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

DoctorZin reports, 6.19.2006:

Iranians frustrated with the Western Media lack of focus on its protests.

Rooz Online reported on the frustration of Iranian dissidents that the Western media has not done more to report on the recent pro-democracy and women's rights demonstrations in Tehran, saying it has received less coverage and importance than president Ahmadinejad’s decision last month allowing women to participate in public sporting events at stadiums.

Iran tries to blame the US.

Yahoo News reported that Iran accused the United States on Sunday of steering Europe away from a possible compromise on Tehran's disputed nuclear program.

What does a nuclear freeze mean? The main stumbling block?

The New York Times reported that the success or failure of the international initiative to curb Iran's nuclear program hinges largely on an ostensibly clear-cut request: before talks can begin, Tehran must freeze all activities related to the enrichment of uranium. But the debate on what the freeze requires is centered on finding a definition that the Iranians and the six countries behind the initiative can accept.

The CIA to seek new informants in Iran.

The Telegraph reported that the American spy who persuaded Libya to renounce its weapons of mass destruction is to return to the Central Intelligence Agency, where he will direct an aggressive drive to recruit informants inside Iran.

What is Hakim up to?

Reuters reported that while Iran is now rejecting US/Iran talks on Iraq, Abdul Aziz al-Hakim, head of the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq (SCIRI), a key Shi'ite Muslim party closely allied to Iran, said direct talks between the US and Iran could benefit both Tehran and Baghdad.
Mehran Riazaty reported that Abdul Aziz al-Hakim visited the holy shrine of the founder of Islamic Revolution on Friday night to pay tribute to the late Imam Khomeini by laying a wreath on his tomb.

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

Middle East Report Online published a historical analysis of the Iranian women's movement. An interesting read.
Middle East Newsline reported that the Palestinian Foreign Minister Mahmoud Zahar said Iran has been preparing to deliver two aircraft and 300 vehicles to the PA.
Cox & Forkum published a cartoon: Forked Tongue.