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

DoctorZin reports, 6.14.2006:

Two unlikely emerging Iranian opposition leaders.

Eli Lake, The New York Sun reported that two scions of the 1979 Islamic Revolution in Iran are emerging as emboldened opponents of the regime in Tehran, reviving the prospect that the son of the former shah may collaborate with the grandson of the ayatollah who deposed him.

Secret nuclear enrichment plants exposed.

Kenneth R. Timmerman, News Max reported that new evidence is emerging that Iran has built a secret plant, located some 20 kilometers to the northeast of Tehran near the Lashgarak dam, which houses a clandestine centrifuge uranium enrichment plant, where Iran is making nuclear weapons material.

What are Russia and China up to?

Yahoo News reported that China and Russia have again refused to join with other big powers in threatening sanctions over Iran's nuclear program.
The Financial Times reported that a central Asian summit of the Shanghai Co-operation Organisation which will discuss security issues is likely to be overshadowed by the presence of Mahmoud Ahmadi-Nejad.

Most Americans believe Iran is seeking the bomb.

The Pew Research Center released the result of their poll that indicates that most Americans believe that Iran wants to possess nuclear technology in order to develop nuclear weapons, not energy. But there is broad public opposition to launching U.S. air strikes against military targets in Iran, with multilateral sanctions by far the preferred option.

Why is Iran casing NYC?

The New York Post reported that New York City Police Commissioner Ray Kelly warned that Iran has an "aggressive" spy program targeting New York City, "they are not going to other cities to do it. They are doing it here in New York. They are aggressively surveilling us."

On the offensive, again: Iran to accuse the West of human rights violations.

Fars News Agency reported that Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said his ministry is about to release a detailed report on the cases of human rights violation in the United States and Europe.

More unrest in Iran.

SMCCDI reported on the unrest, sporadic clashes and attack of some public buildings and materials in several Iranian cities, yesterday night, following Iran's 3-1 loss to Mexico in the frame of the 2006 Soccer World Cup.
BBC News reported that Iranian news websites and women bloggers have been full of angry comments about the way that policewomen took part in breaking up a women's demonstration for more legal rights in Tehran.

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

The Washington Post reported on a statement drawn up by the 16-nation nonaligned bloc at the board meeting of the IAEA "reaffirmed the basic and inalienable right" of all countries to develop, produce and use atomic energy "for peaceful purposes, without any discrimination and in conformity with their respective legal obligations."
Yahoo News reported that the U.S. Treasury Department named one U.S. and four Chinese companies as supporters of Iran's military and Iranian weapons programs.
Macleans published a detailed report on Ramin Jahanbegloo is a noted scholar and a Canadian citizen who has recently been imprisoned in Iran. An excellent report.
The Christian Science Monitor reported that Hamas or Hezbollah are now in the awkward position of having to decide whether to bend to popular opinion and end their drive to eliminate Israel.
Michael Davies reminded us of a fascinating quote by Ayatollah Khomeini regarding when to expect the fall of the Iranian regime. Ahmadinejad should be concerned by his words.
DoctorZin reported that he needed to ban some supporters of the regime from posting comments on our reports after they crossed the red-line.