A Daily Briefing on Iran: Week in Review

DoctorZin provides a review of this past week's [8/20/06 - 8/26/06] major news events regarding Iran. (The report is organized by various categories in chronological order, not by importance). Catch up on all the past week's news developments. READ MORE

Iran's Nuclear Program & The UN Security Council.

Fox News reported that Iran will offer a "multifaceted response" to a Western package of incentives aimed at persuading it to suspend uranium enrichment activities, but insisted it would not cease enriching uranium.
The Times Online reported that ordinary Iranians are fearful as the prospect of international sanctions looms closer.
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.
Dow Jones Online reported that Iran promised a written response to a Western incentives package later on Tuesday.
IranMania.com reported that Iran's top nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani will submit a written response to an international offer aimed at resolving a nuclear standoff at 1230 GMT.
Reuters reported that Iran on Tuesday handed over its reply to an incentives package by world powers aimed at allaying Western fears that Tehran seeks to build atomic bombs.
My Way News reported that Iran's top nuclear negotiator said Tehran was ready to enter "serious negotiations" over its disputed nuclear program but did not say whether it was willing to suspend uranium enrichment.
The Christian Science Monitor reported that the question now becomes how quickly the United States in particular can get its international partners to approve the sanctions against Tehran.
The Washington File reported that John Bolton said the UNSC would study Tehran’s response before moving ahead with sanctions. “but we are also prepared, if it does not meet the terms set by the Perm 5 foreign ministers [China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States], to proceed here in the Security Council, as the ministers have agreed, with economic sanctions.”
MosNews reported that an Iranian delegation arrived in Moscow for four days of talks as Russia plans to reach a final agreement to launch Iran’s first nuclear reactor at Bushehr.
Hemscott reported that Iran will soon announce an atomic breakthrough.
Mehr News reported that the regime’s news agencies have just reported in its Farsi section (but not in English) that within the next few days the regime will announce a major breakthrough in its nuclear activities. The breakthrough is of huge importance.
MEMRI.org reported that the Iranian news service Al-Borz predicted that on the first anniversary of Iranian President Ahmadinejad's government, in late August 2006, Ahmadinejad is expected to announce what the news service called Iran's "nuclear birth."
Yahoo News reported that the State Department said: Yesterday the Iranian government conveyed its response to the package of incentives... we will review it. The response, however, falls short of the conditions set by the Security Council.
FOX News reported that France's foreign minister said that Iran must suspend uranium enrichment if it wants to return to the negotiating table.
The Jerusalem Post argued that Ahmadinejad and associates have perfected the "Art of Foot-Dragging."
Canadian Press reported that Russia and China backed Iran's call for negotiations to end the standoff with the UNSC.
Bronwen Maddox, The Times Online reported that Iran scored one clear success in the long-running wrangle over its nuclear ambitions when Russia made clear that the US and Britain will struggle to get its support for sanctions, even if Tehran continues to offend.
Reuters reported that an exiled opposition group said Iran has built at least 15 advanced P-2 centrifuges, which could dramatically speed up its production of nuclear fuel needed to create a nuclear bomb, and will have hundreds more ready next year.
The Wall Street Journal argued that the Ayatollah's answer to the West's nuclear proposal looks like a calculated attempt to conquer the Security Council by dividing its members.
USA Today reported that while the six world powers studying Iran's response to their offer of nuclear negotiations will likely reject Tehran's terms for talks because they do not even touch on the possibility of freezing uranium enrichment.
Boston Herald in an editorial asked: When is a “deal” not a deal, not even worth the paper it’s printed on? When the “deal” is Iran’s latest response to U.N. Security Council.
Reuters reported that German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Iran's response to an international package of incentives meant to persuade it to give up uranium enrichment is not satisfactory. "The decisive sentence is missing (from Iran's response) and this needs to be addressed."
The Times Online reported that Kofi Annan, the UN Secretary-General, is to make his first trip to Iran since President Ahmadinejad called for Israel to be wiped off the map, in spite of strenuous American objections.
IndianExpress reported that Germany’s Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said Iran wants guarantees that it won’t face UN sanctions before it is prepared to restart negotiations over its nuclear program.
Reuters reported that Russia ruled out any discussion for now of sanctions against Iran over its nuclear program.
The New York Times reported that the formal reaction from the United States and its European allies to Iran’s refusal to suspend uranium enrichment has been decidedly low-key. It is all part of
The Financial Times reported that whatever else might be said about the Iranian regime, it has played its diplomatic hand adroitly and plays by its own rules.
Amir Taheri, Asharq Alawsat warned that Ahmadinejad is convinced that his strategy of "pre-emptive move" has succeeded and that with the US entering a period of confusion as the Bush presidency draws to its close, the Islamic Republic can and must establish itself as the regional superpower.
Dow Jones Newswires reported that French President Jacques Chirac said Iran's response to an international package of incentives meant to persuade it to return to negotiations over its nuclear program was a "little ambiguous."
Xinhua reported that Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Saturday that the Iranian people would "use force" to protect the country's disputed nuclear program as he inaugurated a heavy water plant. He aqdded: "There is no talk of nuclear weapons and there is no discussion of nuclear weapons, we are not a threat to anyone." Lies of the day from Ahmadinejad.
Haaretz reported that a senior Iranian official warned yesterday Iran may develop nuclear weapons and pull out from the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) if international pressure against its nuclear program continues.
Yahoo News reported that a heavy-water nuclear reactor has entered another phase of production despite U.N. demands that Tehran shut it dPresident Mahmoud Ahmadinejad inaugurated the heavy-water production which now has the ability to produce up to 16 tons of heavy water a year. The reactor is not scheduled for completion until 2009.
Los Angeles Times reported that the Bush administration officials have indicated that they are prepared to form an independent coalition to freeze Iranian assets and restrict trade.

