Sunday's Daily Briefing on Iran

DoctorZin reports, 3.19.2006:

Iranian dissident Akbar Ganji: home at last.

• BBC News reported that Iran's most prominent dissident journalist Akbar Ganji has been freed from jail after five years and is now at home.
• The Hindu reported that Ganji said: "My views have not changed at all. Jail and pressures never forced me to change my views. Today, I'm more determined to say what I said six years ago."
• Seattle PI reported "My husband is so weak physically now. He is just 108 pounds. But I'm happy he is back home," his wife said. "He needs rest, please don't put too many questions to him. He's not going to be so outspoken." "No, I'm more radical than before," Ganji interrupted.
• Photos of Ganji at home.

Reports from the UN Security Council: Brits want US/Iran Talks?

• Deutsche Welle reported that the UN Security Council is inching toward an agreement on a revised Franco-British draft urging Iran to suspend uranium enrichment.
• Fox News reported that Britain favors drawing the United States into talks with Iran.
• Memri reported that an Iranian Ayatollah said "We can negotiate openly, and maintain relations, with America."

Iran preemptively rejects UN Security Council, if...

• IranMania reported that Iranian Foreign Minister Manoucehr Mottaki announced unless Iran's nuclear energy rights are not taken into consideration, they will not accept a United Nations Security Council's decision on Iran.

UN Security Council sanctions could destabilize the regime.

• Iran Press News reported that Ali Larijani, the secretary of the Islamic regime's supreme national security council admitted that should U.S. take any steps in intensifying sanctions, the regimes situation would become more unstable.

US/Iran talks a "stunt?"

• Sunday Times reported that the White House said Iran's offer to hold talks with the United States on Iraq is probably just a ploy to "divert pressure" Tehran has drawn over its nuclear program.

US naval exercise in the Persian Gulf.

• World Tribune reported that the US is planning a major naval exercise in May to test its response to any Iranian naval blockade of the Straits of Hormuz.

Anti-Cartoon Conference Begins.

• Deutsche Presse-Agentur reported on the start of the anti-cartoon conference in Iran.

Update on last week's "Festival of Fire."

• Iran Press News reported that a regime-run newspaper admitted to the destruction of 90 banks and death of 9 regime guards during last week's "Festival of Fire."
• Iran Press News reported that Tehran bloggers claimed the Festival of Fire was celebrated with rallying cries for freedom.
  

Update on the attack inside of Iran.

• Iran Press News published an update on the armed attack on regional authorities in the road between Zabol and Zahedan (Province of Sistan & Baluchestan).

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

• William F Buckley, The National Review considered the question: What do we intend to do about it if Iran proceeds noiselessly to nuclear armament?
• The Telegraph reported that Iran held secret talks with Shia militant leaders from Iraq and Lebanon only days before the country's nuclear negotiators threatened America with "harm and pain."
• Phyllis Chesler, The Family Security Matters warns of the coming Islamization of America.
• And finally, News Max reported that Rep. Curt Weldon said that Osama bin Laden has died.