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

DoctorZin reports, 7.5.2006:

Iranian student leader to meet with VP Cheney about "regime change" in Teheran.

Telegraph reported that an Iranian student leader, Amir Abbas Fakhravar, who was imprisoned and tortured before fleeing to the United States in May, is to meet Vice-President Dick Cheney and deliver his message about the need for "regime change" in Teheran.

The West has no choice but wait for Tehran?

Reuters reported that Western diplomats and analysts said the West has no choice but to wait as Tehran plays for time. The latest "deadline" for Iran is July 12.
Yahoo News reported that Russian President Vladimir Putin urged Iran to accept an international package of incentives aimed at defusing the standoff over Tehran's nuclear program. He added he would like this to happen before next week's Group of Eight industrialized nation's summit in Russia.

Signs of desperation inside of Iran.

Rooz Online reported how healthy Iranians are selling their Kidney's on the black market in Iran, providing further evidence of the desperate economic conditions there.
Rooz Online reported on the rise of suicide in Iran, the vast majority from young women. Further evidence of the desperation of Iranian young people.
Iran Focus reported that the U.S. State Department put Iran among the main countries engaged in human trafficking. The report described Iran as a “source, transit, and destination country for women and girls trafficked for the purposes of sexual exploitation and involuntary servitude”.

Iran's Supreme Leader seizes "executive authority" to follow the Chinese model?

Rooz Online argued that Iran's Supreme Leader's recent decree for reducing the size of the government and selling government stocks and shares in its commercial enterprises is evidence of his grasping for the executive functions of the government. It appears he is trying to follow the Chinese model, but there are problems with this approach.

Ahmadinejad couldn't take it anymore.

Rooz Online reported that a group of students advising President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on student issues was dismissed because of its criticism of the performance of the government in the sphere of higher education. He didn't like being criticized.

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

George W. Bush, WhiteHouse.gov in his weekly radio address said: "Today, all who live in tyranny and all who yearn for freedom can know that America stands with them."
Amir Taheri, Gulf News reported on the future of coalition in Iraq.
Rooz Online published a cartoon of Ahmadinejad "sleeping on the job."
Current TV published a video cartoon: "Iran: Deal Or No Deal?" A little humor.