Monday's Daily Briefing on Iran

DoctorZin reports, 2.6.2005:

Iran Says no to IAEA cooperation, but yes to Russian talks.

• Yahoo News reported that Iran ended all voluntary cooperation with the IAEA but would still hold talks with Moscow. Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki added: "Yesterday we had two options. One was the option of resistance and the other was surrender. We chose resistance."
• Mehran Riazaty reported that Ahmadinejad, in reaction to the IAEA vote on Iran, said: "The foes cannot do a damn thing. We do not need you (enemies) at all. It is you (enemies), who need the Iranian people."
• Mehran Riazaty reported that Ahmadinejad said that selflessness and martyrdom-seeking is the only way to save mankind, adding, "We are all obliged to keep alive the culture of martyrdom-seeking in the society."

What the US wants now.

• Fox News reported that after the vote, President Bush again addressed the Iranian people directly, saying that the international community is not trying to deny Iran its right to a civil nuclear energy program, but that Iran's best interest lies in not trying to pursue nuclear weapons.
• New York Daily News published an interview with U.S. Ambassador to the UN John Bolton on Iran. He said: "The first step would be to make it clear that we are trying to strengthen the hand of the International Atomic Energy Association."

The Better Reason for Regime Change in Iran.

• Amir Taheri, The Jerusalem Post argues that when arguing for international support for regime change in Iran, we should focus on Iran's leaders stated plans to create a clash of civilizations culminating in a pan-Shi'ite caliphate.

Russians talk tough.

• The VOA News reported that Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov said the international community expects unequivocal answers from Iran about its nuclear program.

Iran Warns The Press not to Publish "the Cartoons."

• The Dawn reported that Iran recalled its ambassador to Denmark over the publication of cartoons depicting Islam's Prophet Mohammad. Iran's culture ministry warned it may ban reporters from publications that have printed the cartoon.

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

• The Washington Post said the good news in the vote by the IAEA is that the United States and its allies have managed to broaden the international coalition. But the coalition-building nevertheless has had a clear cost: The action taken is slow and weak.
• The New York Times reported that Iran is hoping to unite Arab Muslims, but finding it is a difficult sell.
• NetForCuba reported that Cuba honors its friendship with Iran's mullahs.
• A compilation of Iranians executed or sentenced to death from December 05 through January 06.
• And finally, Iran Press News published graphic photos of the Iranian Regime's brutality toward three young men who were recently attacked by the regime's thugs in Zahedan.