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

DoctorZin reports, 8.22.2006:

What is Iran planning for Tuesday, August 22nd?

ABC News reported that many are concerned with Iran's promise to respond August 22nd to the UN's nuclear offer. August 22nd marks a holy day on the Islamic calendar that is the day of reckoning for Shiites. Islamic expert Robert Spencer said: "The only thing we can know is that the date was not chosen by accident."
Daveed Gartenstein-Ross, Counterterrorismblog saw a possible connection between North Korea's possible nuclear test and Iran's self imposed nuclear deadline of August 22nd.
Yahoo News reported that Iran has turned away U.N. inspectors wanting to examine its underground nuclear site in an apparent violation of the Nonproliferation Treaty.
Adnkronos International reported that just hours before Iran is due to give world powers its response to a package of incentives aimed at persuading the country to give up its nuclear activities, new centrifuges have been installed at the Natanz uranium enrichment facility.
CNN News reported that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Monday the Islamic Republic had decided to press ahead with its pursuit of nuclear energy.

Here are a few significant reports that explain why so many are concerned about August 22nd.

Many Iranians are convinced that regime wants the nuclear bomb.

Spiegel Online reported that while the Iranian government appears set to reject the European incentive package on Tuesday. Most Iranians themselves don't know what to think. But many believe that the regime wants the nuclear bomb.

What worries many is Iran is once again exporting its "Islamic Revolution."

Tariq Alhomayed, Asharq Alawsat argued that what we are witnessing today is not a by-product of the issue of Iran's nuclear activities, but rather something more important which is Iran’s resumption of exporting the "Islamic revolution."

Arabs gather to counter Iran's effort to win the hearts and minds of the Lebanese.

Haaretz reported that Arab League foreign ministers convened for an emergency meeting in Cairo to discuss a plan to create a fund to rebuild Lebanon. Arabs want to counter the flood of money that is believed to be coming from Iran to Hezbollah to finance reconstruction projects.

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

The New York Times reported that Venezuela's recent engagement of Iran has become a defining element in its effort to build an alliance to curb American influence in developing countries.
John R. Thomson, National Review Online wondered when will the United States and its allies to take action against a founding member of the Axis of Evil?
Reuters reported that Iran's government has urged the judiciary to clamp down on newspapers which spread "lies." (Nothing new here).