Saturday's Daily Briefing on Iran

DoctorZin reports, 7.22.2006:

Shipment of radio active materials bound for Iran interdicted.

• Iran Press News reported that officials in Bulgaria stopped a truck carrying radio active materials to Iran.

Iran experts tell US Senate its time for a regime change in Iran.

• AxcessNews reported that Iran experts argued to US Senators that a Western-backed incentive package to abandon its nuclear ambitions would not yield results. The overthrow of the mullah is the only option to quell the threat of a nuclear Iran.
• Michael Ledeen, U.S. Senate Committee Testimony, reminded the Senators that if we could help Change the Iranian regime, and the nuclear question becomes manageable. He provided suggestions on how to encourage an internal regime change.
• Ilan Berman, U.S. Senate Committee Testimony, suggested that Washington would do well to simultaneously focus its energies on three objectives: economic pressure, democracy promotion and public diplomacy, with specific recommendations.
• Amir Abbas Fakhravar, U.S. Senate Committee Testimony, said that VOA and Radio Farda and some of the political groups in United States and Europe emphasize reform rather than regime change. To help the Iranian people, the VOA and Radio Farda programming must support regime change.

Iranian opposition invited to the White House.

• Eli Lake, The New York Sun reported that two senior Bush administration officials at the White House met with 30 Iranian activists and academics to discuss the future of Iran.

Blair headed for the White House.

• Bloomberg reported that President George W. Bush and his closest ally, U.K. Prime Minister Tony Blair, will meet in Washington July 28.

Rafsanjani complains about lack of Arab support for Hezbollah.

• Iran Press News reported that Rafsanjani complained "Why have other Islamic countries maintained their silence in regards to the disaster in Lebanon and have not even condemned [Israel]." Photo.
• Khaleej Times reported that Rafsanjani hailed Lebanon’s Hezbollah as “heroes”, but rejected mounting allegations that Iran and Syria were behind the Shiite movement’s conflict with Israel.
• Mehran Riazaty reported that the Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps, Brigadier General Yahya Rahim Safavi, said Israel is not aware of Hezbollah’s capabilities.
  

Iran tries to blackmail famous Iranian researcher with death sentence.

• Iran Press News reported that Dr. Alireza Sassanian, a pharmacological researcher famous for his vaccines, was arrested and remains in Evin Prison for failing to transfer the registration of his discovery from his own name to one of the governmental universities of the Islamic regime. He has also been sentenced to death.
  

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

• Stratfor examined Iran's motives in Lebanon.
• RIA Novosti reported that Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad will sign five cooperation agreements with Tajikistan's leadership during a visit next week.
• The Wall Street Journal published an excellent report on Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of Hezbollah.
• Newt Gingrich, USA Today argued why now isn't the time for Israeli restraint in Lebanon.