A Daily Briefing on Iran: Week in Review

DoctorZin provides a review of this past week's [7/30/06 - 8/05/06] major news events regarding Iran. (The reports are listed in chronological order, not by importance) READ MORE

Iran behind Hezbollah's war on Israel.

Reuters reported that the head of Iran's Revolutionary Guards said hardline forces should get ready to take revenge on Israel and the United States for the offensive on Lebanon. The regime later retracted the report.
Los Angeles Times reported that to President Bush, the conflict in Lebanon is "a moment of opportunity" for the United States — with the most important target not Hezbollah or even neighboring Syria, but distant Iran.
Amir Taheri, The Australian argued that Hezbollah in Lebanon is a state within a state thrives in the south modeled after the Islamic Republic of Iran.
The Washington Times reported on Hezbollah's use of human shields.
Michael Ledeen, The Corner found an interesting post on Hezbollah's "Civilian Shields."
The Jerusalem Post reported that French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy said of Iran: "In the region there is of course a country such as Iran - a great country, a great people and a great civilization which is respected and which plays a stabilizing role in the region." One diplomat asked, "What planet is he on?"
Rachel Ehrenfeld, The Washington Times argued that Israel is now fighting two of radical Islam's most virulent versions -- the Shi'ite Hezbollah and the Sunni Hamas and its ability to defeat them, will determine the survival of the United States and all Western-style democracies.
Aljazeera.net reported that Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati called on Muslim countries to arm Hezbollah in its struggle against Israel.
Radio Free Europe reported that Iranian Foreign Minister Manuchehr Mottaki continued his visit to Beirut with a meeting with Lebanese President Emil Lahud.
Iran Press News reported that Hezbollah executes 18 Lebanese Christians & Druze for exposing Hezbollah hideouts.
Reuters reported that Iran has freed, Saad bin Laden, a son of al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden sending him to the Syria-Lebanon border and the task of building Islamist terror cells and preparing them to fight together with Hizbollah.
The Sacramento Bee reported that British Prime Minister Tony Blair issued a stern warning that Syria and Iran will face serious consequences if they continue working to destabilize the Middle East. "If they keep raising the stakes, they will find they have miscalculated."
Amir Taheri, Gulf News looked at past cease fires in Lebanon and reasons why creating one between Hezbollah and Israel is full of dangers.
Amir Taheri, The Times Online reported that all the wars in the Middle East of the past century revolved around secular issues and none had a messianic dimension, until now.
Reuters reported that Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and other leaders from the Islamic world demanded a halt on Thursday to Israeli attacks on Lebanon and Gaza.
Yahoo News reported that according to Jane's Defence Weekly, Iran will supply Hezbollah with surface-to-air missile systems in the coming months, boosting the guerrillas' defences against Israeli aircraft.
The Jerusalem Post reported that Iran admitted for the first time that it did indeed supply long-range Zelzal-2 missiles to Hezbullah.
Yahoo News reported that Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Siniora in remarks published has accused Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki of "going over the limit" by criticising his plan to end the war between Hezbollah and Israel.
Iran Press News reported on an interview with Mullah Ali-Akbar Mohtashami-pour, known as "The Godfather" of Lebanon's Hezbollah and also known as one of the leaders of the defeated and now-marginalized band of Reformists. He said: "while I was in Lebanon and Syria myself, we were able to organize at least 30 training sessions and each session was consistent of 300 trainees."
Iran Press News reported that Hezbollah forces are dispatched to Iran in order to receive training by the Islamic regime and are then returned to Lebanon. A 30-member group, who were on a recent training visit to Iran, was instructed on the operations of the “Fajr” Missiles 3 and 5, the Russian-made SAM (Surface-to-Air Missiles) 7 and the Chinese QW1.

Ahmadinejad's promised message to the world coming soon... August 22nd?

Yehudit Barsky, InfoIsrael.net reported that little attention has been paid to Tehran's preparations for a possible showdown with America and its allies for a confrontation code-named "Al-Qiyamah," which is Arabic for "Judgment Day."
The Washington Post reported that Iran awarded Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez its highest state medal on Sunday for supporting Tehran in its nuclear standoff with the international community. Then quoted Chavez saying: "Let's save the human race, let's finish off the U.S. empire."
Daniel Hannan, The Telegraph argued that the Iranian Revolution of 1979 will one day be seen as an epochal event, as significant as the French Revolution of 1789 or the Russian Revolution of 1917. We must first recognize the magnitude of what we are up against.
Michael Ledeen, National Review Online argued that we are witnessing a repeat of the same mistakes that the world made in the 1930's that led to WWII.
Iran Focus reported that Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei blasted United States policy in the Middle East and warned of an impending Muslim “jihad”, or holy war, against the West.
Xinhua reported that Iranian Supreme Leader said: "Muslims in the world must understand the only method to fight back the savage wolf of Zionism and Great Satan's aggression is resistance."
FortWayne.com reported that Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Thursday the solution to the Middle East crisis is to destroy Israel. "Although the main solution is for the elimination of the Zionist regime, at this stage an immediate cease-fire must be implemented."
Dow Jones Newswires reported that France's foreign minister condemned Iran's call to destroy Israel, saying Iran is ruining its chances to play a positive and stabilizing role in the Middle East.

