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

DoctorZin reports, 5.9.2006:

Iran's President sends a letter to Bush... about Islam not nukes.

MyWay.com reported that Iran's leader had written to President Bush proposing "new solutions" to their differences in the first letter from an Iranian head of state to an American president in 27 years.
Reuters reported that U.S. intelligence chief John Negroponte said a letter Iran sent to President George W. Bush over its nuclear ambitions may have been timed to influence a UN Security Council debate on Iran.
DEBKAfile claimed that Iranian sources revealed the contents of - not one but two - letters Iran’s Ahmadinejad has sent to President Bush. The letter takes a high moral tone and emphasizes the importance of Islam to mankind and the world and does not offer concessions.
Voice of America reported that Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has dismissed Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's surprise letter to President Bush, saying the letter does not address any issues of U.S. concern. She said the letter is about 18 pages long and talks about history, philosophy, and religion.

Israel talks very tough on Iran.

The Jerusalem Post reported that Vice Premier Shimon Peres said Monday in an interview said "the president of Iran should remember that Iran can also be wiped off the map."
The Daily Times reported that an unnamed Israeli official said: Israel will strike Iran’s nuclear facilities in the next “month or two or three.”

Russia seeks to gut the EU/US resolution on Iran.

The Independent reported that Russia will seek the removal of the core of a UK-sponsored draft United Nations resolution on Iran because it fears that it could pave the way to unilateral military action to curb the Iranian nuclear program.

Senate Democrats want Bush to stop Russia's sale of weapons to Iran.

IranMania reported that top opposition senators urged President George W Bush to put Iran-Russia ties, including an arms sale, on the agenda at the Group of Eight summit in St Petersburg in July.

Iran's Supreme Leader says no to Ahmadinejad.

Yahoo News reported that Iran's supreme leader has vetoed an order by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to end a 26-year-old ban on allowing women in stadiums for major sporting events.

Blair: No invasion of Iran.

Reuters reported that UK Prime Minister Tony Blair ruled out an invasion of Iran and said any suggestion of a nuclear strike on the country was "absolutely absurd".
The Financial Times reported that Margaret Beckett, the new UK foreign secretary flew to New York Monday for United Nations talks on Iran.

Iran blamed for unrest in Iraq.

The Times reported that Iran is exploiting the struggle for power among Iraq's Shia militias.
InsideBayArea reported that the United States has built or renovated nearly 260 forts along Iraq's borders and border patrols recently captured several suspected Iranian intelligence agents and found supplies being smuggled into Iraq for making the insurgents deadliest weapon: roadside bombs.

More unrest in Iran.

Forbes.com reported an explosion injured several people Monday in the governor's office in Kermanshah, a city with a large Kurdish population in southwestern Iran.

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

Charles Krauthammer, The Chicago Tribune wrote that for the first time in 1,871 years there are once again more Jews living in Israel than anywhere in the world and given that Iran is seeking the nuclear bomb it makes Israel is a tempting target for those who would finish Hitler's work.
The New York Times reported that Iranian exiles in 'Tehrangeles' are split on how the U.S. should sway Iran.
Amir Taheri, Asharq Alawsat published a book review of: IRAN TODAY.