Monday, June 26, 2006

Tuesday's Daily Briefing on Iran

DoctorZin reports, 6.27.2006:

Canada to world: Arrest Tehran's Prosecutor.
  • Eli Lake, The New York Sun reported that an Iranian prosecutor, Mr. Mortazavi, who is accused of condoning the torture, rape, and murder of a Canadian photojournalist has eluded arrest after Canadian Prime Minister Harper made an appeal to the world to use "all manner of law" available to apprehend him. A preview of UN sanctions on Iran?
What will Iran do with $60 billion?
  • Strategiy.com reported that Iran expects to earn 60 billion dollars from oil exports in its current financial year that ends on March 20, 2007. This is $10 billion more than last year.
Iranian blackmail.
  • Mail & Guardian reported that Iran threatened to allow drug traffickers to flood Europe with narcotics unless its costly border-security operation is given a massive $500 million hike in United Nations funding.
Mysterious blast in Iran.
  • IRNA reported that unofficial reports said four people were injured and five cars damaged as a result of a blast in the southern city of Shiraz.
  • SMCCDI also reported on the blast and that while authorities have attributed the blast to an incident that involved an oil tanker they added: the same type of strange reason has been advanced, in the past, in reference to strange explosions.
Iran's Supreme Leader seeks help with Foreign Policy.
  • Tehran Times reported that Iran's Supreme Leader issued a decree establishing the Strategic Council for Foreign Relations and appointed Kamal Kharrazi as its chairman, tasked with setting up the council to assist in making major decisions and to seek new horizons in Iran’s foreign relations.
Iran's nuclear negotiator claims a "win-win" solution to nuke crisis possible.
  • IRNA reported that the Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council Ali Larijani said concerning the nuclear issue, Iran believes in the win-win game and that attempts are made to this end.
Russia prepares to start Iran's reactor and possible oil investment.
  • Regnum reported that the Russian state company Atomstroy export started preparing to launch a water-conditioning system at the Bushehr nuclear power plant in Iran, the first step in starting the reactor.
  • RIA Novosti reported that Russia's Gazprom and Iran have agreed to study the possibility of forming a joint enterprise to develop oil and gas deposits.
West to Iran: gives us your answer.... now!
  • Yahoo News reported that Germany's foreign minister said it was inconceivable that the six powers that made an offer of incentives to Iran should have to wait until August 22 for a response.
  • Yahoo News reported that Britain's new ambassador has appealed to Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to give an "early response" to the international package aimed at defusing concerns over Iran's nuclear program.
Ahmadinejad prepares historic to visit Iraq.
  • Adnkronos International reported that Ahmadinejad will visit Iraq soon to meet with Iraqi president Jalal Talabani, prime minister Nouri al-Maliki, and Shiite leader Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani.
Here are a few other news items you may have missed.
  • Human Rights Watch asked Iran’s judiciary to rescind the death sentences of at least 10 Iranians of Arab origin convicted of plotting against the state, and retry them before courts that meet international fair trial standards.
  • TurkishPress.com reported on Turkey's Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul’s visit to Iran to start a process of negotiation between the West and Iran to solve the nuclear crisis.
  • Rooz Online reported that as the regime pursues its policies of confronting student activists, the center for activities of protesting students, the Islamic society of Isfahan University was shut by official order.
  • The Telegraph reported the belief amongst most intelligence agencies is that a chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear (CBRN) attack, using a so-called dirty bomb, is now inevitable.
  • Peter Hoekstra and Rick Santorum, The Wall Street Journal asked, why is our intelligence community holding back the evidence of Saddam's WMD's?
  • Richard Perle, The Washington Post asked, why did Bush blink on Iran?