A Daily Briefing on Iran: Thursday's Daily Briefing on Iran

DoctorZin reports, 4.20.2006:

Regime desperate to spread fear with executions and arrests.

SMCCDI reported that a mass execution at the infamous Evin jail located in North Tehran. 9 un-identified victims were executed in the facility in which tens of political activists are being held including several student activists. Several other executions are to take place, in the days ahead, to spread more fear among the population.
Iran Press News reported that runaway girls and deserted women are being rounded up by the Islamic regime’s forces to unknown locations. Security forces had been warning them "leave the country or stay and die.”

Regime worried about the upcoming workers day celebration organizes its own.

Iran Press News reported that the regime is organizing its own bogus international workers day ceremony in front of ex-U.S. embassy. Activists responded: "We women and men workers of Iran cannot be used by the Islamic regime for their propaganda."

The Moscow talks: no agreement.

Iran Press News reported that Iran's deputy director of Majles, angry at Russia's invitation of the 5 member countries of the U.N. Security Council to a meeting in Moscow said: "Our people will never forget the cruelty and exploitation of the Russians."
Rooz Online reported that the Moscow talks with the Perm-5 are making Tehran jittery.
Radio Free Europe reported that one of Iran's largest pro-reform student groups called for "a temporary suspension of all nuclear activities" and that "there are other rights, like human rights, which have a higher priority."
Yahoo News reported that envoys from the five permanent Security Council members plus Germany discussed sanctions in Moscow against Iran over its nuclear program, but failed to reach agreement. But Russian demanded "urgent and constructive steps" from Tehran.
Reuters reported that UK Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said: "We are working on the basis that Iran will not meet the proposals from the Security Council on the 30-day deadline."
Reuters reported that Russia said it wanted no action against Iran before an April 28 U.N. deadline set for it to halt uranium enrichment. But Under Secretary of State Nicholas Burns added: "we are not going to agree to any pause by Iran."
Xinhua reported that Russia will still implement the contract to supply 30 Tor-M1 air defense systems to Iran in full. Tor-M1 is an all-weather air defense system to ensure effective protection from cruise missiles, guided bombs, warplanes, helicopters, and pilot less and remotely controlled attack aircraft.

So Western Leaders talk tough, again.

Forbes.com reported that French President Jacques Chirac said it was 'unacceptable' for Iran to have nuclear weapons, but he left the door open to resumed discussions with Tehran.
Bloomberg reported that Tony Blair warned "At a point in time when the president of Iran is talking about wiping Israel off the face of the earth and when there are young people signing up to be suicide bombers, I do not think that this is the time to send a message of weakness."
Yahoo News reported that U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said the United States would use political, economic and other measures to stop Iran from developing a nuclear weapon.
NewsMax.com reported that Sen. Joseph Lieberman said he would back a U.S. airstrike on Iran's nuclear facilities if diplomatic options fail.

Ahmadinejad wants higher oil prices.

Chron.com reported that Iran's president said: "The global oil price has not reached its real value yet."

Iran again threatens world oil supplies.

World Tribune reported that IRGC Air Force commander Gen. Hosein Salami said: "Iran can block oil export whenever necessary."

Larijani's brother to head Iranian team in US/Iran talks?

Rooz Online reported that a hard-line news agency claimed that Mohammad Javad Larijani has been nominated to lead Iran’s talks with the US. M.J. Larijani is the brother of the head of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council who has been leading the nuclear talks.

Tehran group seeks UK citizens as suicide bombers.

The Guardian reported that a Tehran-based group is trying to recruit Iranians and other Muslims in Britain to carry out suicide bombings against Israel, because of the relative ease with which UK passport-holders can enter Israel.

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

Iran Press News reported that Mansour Osanlou, director of the bus drivers union of greater Tehran, was transferred from solitary incarceration, after 4 months.
Iran Press News reported that Iranian journalist Ejlal Ghavami will go on trial on April 22nd for insulting the leadership, taking action against national security, connection with various anti-regime fronts.
Iran Press News reported that while Iran is spending million funding Hezbollah, Hamas and Islamic Jihad, the latest statistics on poverty in Iran show poverty is increasing.
Iran Press News reported that the regime's agents stormed a party arresting 37 young women and men.