Iran's Nuclear Program & The UN Security Council.

Yahoo News reported that Iran's president signaled that Israeli attacks against the Palestinian territories and Lebanon were causing Iran to harden its stance in the international row over its nuclear program.
FOX News reported that Iran's foreign ministry warned Sunday that Tehran would abandon the West's package of nuclear incentives if the U.N. Security Council approves a resolution against Iran on Monday.
The Wall Street Journal reported that the U.N. Security Council passed a weakened resolution Monday giving Iran until Aug. 31 to suspend uranium enrichment or face the threat of economic and diplomatic sanctions.
Dow Jones Newswires reported that President George W. Bush applauded the United Nations Security Council resolution saying: "It's a strong resolution."
Reuters reported that Iranian U.N. Ambassador Javad Zarif rejected as illegal the Security Council demand that it suspend its nuclear activities.
Dow Jones Newswires reported that Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad rejected a U.N. Security Council resolution that would give his nation until Aug. 31 to suspend uranium enrichment.
Rooz Online reported that the spokesman for the Majlis Leadership said: The West will yield on the nuclear issue.
Iran Press News reported that the Islamic Republic has now specifically announced that should their nuclear dossier be voted for referral by the United Nations Security all political prisoners, whether on furlough or in prison, will be summarily executed.
CNN.com reported that a South Korean state-run think tank said North Korea has been working closely with Iran to develop its long-range ballistic missiles, possibly using Chinese technology.
Fox News reported that Russia said that Iran must respect an Aug. 31 deadline set by the U.N. Security Council for it to suspend uranium enrichment in order to avoid further steps against it.
The Times Online reported that Iran is seeking to import large consignments of bomb-making uranium from the African mining area that produced the Hiroshima bomb. A huge shipment of smuggled uranium 238, uncovered by customs officials in Tanzania destined for the Iranian port of Bandar Abbas.

Iranian dissident Mohammadi's murder and funeral.

Iran Press News reported that a beloved student leader, Akbar Mohammadi, died as a result of brutal torture by Islamic regimes' judiciary at the infamous Evin Prison. Mohammadi had just been returned to his cell in ward 350 after a brutal torture session. He was on his 9th day of a hunger strike. He gave his life for freedom. Photos.
Reza Pahlavi released a statement on the murder of jailed dissident Akbar Mohammadi.
Iran Press News reported that the Islamic Republic has now specifically announced that should their nuclear dossier be voted for referral by the United Nations Security all political prisoners, whether on furlough or in prison, will be summarily executed.
Yahoo News reported that the United States harshly condemned what it called Iran's "severe repression of dissidents" following the death of a jailed student activist, Akbar Mohammadi.
Rooz Online reported more on the death of Akbar Mohammadi when his father, who has another son (Manoutchehr Mohammadi) behind bars as well, told Radio Farda that he had heard from other prisoners that prison guards had tried to beat Akbar out of his hunger strike.
Eli Lake, The New York Sun reported that the younger sister of Iranian student activist Akbar Mohammadi says her brother was tortured and then murdered at Iran's Evin's prison this past weekend. "I received two phone calls on Sunday from fellow inmates who told me, ‘Akbar was poisoned.'"
SOSIran published a translation of a report on the condition of the body of the Iranian dissident. Graphic language.
Iran Press News published photos of the funeral of Iranian dissident Akbar Mohammadi.

Human Rights and Freedom of the Press in Iran.

Rooz Online reported that the office of Amir Kabir University's student association was demolished in the presence of management and faculty members and with the approval and support of Dr. Rahaiee, the chancellor of the University.
Adnkronos International reported that Iranian authorities banned the human rights group founded four years ago by a group of lawyers including Nobel Prize laureate Shirin Ebadi.
Reza Pahlavi demanded the release of all Iranian political prisoners in Iran after the death in prison of Akbar Mohamadi, the Iranian dissident, this week.
Iran Press News reported that August 2nd, over 50 workers and activists from the greater Tehran bus drivers Union gathered in front of the labor department in east Tehran and asked that their belated demands be investigated as promised.
Iran Press News reported that the publisher of the economic and cultural publication, Asia was sentenced to 6 months in prison charged with “propaganda for activist groups opposed to the Islamic Republic.”
Michael Ledeen, The Corner commented on our report, where Iran warned that should their nuclear dossier be voted for referral by the United Nations Security all political prisoners will be summarily executed, saying A regime that kills its own citizens will not hesitate to kill its external enemies.
Iran Press News reported that since the Islamic regime was taken off-guard by recent demonstrations and protests by the brave people of Tabriz, they have been displaying their mercenaries in the streets under the guise of conducting “maneuvers for confronting uprisings and unrest in the cities”, the terrorism-financing Islamic regime aims to strike fear in the hearts of the people.