Iranian opposition leaders furious: Former president of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Khatami, invited to speak in Washington DC.

The Washington Post reported that the Bush administration has agreed to issue a visa to Mohammad Khatami to give a public address at the Washington National Cathedral next month. Iranian opposition leaders were shocked by the announcement and are asking people to write the White House and the organizers of the event asking them to cancel the invitation.
Reuters reported that Khatami applied on Tuesday for a U.S. visa to give a speech in Washington next month but the State Department said it had not decided whether to allow him to come.
Kenneth R. Timmerman, FrontPageMagazine.com reported that the disgraced former president of the Islamic Republic, Mohammad Khatami, wants to speak in Washington, D.C., next month, and the State Department has already indicated it will welcome his visit. This is pure foolishness. Write the White House and let them know your feelings on this.
The New York Sun in an editorial said that an internal fight is under way at the highest levels of the Bush administration over whether to issue a visa to the former president of Iran, Mohammed Khatami, to visit Washington. But argued that his purpose for the visit is to enlist the usual useful idiots to defend his nation's right to nuclear power.
Adnkronos International reported that Khatami, the former President of the Islamic Republic, said: "It is Iran's right to possess nuclear technology, this is not up for debate and the world has to trust us when we say our nuclear program is only intended for peaceful purposes."
Iran va Jahan published a copy of a letter by Congressman Brad Sherman to Condi Rice saying a visit by the so-called reformist president would no doubt be utilized for maximum propaganda benefit by the Iranian government and that Khatami showed no interest in curtailing his country’s support for terrorism He asked her to deny the visa request.
LittleGreenFootballs reported that three days before the fifth anniversary of the 9/11 Islamic terror attacks, the Council on American Islamic Relations will host a dinner for the former president of the world’s worst terror-sponsoring state, Mohammad Khatami.

Iran behind Hezbollah's war on Israel - The cease fire.

