A Daily Briefing on Iran: Monday's Daily Briefing on Iran

DoctorZin reports, 2.27.2006:

Monday, The IAEA will issue its Iran report.

So Russia & Iran cut a deal, sort of.

The Financial Times reported that Iran said on Sunday that it had struck an agreement with Russia on its nuclear program. But failed to resolve the issue of whether Iran would desist from all controversial nuclear activities.
CNN News reported that the head of Russia's nuclear agency, Sergei Kiriyenko, said the talks had further to go.
The Jerusalem Post reminded us that while Iran's agreement to a Russian enrichment program would alleviate immediate fears that it was trying to manufacture nuclear weapons, but would not entirely eliminate it.

The Russian deal was designed to keep Iran from being referred to the UNSC.

FOX News added that Moscow will insist on resolving the Iranian nuclear dispute within the U.N.'s International Atomic Energy Agency.

Is the Russian Government split on Iran?

DEBKAfile reported on a split among Russian leaders with President Vladimir Putin preferring to go along with the West, while Kirienko (who led the talks in Iran) leads a Kremlin faction that advocates breaking ranks with Washington and Europe.

And the Iranian Regime wants a guarantee.

The Washington Post reported that Iran is seeking a guarantee that the US will not attack.

A peek inside Secret Nuclear discussions in Iran.

Rooz Online published some previously undisclosed discussions among the Iranian regime regarding in the Iran-EU Nuclear talks. A must read.

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

Telegraph reported that Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian President, dismissed Iranian overtures to take over funding for the new Hamas-led Palestinian Authority.
Reuters reported that Iran is preparing to grant gas contracts to European firms: Total, Shell and Repsol.
And finally, Reuters reported that more than 500 so-called protesters gathered outside the British Embassy in Tehran.