Thursday's Daily Briefing on Iran

DoctorZin reports, 3.16.2006:

The day before the UN Security Council meeting on Iran.

• Reuters reported that the five veto-wielding members of the U.N. Security Council failed again on Wednesday to reach agreement on a draft text aimed at reining in Iran's nuclear ambitions after a fifth round of negotiations.
• Dow Jones Newswires reported that the U.K. is considering a push for a weapons embargo on Iran.
• MSNBC reported that U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, John Bolton, compared the threat from Iran’s nuclear programs to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
• Reuters reported that the White House said an international diplomatic effort to force Iran to give up its nuclear ambitions must succeed "if confrontation is to be avoided."
• Iran Press Service reported that while there is a new coherence in Washington on Iran, there is disarray and confusion in Tehran.

In Iran...

• Iran Focus reported that the Majlis in Iran will grill Iran’s Larijani over nuke strategy on Thursday.
• Iran Focus reported that Iran described recent comments by British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw against its nuclear activities as “utter nonsense.”
• The New York Times reported that powerful voices within Tehran are now criticizing Iran's nuclear policy.

US Congress on Iran.

• The Associated Press reported that a House committee is weighing legislation that would strengthen America's own policy toward the Islamic republic.
• Dow Jones Newswires reported that ignoring White House objections, a Republican-controlled House panel overwhelmingly approved legislation Wednesday to tighten sanctions against Iran.

Updates on the "Festival of Fire" Celebrations.

• Middle East Times reported that at least five people have been killed and 841 injured in an annual fire festival before the Iranian New Year.
• Aljazeera.net reported that the Iranian regime chose not to crush the "Festival of Fire" celebration this week because it does not want to alienate the people during Tehran's stand-off with the West.

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

• Amir Taheri, The Jerusalem Post argued that in any list of countries that might be subjected to Iranian nuclear bullying, if not attack, Israel would not appear in the top slot. An interesting read.
• The Christian Science Monitor reported a new romance between US and France.
• TurkishPress.com reported that Jordan's King Abdullah II warned that any military operation on Iran would cause the situation in the region "to explode".
• Radio Free Europe reported that University students in Iran are expressing deep concern over official attempts to turn university grounds into burial sites for the remains of Iranian soldiers.
• Stratfor argued that although Iran threatened targeted oil boycotts against countries that support U.N. sanctions against it. It is not a threat that will hold much weight with China.
• ET, A View from Iran offered some sanctions on Iran that would actually work. Humor.
• And finally, Bob Gorrell published a cartoon: From Russia with love.