The New York Times reported that despite a cease-fire agreement, Israel intends to do its best to keep Iran and Syria from rearming Hezbollah and to kill the militia’s leader, Sheik Hassan Nasrallah.
Ali Nouri Zadeh, Asharq Alawsat reported that the Iranian government's pledge of 500 million dollars to Hezbollah has angered many Iranians who say they are still awaiting money to help rebuild their homes that were damaged by wars and natural disasters.
The Jerusalem Post reported that an Italy has been asked by Iran's top nuclear negotiator to negotiate the release of two kidnapped Israeli soldiers whose abduction prompted monthlong fighting in Lebanon.
Expatica reported that Iran has obtained German guidance gear for its drones used in Lebanon, just hours after the revelation that Britain had supplied night-vision equipment to Iran which ended up in the hands of Hezbollah fighters.
Amir Taheri, The Wall Street Journal agues why so many in the Middle East believe that Hezbollah didn't win its recent war with Israel.
Nidra Poller, The Wall Street Journal reported that Jacques Chirac, like Hassan Nasrallah, is always victorious. But France reduced its promise from 3,000 battle-ready soldiers to 200 engineers. The U.S. was fooled by a slick French seduce-and-betray operation.
Eli Lake, The New York Sun reported that Israel's relationship with Turkey, its closest ally in the region, has been put under severe strain by the Israeli army's discovery that one route Iran used to resupply Hezbollah in Lebanon ran through Turkey into Syria.
Herald Sun reported that Nicole Kidman and 84 other Hollywood heavy weights condemned Hamas, Hezbollah as "terrorist organizations," in a full page ad in the LA Times.
Dr. Raanan Gissin, Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs published a report on the critical importance of Israeli public diplomacy in the war against the Iran-Hezballah Axis of Terror.
The Daily Star reported that with quiet prevailing in Lebanon, the question now is will Turkey take part in the international force to assist in the ceasefire. But warned that a few years ago, Turkish peacekeepers to Lebanon would have been a great idea, today, it is a dangerous one.
Ha'aretz reported that the Israel Defense Forces has appointed Israel Air Force Commander Major General Elyezer Shkedy as the IDF's "campaign manager" against Iran.
The Weekly Standard reported that during the recent war between Hezbollah and Israel, U.N. "peacekeeping" forces openly published daily real-time intelligence on the location, equipment, and force structure of Israeli troops in Lebanon. But did not do the same regarding Hezbollah.

Ahmadinejad's promised message to the world coming soon... 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.
Robert Spencer, FrontPageMagazine.com: Iran's Day of Terror?
Bernard Lewis, The Wall Street Journal: August 22nd.
Patrick Poole, FrontPageMagazine.com: Ahmadinejad’s Apocalyptic Faith.
The Washington Post reported that a Romanian oil rig off the coast of Iran came under fire Tuesday from an Iranian military warship and was later occupied by Iranian troops.
Robert Spencer, FrontPageMagazine.com who wrote extensively about the dangerous implications of Ahmadinejad's choice of August 22nd to respond to the West's nuclear proposal, produced this followup report saying: August 22 has come and gone. But the threat of Iran continues to hang over the world.

Iranian dissident's.

Rooz Online reported that imprisoned Iranian student leader Ahmad Batebi's life is in danger, according to his doctor. A full report of his condition.
Iran Press News reported that a young Iranian man was imprisoned for his connection to political parties and teenager was shot in Kurdistan.
Iran Press News published a news update on the status of Haydar-Gholi Soltani, a retired lawyer who was arrested in mid-September 2005 is now being detained in Evin prison.
Iran Press News provided a report on the status of political prisoners in Azerbaijan where approximately 650 people have been registered on the Tabriz prison computer database in connection with recent protests.
Helpnazanin.com asked people to sign their petition calling for the release of Nazanin Mahabad Fatehi who was sentenced to death for murder by court in Iran after she stabbed one of three men who attempted to rape her.
Rooz Online reported that 98 Court summons, temporary detention, disregard for prisoner conditions, closure of newspapers, heavy sentences, forced confessions are only some of the developments in Iran that speak of more human rights violations.
Iran Press News reported the murder of a young man by regime’s police forces in Piranshahr.
Iran Press News reported the disappearance of a teacher and human right activist in the town of Kamyaran.
Rooz Online reported that as the news of Akbar Mohammadi’s death, and the condition of other political prisoners such as Ahmad Batebi, Ali Akbar Mousavi Khoeini, and Ramin Jahanbegloo, among many others, has created a wave of concern. The condition of other political prisoners in the provinces and smaller towns is as bad.

