Friday's Daily Briefing on Iran

DoctorZin reports, 3.24.2006:

IAEA: Iran's nuclear program more advanced than previously thought.

• Vital Perspective reported that the IAEA now has evidence that Iran's nuclear program is more advanced than previously thought.
• The Guardian reported that inspectors of the IAEA revealed that the Iranians are in the process of achieving a "technological leap" by making operational a cascade of 164 centrifuges to enrich uranium for power plants or warheads.

China and Russia united on Iran.

• Reuters reported that China said that Beijing and Moscow are in accord on Iran's nuclear standoff with the West.

Why the Russians are helping Iran go nuclear.

• Kenneth R. Timmerman, FrontPageMagazine.com examined the question: why are the Russians so intent on helping Iran go nuclear? He believes, the key can be found in a 1995 Russian document.

Iran Poll: Most Iranians oppose a nuclear confrontation with the west.

• Washington Times reported that the vast majority of Iranians are opposed to the theocratic regime's drive that has pushed their country to the verge of a military confrontation.

US Poll on Iran.

• Harris Poll, The Wall Street Journal found that about 85% of Americans say the U.S. "should be concerned" about Iran's nuclear research activities.

Canada aided Iran's nuclear program?

• The Globe and Mail reported that the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission approved a shipment to Iran last year by a Canadian company of about 70,000 glow-in-the-dark lights containing tritium, a radioactive gas that can also be used as a component in hydrogen bombs.

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

• The New York Sun reported that while Iran helped to invent modern-day terrorism, sometimes called asymmetrical warfare. Now the mullahs are engaging in asymmetrical diplomacy.
• Israel Hasbara Committee reported that Israeli Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz said: “We know that Iran transferred in the last month $1.8 million to the Islamic Jihad organization in order to carry out terrorist attacks against Israel.”
• And finally, Ilan Berman, American Foreign Policy Council reported that Yahya Rahim Safavi, commander of Iran's elite Pasdaran, told policymakers that, with the United States bogged down in Iraq and Afghanistan, Iran is poised to become the natural inheritor of the Persian Gulf.