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

DoctorZin reports, 7.12.2006:

Ahmadinejad promises news the will cause "rejoicing" for Muslims "soon."

The Jerusalem Post reported that Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad promised a "rejoicing" for Muslims in the Middle East "soon." Ahmadinejad said the "volcano of rage" at the "arrogant powers" was "on the verge of eruption."

How will the world deal with Hezbollah?

The Telegraph reported that the Bush administration made clear that it saw the crisis in the Middle East as an opportunity for the world to deal once and for all with Hezbollah and to rein in its sponsors, Iran and Syria.
The Wall Street Journal argued that the war between Hezbollah and Israel could be a clarifying moment if the world draws the proper lessons. To wit, this is a preview of what the Middle East will look like if Iran succeeds in going nuclear.
Ali Nouri Zadeh, Asharq Al-Awsat reminded us of the origins of Lebanon's Hezbollah and why it is the legitimate son of the Iranian Revolution.
Bret Stephens, The Wall Street Journal reported on why Hassan Nasrallah the head of Hezbollah started the present crisis and why he thinks things are going his way.
Mohammed Fadhil, The Wall Street Journal, an Iraqi blogger, argued that Iran has proved that it's able to drag the region into a state of chaos and the key point in this strategy is to keep the half-solution that debilitates the other powers and at the same time it's not a costly tactic for Iran! A must read.
Dan Darling, The Weekly Standard reported the grim implications that Hezbollah launched two missiles at Haifa believed to be Iranian-produced Raad-1s, which have an estimated range of as much as 150 kilometers.
Michael Rubin, The Weekly Standard reported that while President George W. Bush said, "To help calm the situation, we've got diplomats in the region." Officials ritually promote diplomacy and dialogue, but absent an overarching strategy, diplomacy for diplomacy's sake can sometimes make matters worse.
Eli Lake, The New York Sun reported that secret efforts to set up a cease-fire between Hezbollah and Israel have hit a brick wall.
Amir Taheri, The Jerusalem Post reported that Iran and Syria are playing the decades old motto: 'When nothing else works, there is always Israel!" Despots used Israel as an excuse for their brutal rule, as a diversion from their misdeeds. But he believes that the Israel diversion may not work this time.

Iranian Hezbollah threatens the US.

The Washington Post reported that Iran's Hezbollah said it is ready to attack the US and Israel.
Reuters reported that the FBI is trying to ferret out possible Hezbollah agents in the United States amid concerns that rising U.S.-Iranian tensions could trigger attacks on American soil.

Iran expects an US attack as early as October?

John Batchelor, The New York Sun argued that Iran expects America to launch air attacks against Iranian command and control, air defenses and nuclear weapons-making and ballistic missile sites by winter, perhaps as early as October 2006.

More evidence of Iran's control over Hezbollah.

CNews reported that Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki indicated that Iran may be playing a covert role in the fighting in Lebanon when he said that a ceasefire was feasible.

The UN Security Council has not forgotten Iran's nuclear program.

Dow Jones Newswires reported that a proposed U.N. Security Council resolution would give Iran a short time to suspend uranium enrichment and work on a heavy-water nuclear reactor or face the prospect of economic and diplomatic sanctions.

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

Frederick Kempe, The Wall Street Journal argued why the new atomic age requires a new nonproliferation strategy.
The Guardian reported that Tony Blair today directly accused Iran of supplying weapons used to attack British troops in Basra.
Rooz Online reported the words of Issa Saharkhiz, an Iranian journalist who has been sentenced by jury of the special press offences. He said “They have not left any space for independent and freedom loving papers. From their perspective, a good journalist is the one who accepts the dictated stories of the judiciary, ministry of guidance, and national security council.”
Rooz Online reported on the forced confessions of imprisoned Iranian intellectual Ramin Jahanbegloo.
Rooz Online published the speech of Iranian dissident Akbar Ganji when he received the 2006 international Aubuchon award to his journalistic work in Iran.
Rooz Online reported that in response to Akbar Ganji's call for a three-day hunger strike for the release of political prisoners in Iran, Iranians in Iran and 12 other cities supported his appeal.