again, has warned America and Britain that Teheran will respond with its missiles if attacked.
  

Iran and the International community.

• Megan Clyne, The New York Sun reported that one of the American government's most wanted terrorists, Imad Mugniyah, visited Syria late last week with Iran's President Ahmadinejad.
• AxisGlobe reported that Iran is preparing to help Georgia in its gas crisis with Russia.
• VOA News reported that Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf has said that he will go ahead with plans to build a natural gas pipeline to Iran, despite U.S. pressure, unless the US wants to compensate them for giving it up.
• The Jerusalem Post reported that the former head of the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) said Hamas must choose Iran or Israel alliance.
• Eli Lake, The New York Sun reported that the victory of Hamas could lead to a civil war within Gaza and the West Bank and an Islamic theocracy.
• Debka Files reported that Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal promised Tehran an Iranian embassy in Ramallah very shortly after its victory.
  

Insight into the Iranian People.

• View from Iran published another of his "Tehran Taxi talks."
  

Bi-Partisan Unity on Iran in Senate.

• 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.
• ABS-CBN News reported that the US Senate on Friday unanimously passed a resolution condemning Iran for its nuclear program.

The MKO/MEK

• FrontPage Magazine published an exchange between Jalal Arani and Michael Rubin over the nature of the Iranian opposition group: the Mujahedin.
• Iran Press Service reported that the leadership of MKO now reject an armed struggle with the Iranian regime and commits itself only to non-violent means of struggle, in an attempt to lose its terrorist designation by the western powers.
• Ali Safavim, FrontPageMagazine.com responded to Michael Rubin's article on the Mujahedeen-e Khalq.
• Michael Rubin, FrontPageMagazine.com argued that Ali Safavi’s response is dishonest but useful as a study of Mujahedin-e Khalq (MKO) tactics.
  

Must Read reports.

• Saul Singer, The Jerusalem Post examined a disturbing comment made by Senator John McCain on Iran.
• Daveed Gartenstein-Ross, The Weekly Standard reported on how to understand and exploit Iran's internal fissures.
• The Economist reminded us of the irony that while the Iranian president calls Israel alien to the Middle East, since several of Israel's key leaders have Iranian origins.
• FOX News reported that according to their polling Americans think Iran is the country that poses the greatest immediate danger to the United States. Read the poll results.
• The New York Sun reported that the man who served as the no. 2 official in Saddam Hussein's air force says Iraq moved weapons of mass destruction into Syria before the war.
• Ha'aretz reminds us that Iran is radical Islam with sovereignty seeking a nuclear capability and the ruling mullahs there take their ideas seriously and back them up with money and action.
• Jeffrey Bell, The Weekly Standard suggested that the defining test of Bush's war presidency will be Iran.
  

The Experts.

• Victor Davis Hanson, Washington Times examined the end-of-days worldview of Ahmadinejad.
• Michael Ledeen, National Review Online reminded us that the Iranian regime is increasingly vulnerable to an internal regime change if the west would invest the resources necessary to broadcast the truth about the regime to its people.
• Kenneth R. Timmerman, NewsMax.com reported that Iran's apocalyptic President is creating internal fissures in the regime that the US needs to exploit now.
• FrontPage Magazine published an exchange between Jalal Arani and Michael Rubin over the nature of the Iranian opposition group: the Mujahedin.
• Amir Taheri, Arab News took a look at Iran's ethic unrest and reminded us that encouraging secessionism in the Iranian periphery could only mobilize mainstream nationalism of Iranians who despise the Iranian regime.
  

Photos, cartoons and videos.

• Cox & Forkum published a cartoon: Huff and Puff.
• The American Enterprise Institute held a panel discussion with the producer of a documentary on human rights violations in Iran: A Few Simple Shots. See the discussion and film here.
  

And finally, The Quote of the Week.

Iran Press News reported that Mohammed-Nabi Rudaki, deputy chairman of the Iranian parliament's National Security and Foreign Policy Commission said:

"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."