Wednesday's Daily Briefing on Iran

DoctorZin reports, 2.22.2006:

The Failed Iranian Negotiations.

• Adnkronos International Iran's foreign minister Manouchehr Mottaki announced on Tuesday. "The phase of negotiations with the EU trio is over."
• ABC News reported that U.S. Undersecretary of State Nicholas Burns said the international coalition applying pressure on Iran to halt its uranium enrichment was working well.
• The Wall Street Journal warned that the West, it seems, is now putting its future security in the hands of Russia and China.
• Monster & Critics reported that anyone still believing Europe only believes in soft power should have witnessed the reception Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki received in Brussels Monday.
• Khaleej Times reported that German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said he did not rule out economic sanctions against Iran.
• Times Online reported that Konstantin Kosachev, head of the Russian Duma’s Foreign Affairs Committee, said: "Unfortunately, Iran so far has not shown sufficient good will."
• Malaysia Star reported that Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said: "China hopes Iran will restore suspension of all activities relating to uranium enrichment."
• Rooz Online reported that there seems to be a change in Iran’s approach and strategy to the nuclear issue and talks.
  

Iran & Syria Respond to US Pro-Democracy Efforts.

• Arabic News reported that the Syrian and Iranian governments are to convene a high-level meeting in Damascus on Wednesday to discuss what they say is the "White House's offensive."

Execution of Iranian Dissidents on the Rise.

• Rooz Online reported on the increasing number of executions of dissidents in Iran whose backgrounds range from political activism to young women, children, and men.

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

• Mehran Riazaty examined recent statements by Hakim & Sadr on Iraq and its relations with Iran.
• Ronald D. Asmus, The Washington Post argued that it is time to offer Israel membership in NATO.
• Yahoo News reported that the Supreme Court ordered an appellate court to reconsider allowing the brother of a victim of Iranian terrorism to collect 2.8 million dollars.
• The Scotsman reported that Benjamin Netanyahu claimed that Hamas intends to set up a "second Iran" in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
• RIA Novosti reported that a senior Georgian diplomat rejected a media report that the United States was considering using military bases in Georgia for a possible attack on Iran.
• Marvin Olasky, World Magazine provided a review of the threat of nuclear weapons in the hands of terrorist regimes.
• Henry Sokolski, The Wall Street Journal argued that the US must resist making a proposed civilian nuclear cooperation deal the primary theme of future relations with India.
  
• And finally, Amir Taheri, The New York Post reviewed two bad ideas for stopping Iran.