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

DoctorZin reports, 5.12.2006:

Ahmadinejad warns that Israel will one day "vanish," and so will the U.S.

Khaleej Times Online reported that Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Thursday that Israel “one day will vanish.” But he has also said the same thing about the US. Photo.

Iranians students clashing with regime over democracy.

Iran Press News reported that a seminar on democracy and daily life that was organized by the association of social sciences faculty of school of Social Sciences of Tehran University has been cancelled under pressure and threats from the ministry of intelligence and security.
Iran Press News reported that subsequent to the cancellation of the permit for the Democracy and Daily life seminar university students gathered for a peaceful protest.
Iran Press News reported that students from the faculty of social sciences while gathering at the main entrance of Tehran University called for other students from the other schools of Tehran University campus to join them. The disciplinary guards who had mobilized on the university grounds assaulted and severely beat students.

Iran's letter to Bush: a prelude to war?

Amir Taheri, The New York Post examined the ancient and recent history behind the letter Ahmadinejad wrote to President Bush and warned the letter contains a crucial message: The present regime in Iran is the enemy of the current international system and is determined to undermine and, if possible, destroy it.
WorldNetDaily reported that some Middle East observers believe Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's letter to President Bush could be a precursor to war, based on a traditional Muslim pattern of offering acceptance of Islam before establishing it by force.
The New York Sun reported that President Ahmadinejad's letter to President Bush is in fact a declaration of war. The key sentence in the letter is the closing salutation. It is left untranslated and rendered as "Vasalam Ala Man Ataba'al hoda." What this means is "Peace only unto those who follow the true path." It is a phrase with historical significance in Islam.

Heritage Foundation: Now is the time to engage the Iranian people.

Helle Dale, Heritage Foundation reported that now is the time to engage the Iranian people, one of the most pro-American in the Middle East. This is one area where U.S. public diplomacy may have promising contributions to make.

Washington Post: Not all Iranians agree with regime.

The Washington Post reported the divide inside of Iran between the apocalyptic vision of Ahmadinejad's own spiritual adviser, Ayatollah Taqi Mesbah-Yazdi who recently suggested that future elections were superfluous because a true Islamic government had arisen and those that long for real change inside of Iran.

More worker protests inside of Iran.

Iran Press News reported that the Iranian workers of Gilan clothing industries gathered in front of the Gilan department of industries to protest 10 months of non-receipt of their wages.
Iran Press News reported that one hundred employed workers from the Iranian Tide Water and Kaveh companies at the Anzali shipping protested in front of the governor's office of the province of Gilan were arrested and sent to prison.

Russia: Nothing to discuss with Iran.

Peoples Daily Online reported that the head of the Russian Atomic Energy Agency Sergei Kiriyenko said there is no need to hold talks with Iran on a joint venture to enrich uranium.

French oil bribes Iranian leaders.

Iran Press News reported that the French oil company Total, which gained extensive profits in Iran, is under investigation for allegedly bribing the Rafsanjani family over the years in order to land the best possible contracts.

Peres: Iran would give nukes to terrorists.

The Jerusalem Post reportedthat Israeli Vice Premier Shimon Peres said that if Teheran was to achieve nuclear capabilities, it would make its way to terrorist organizations.

US troops move to the Iranian border.

Zaman reported that in response to the Iranian military attack inside of Iraq against Kurdish forces, the US Army in Iraq is claimed to have increased the military build up of US troops on the Iranian border.

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

ABC News reported that Mohamed ElBaradei, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), said he was pleased the U.N. Security Council was holding off from sanctions against Iran and added: "We need compromises from both sides."
The Financial Times reported that Iran warned that proposals being prepared by European governments to resolve the nuclear dispute must allow Tehran to continue uranium enrichment for “research and development“.
Iran Press News reported that a university student was suspended for drawing a cartoon of Ahmadinejad.
Littlebird.com published a cartoon: Iran: tear down that wall!