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

DoctorZin reports, 7.1.2006:

Iran invests in $1/3 Billion to suppress its internal opposition.

Rooz Online reported that the Islamic Republic of Iran spent $350 million to equip and arm 2 brigades of Baseej mass-mobilization forces with heavy weapons. These two brigades had been involved in crushing the student protests. (This is just the latest investment, but the US Senate still can't seem to approve the White House's request for $75 million to support the Iranian opposition.) A must read.

Iranian fighters captured in Iraq.

Excite News reported that Iraqi and U.S. troops battled Shi'ite militiamen in a village northeast of Baghdad on Thursday. Iraqi security officials said Iranian fighters had been captured in the fighting.
Michael Ledeen, National Review Online examined the recent report that Iranian fighters had been captured in the fighting inside of Iraq and answers the question: Who’s an Iraqi? Who’s a Shiite? What’s the Iranian threat, anyway?

Perm-5 plus 1 give Iran hold firm on July 5th deadline for Iran's response.

Los Angeles Times reported that the US, Russia and other key industrialized countries increased pressure on Iran over its nuclear program, declaring that Tehran's intentions would be judged based on its response next week to its proposal. Next week's meeting, they said, should "bring these discussions to a rapid conclusion."
Reuters reported that the US rejected Iranian calls for more time to study an offer of incentives to curb its nuclear activities, insisting Tehran must respond by a G8 deadline next week.

Iranian regime damages its economy as it preps for sanctions

Rooz Online reported that fearing international sanctions, the Iranian regime has encouraged massive imports. The volume imports are so great that Iranian ports cannot handle the volume. But economists warn that these imports are having a crushing effect on the Iranian economy.

Ganji: Islamic Democracy makes no sense!

Rooz Online reported Iran’s best-known imprisoned dissident journalist, Akbar Ganji, released last month who is touring Europe said Islamic democracy made no sense.

Iranian opposition is not anti-Semitic.

Reza Bayegan, American Jewish Committee reviewed the anti-Semitism of the Islamic Republic of Iran's leadership and contrasted it with Iran's opposition leadership.

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

RIA Novosti reported that Russia's defense minister confirmed a Ukrainian firm supplied China and Iran with six long-range cruise missiles in 2000-2001. The missiles were the Soviet Kh-55 Granat missiles (NATO reporting name AS-15 Kent) with nuclear capacity.
Rooz Online reported on a gathering to protest the detention of a former Majlis MP.
Rooz Online argued why Iran's new "Council on Foreign Relations" is unlikely help resolve Iran's foreign policy problems.
RIA Novosti reported that Russia's defense minister denied reports that Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corp missile specialists were trained at an aerospace university in southern Russia.