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

DoctorZin reports, 6.30.2006:

Perm-5 Plus 1: We want an answer from Iran by July 5th.

Kenneth R. Timmerman, FrontPageMagazine.com argued why the G-8 foreign ministers in Moscow need to demand a July 5th deadline for Iran to give an answer its offer of a nuclear deal.
Forbes reported that the United States, Russia and other industrial democracies said Thursday they expect Iran to answer "yes" or "no" by July 5th. Yes, Russia wants an answer now.

Iran ignored the July 5th deadline.

CBS News reported that Iran's foreign minister brushed aside the demand from the major industrialized nations to respond by July 5 th. Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said Iran had questions about the proposal that will be raised in talks expected early next month with Javier Solana.

Intelligence services warn Britain of Iranian attacks on British targets.

The Guardian reported that intelligence agencies have warned ministers that Iran could launch terrorist attacks against British targets if the row over its controversial nuclear program escalates.

Why Iran's Supreme Leader wants a new Foreign Relations Council.

A. Savyon*, MEMRI explains how Iran's Supreme Leaders announce of a new Foreign Relations Steering Council, whose official function is to set Iran's foreign relations policy and strategy is designed to limit the power of Ahmadinejad and his mentor Ayatollah Mesbah Yazdi.

Iran continues to sentence women to death by stoning.

Adnkronos International reported that an Iran court has sentenced a Kurdish woman, Malak Ghorbany, found guilty of committing adultery to death by stoning. Photo. See also a video of a stoning if you have a strong stomach.

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

Amnesty International said that as the annual Babek Castle cultural gathering of Iranian Azeri Turks approaches on 30 June 2006, they are urging the Iranian authorities to exercise restraint while policing the gathering.
The Financial Times argued that the West should play Iran at its game. They said: If the Iranian regime is playing a delaying game, the west should not abandon the waiting game. ... Mr Ahmadi-Nejad must be seen by his fellow Iranians to be dragging Iran into isolation rather than being pushed there by the US.
Cox & Forkum published another cartoon: Unrequited War.