The Iranian Economy.

Khaleej Times reported that Iranian Oil Minister Kazem Vaziri-Hamaneh said Teheran will import gasoline for the next few months, cooling speculation that politically inflammatory rationing could be imminent.
Iran Press News reported that China and Iran have signed a $100 Billion memorandum of understanding for the export of Iranian liquid gas.
Reuters reported that India and Pakistan were offering to pay only half the amount for Iranian gas that Tehran was seeking as part of efforts to agree a pipeline deal.

Iran and the International community.

Boston Herald reported that Somalia’s prime minister accused Egypt, Libya and Iran of providing weapons for Islamic militants who have seized control of much of this country’s south.
Iran Press News reported that the regime-run Kayhan newspaper is demanding that a transit for drug shipments from Iran into Europe be opened up.
Mos News reported that Washington imposed sanctions on two of Russia’s leading arms firms over their links with Iran on Friday, a step Moscow said was a “clearly illegitimate” attempt to impose U.S. laws on foreigners.

The US Congress on Iran.

Kamran Beig reported that Friday Congress will consider commemorating the 1906 Constitutional Revolution in Iran.
Yahoo News reported that the United States hailed Iran's constitutional revolution on its 100th anniversary as a defining but short-lived advance toward democracy, and voiced support for Iranians it said who still hoped for an open society.
TradeArabia News Service reported that Rep Tom Lantos, an influential lawmaker has met Iran's UN ambassador Javad Zarif at the envoy's New York home twice in 2006.

Must Read reports.

Robert Tracinski, RealClearPolitics argued that the new Lebanon War is a war in which everyone knows the enemy's strategy, in which it is child's play to see through all of his ruses and propaganda tricks--and yet our leaders, rather than devising their own counter-strategy, fall for every ruse and play along,
Caroline Glick, The Jerusalem Post argued that Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is the man to watch these days. And yet it would seem that those in positions of power are paying him little heed.
Dennis Prager, Real Clear Politics argued that whenever you hear that "world opinion" holds a view, assume it is morally wrong. He explains why.
The Times Online in an editorial argued that the West must remember what the Middle East conflict is about, a question of values.
David Warren, Real Clear Politics asked what happened to all the coverage from Qana? As usual, when the "liberal" media begin to realize they've been had, the story disappears. But it is never properly corrected. An examination of the underreported aspects of the story. A must read.
Daveed Gartenstein-Ross, The Weekly Standard explained: Why The Jihadist's Fight, in a review of Professor Mary Habeck's book Knowing the Enemy: Jihadist Ideology and the War on Terror. A must read.
Alan Peters, AntiMullah published a retrospective on his reign on the occasion of the twenty-fifth anniversary of the death of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi (1919-1980). He compared the Monarch to what followed.

The Experts.

Amir Taheri, The Australian argued that Hezbollah in Lebanon is a state within a state thrives in the south modeled after the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Henry A. Kissinger, The Washington Post argued that while many assert that what is needed in relation to Iran is a diplomacy comparable to that which, in the 1970s, moved China, the challenge of the Iranian negotiation is far more complex.
Michael Ledeen, The Corner found an interesting post on Hezbollah's "Civilian Shields."
Michael Ledeen, National Review Online argued that we are witnessing a repeat of the same mistakes that the world made in the 1930's that led to WWII.
Amir Taheri, Gulf News looked at past cease fires in Lebanon and reasons why creating one between Hezbollah and Israel is full of dangers.
Amir Taheri, The Times Online reported that all the wars in the Middle East of the past century revolved around secular issues and none had a messianic dimension, until now.
Michael Ledeen, The Corner commented on our report, where Iran warned that should their nuclear dossier be voted for referral by the United Nations Security all political prisoners will be summarily executed, saying A regime that kills its own citizens will not hesitate to kill its external enemies.

Photos, cartoons and videos.

Herald Sun published photos smuggled out of Lebanon show Hezbollah fighters dressed in civilian clothing using high-density residential areas as launch pads for rockets and heavy-caliber weapons. Photos.
Iran Press News published photos of the beloved student leader, Akbar Mohammadi, who died as a result of brutal torture by Islamic regimes' judiciary at the infamous Evin Prison.
Rooz Online published a cartoon: Student Leader Akbar Mohammadi finally free.
Iran Press News published photos of the funeral of Iranian dissident Akbar Mohammadi.
A Graphic entitled: A love so beautiful...Putin & his Ahmadinejad.

The Quote of the Week.

FortWayne.com reported that Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Thursday the solution to the Middle East crisis is to destroy Israel.

"Although the main solution is for the elimination of the Zionist regime, at this stage an immediate cease-fire must be implemented."