Saturday's Daily Briefing on Iran

DoctorZin reports, 3.11.2006:

The UN Security Council to act quickly on Iran.

• ABC News reported that the United States and Europe want the United Nations Security Council to give Iran a two-week deadline to halt suspect nuclear work.
• Santa Barbara News Press reported that French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy urged Iran to return rapidly to ''reason'' adding: ''We must move quickly.'' He did not elaborate.
• The New York Times reported that the Security Council is considering a statement that says "continued enrichment-related activity would add to the importance and urgency of further action by the Council."
• Reuters reported that EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana raised the prospect of sanctions against Iran.
• Foreign & Commonwealth Office published an edited transcript of an interview in which the foreign secretary, Jack Straw said until they [Iran] clarify their intentions we do not believe it is safe for them to have full access to the nuclear cycle. "Until?"
• Reuters reported that Prime Minister Tony Blair vowed to pursue Iran's nuclear program through the U.N. Security Council.
• CNN News reported that U.S. President George W. Bush has called Iran an issue of "grave national security concern" but said he wanted a diplomatic solution.

Why the rush?

• Kenneth R. Timmerman, FrontPageMagazine.com reported that the U.S. envoy to the IAEA said a closed-door meeting: Iran now has the materials to make up to ten nuclear weapons.
• The Times reported that a British official warned the Security Council yesterday that it should move fast as it was “reasonable” as Iran could acquire the technology to make nuclear weapons “within a year”.

Iranian public support for nuke program falling fast.

• Amir Taheri, Arab News reported that an Iranian report, almost certainly leaked by the entourage of former President Khatami, that shows Iran’s uranium reserves will cover the needs of the Bushehr power station for fuel for no more than seven years, but could produce some 200 atomic bombs. He added: the domestic popular support for the nuclear issue is fast evaporating since the Iranian people feel that they have not been told the truth.

US seeks to open an office in Iran.

• Middle East Newsline reported that the US plans to open a representative office in Iran.

Still more on the Wednesday's Women's Demonstration in Tehran.

• Women’s Rights Association of Iran published a detailed report on International Women’s Day Protest in Laleh Park in Tehran. Videos.
• Azarmehr Weblog reported that the elderly Simin Behbehani, one of Iran's greatest contemporary poets and writers was amongst those women who were beaten up in yesterday's rally in Tehran.

More unrest in Tehran.

• Iran Focus reported that hundreds of disenchanted youth damaged more than a dozen buses in the Iranian capital Friday after a football match.

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

• The Australian reported that General Moshe Ya'alon, a former chief of staff of the Israel Defense Forces, revealed that Israel could neutralize the Iranian threat for several years.
• ABC News examined the U.S. military options against Iran.
• Iran Democracy Monitor debunked Iran's need for nuclear energy and more.
• Ian Bremmer, The Daily Star asked: Is Myanmar the next Iran?
• And finally, Iran Focus reported that Iranian Defense Minister Mostafa Mohammad-Najjar said: "Iran’s enemies will not dare launch a military strike on the country’s nuclear installations because of the organized radical Islamists ready to defend the ruling theocracy."