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

DoctorZin reports, 5.16.2006:

The under reported "Achilles heel" of the Iranian Regime: Its workers.

Amir Taheri, Arab News challenged the perception that the internal opposition to the present Iranian regime is marginal. Pointing to recent new reports, Iran's urban working class that has just started to flex its muscles. It showed its force with the biggest May Day demonstration ever seen in the Middle East. The participants made no secret of the fact that they were unhappy with the Khomeinist system as a whole.

Hitchens: Bush should speak directly to the Iranian people.

Christopher Hitchens, Slate argued that Bush should respond to Ahmadinejad's letter, but he should speak directly to the Iranian people.

Iranian regime preparing to force Islamic dress on Iranian people?

YNet News reported that the Iranian parliament authorized most of the clauses of the "national uniform law" suggested by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad before parliament. The law is supposed to replace what is termed "Western" dress from the streets of Iranian cities, and advance "Islamic" dress.

Is the EU3 to offer Iran "Peaceful" nuclear technology a test?

Yahoo News reported that the European Union is preparing to make a "bold" offer to Iran, including possible security guarantees, to persuade it to curb its atomic plans.
Reuters reported that the European Union is ready to share the most sophisticated civilian nuclear technology with Iran if it agrees to halt uranium enrichment on its soil.

Does Kofi Annan believe Iran is seeking nuclear weapons?

The Scotsman reported that U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan called for urgent action on the Iranian nuclear crisis saying: "The international community has to take very urgent steps to deal with these issues before we have a cascade of a proliferation of nuclear weapons."

Iran pumping weapons into Iraq.

DEBKAfile reported that in the past two weeks, Iran has been pumping into Iraq two types of extra-lethal weapons in very large quantities.
Iraq the Model reported that Iran's revolutionary guard corps is supplying Zarqawi's al-Qaeda in Iraq with Russian-made anti-aircraft weapons including the infrared guided, shoulder-born missile Sam 7 (Strela) in addition to other weaponry like machineguns and improved IEDs. Photo.

Iranian President seeks to join Russia and China's Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

RIA Novosti reported that the Iranian president plans to attend a summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in Shanghai on June 15.

Pentagon has not yet presented any formal recommendations on an Iran attack?

The Washington Times the Pentagon is updating its options for attacking Iran to set back Tehran's nuclear program, but Pentagon advisers say they do not think Gen. John Abizaid, chief of U.S. Central Command has presented formal military options.

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

Iran Focus reported that Iran’s former President Ayatollah Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani accused the West of launching a “psychological war” against the Islamic Republic.
The India Times reported that the US has again asked Pakistan to abandon the seven billion dollar gas pipeline planned to Pakistan.
Wretchard, The Belmont Club examined the current debate on whether the US should enter into direct talks with Iran. But the current debate has forgotten the effect of direct talks on the pro-democracy movement inside of Iran.