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

DoctorZin reports, 6.22.2006:

The world condemns Iran for sending a human rights abuser to the "new and improved" UN Human Rights Commission.

Canada.com reported that the Iranian prosecutor implicated in the death of Montreal photojournalist Zahra Kazemi is part of a delegation at a new UN human rights body. Human rights organizations immediately condemned his presence. A must read.
Mehr.org produced a petition to protest the legitimization of Islamic Regime by the United Nations new human rights commission.

The Iranian regime plans harsher treatment of dissidents in Iran.

Rooz Online reported that after the arrest of two student activists from Amir Kabir University which has led to student protests and sit-ins, intelligence agencies of Iran are planning harsher treatment of students.
Rooz Online reported that with the increase in pressure on the regime's critics and the growing detentions in recent months, many fear the return of the old television confessions.
Radio Free Europe reported that leading Iranian women's rights activists have been charged with acting "against national security" by calling for an "illegal" gathering to promote equal rights and publishing related statements.

Iran wants more time to study the Perm-5 proposal.

Yahoo News reported that President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said his country will respond in mid-August to the package of incentives on its nuclear program offered by the West.
Breitbart.com reported that President Bush accused Iran of dragging its feet saying that the mid-August timetable "seems like an awfully long time" to wait for an answer.

While Bush is in Europe trying to unify the West on Iran...

Monsters & Critics reported that US President George W Bush and European Union leaders Wednesday sent a message of deepening transatlantic cooperation including a joint call for Iran to take a 'positive path' by suspending uranium enrichment.

The Germans see improvement in the nuclear dispute with Iran.

Spiegel Online reported that in an interview, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, said he sees improvement in the nuclear row with Iran.
CNN News reported that the foreign ministers of Germany and Iran will meet in Berlin on Saturday, weeks before the expiry of a deadline for Iran to respond to an offer of incentives if it suspends nuclear enrichment.

And many on the right are getting frustrated with Bush on Iran.

FOX News reported that a growing chorus of Bush's critics on the right wants a tougher U.S. approach to Iran.

At the same time, some see the US dedicated to an internal regime change in Iran.

Inter Press Service reported that in a little-noticed section of the administration's official national security strategy indicates that Bush has already decided that he will not use military force to try to prevent Iran from going nuclear but will seek an internal regime change.

And Iranian opposition groups are uniting.

The Washington Times reported that while for decades, Iranian opposition groups overseas have agreed on almost nothing, they are now uniting.

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

Rooz Online reported that the Iranian government’s plans to begin gasoline rationing in less than two months is expected to add fuel to the rising costs.
Forbes reported that a senior oil official said Iran will not sell gas at knock-down rates to India and Pakistan, amid a pricing dispute in talks over a planned pipeline.
Daveed Gartenstein-Ross & Adam White, The Weekly Standard reviewed the circumstances behind the administration's decision not to kill Abu Musab al-Zarqawi in 2002.
MEMRI published excerpts from an interview with Iranian Expediency Council Secretary Mohsen Rezai who said: "America is like a paper tiger." A video.
Reuters reported that Iran's governmental Physical Education Organization sacked the head of the football federation after Iran's World Cup campaign ended once again at the first round, saying they apologized "to the Iranian nation for its wounded pride."