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

DoctorZin reports, 6.7.2006:

Iran receives the Perm-5 +1 Proposal.

Yahoo News reported that EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana handed Iran an international proposal on the nuclear crisis and the two sides held "good" talks.
Bloomberg reported that President George W. Bush said Iran's response to a U.S.-backed initiative aimed a resolving a standoff over the Islamic Republic's nuclear program is a "positive" first step.
New York Post reported that while the Bush administration offered to join the negotiations with Iran, Ahmadinejad quickly rejected any cessation of enrichment. But the U.S. government is refusing to take no for an answer.
Reuters reported that oil dipped, then steadied below 73 dollars a barrel after Iran said world powers had made positive proposals to end a crisis over its nuclear program.

So why did the Iranians say the proposal was "good?"

Yahoo News reported that a package of incentives presented Tuesday to Iran includes a provision for the United States to supply Tehran with some nuclear technology.

Can the West handle Iran cutting off its oil?

Reuters reported that U.S. Energy Secretary Sam Bodman said the world economy could handle any theoretical cutoff of Iranian oil exports "for a while."

Rafsanjani walks out of talk in Qom.

Rooz Online reported that Rafsanjani was subjected to so much criticism while speaking in Qom that he left the stage and has since canceled all public events.

More arrests in Iran.

Rooz Online reported that a large number of writers and journalists were among those arrested during the recent popular protests in the province of Azarbaijan.

Iran caught smuggling, again.

Kuwait News Agency reported that a prominent Austrian security official said Austrian custom authorities have busted highly sophisticated missile equipment stranded for Iran.

Can a legal case be made against Iran?

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

Amir Taheri, Gulf News examined why Condi Rice pushed for direct talks with Iran and considered the question: Will the Rice gambit work in Iran?
Rooz Online reported on Iranian dissident Akbar Ganji's acceptance speech in Moscow where he received the prestigious Golden Pen of Freedom award.
Ha'aretz reported the US is "cementing" the plans for an assault on Iran.
Ian Bremmer, RealClearPolitics examined the question: Are there limits to the Iranian leadership's resolve?