Interesting reports inside of Iran.

Iran Press News reported that the Islamic regime’s minister of justice confessed to the ever-increasing crime rate in Iran and said: “The country’s escalating crime rate is quite worrisome.”
Iran Press News reported that electric company workers of the city of Rasht will take their protest to Tehran.
Rooz Online reported that Kayhan, the leading newspaper of Iran’s fundamentalists published a story claiming Islamic texts prophesied Nassrollah's battle with Israel that has been exposed as fraudulent.
Iran Press News reported that Kayhan, the regime newspaper claimed that following the news of the victory of Hezbollah against the Zionist regime that parents are rushing to the registration offices to change their children’s names to Nasrollah.
Iran Press News reported that after months of speculation and fluctuating news, Sheibani, the managing director of the Central Bank, will finally step down.
SMCCDI reported a major power outage resulted in sporadic protest actions, against the Islamic regime, as millions of Tehranis were paralyzed in their daily activities.
Rooz Online reported that from the moment of the fundamentalist take-over of the government, there have been many new Internet sites launched and most of these sites are in support of Ahmadi-Nejad.

Human Rights and Freedom of the Press in Iran.

Reuters reported that Iran's government has urged the judiciary to clamp down on newspapers which spread "lies." (Nothing new here).
Iran Press News reported on a protest in Kurdistan of the trial of labor activists.
News Observer reported that the European Union questioned the circumstances surrounding the recent death of an Iranian student activist, Akbar Mohammadi, and called on Tehran to launch an independent investigation into the case. A little too late.
Pamela Bone, The Australian, a feminist, criticized her movement for the lack of concern for the rights of Muslim women in Iran.
Iran Press News reported with the implementation of harsh rules for issuing proper permits for translating, promoting and distribution of books, publishers in Iran have begun to go bankrupt; many writers and translators with considerable backgrounds have also abandoned their craft.
Iran Daily reported that Iran will now require identification cards be issued for Iranian websites and individuals will be responsible for what they publish on their websites.

The Iranian Military.

The Jerusalem Post reported that Iran on Sunday test-fired a surface-to-surface short-range missile a day after its army launched large-scale military exercises throughout the country. The "Saegheh... missile, has a range of between 80 to 250 kilometers."
The Washington Post reported that Iran test-fired 10 surface-to-surface short-range missiles, including a missile it claimed was not detectable by radar that can use multiple warheads.
Hindustan Times reported that Iran's massive military exercise will last five week's and Brig Gen Mohammad Hassan Dadras claimed: "no air force is capable of confronting the army of the Islamic Republic of Iran."
The Washington Post reported that a Romanian oil rig off the coast of Iran came under fire Tuesday from an Iranian military warship and was later occupied by Iranian troops.

The Iranian Economy.

Iran Focus reported that trade between Iran and Russia has fallen by half in the first quarter of the 2006.

Iran and the International community.

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.
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.
The Jerusalem Post reported that Israeli Minister Rafi Eitan called for the readying of bomb shelters and reinforced rooms countrywide, in advance of a possible conflict with Iran.
Yahoo News reported that Brig. Gen. Michael Barbero said: the Iranian government is training and equipping much of the Shiite insurgency in Iraq.
Reuters reported that Iran's oil minister has said the country believes the position of OPEC secretary general is its right.
Reuters reported that Saudi Arabia Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal took a swipe at Arab countries which are close to Iran.

The US Congress on Iran.

The New York Times reported that some senior Bush administration officials and top Republican lawmakers are voicing anger that American spy agencies have not issued more ominous warnings about the threats that they say Iran presents to the United States.

Must Read reports.

Alan Peters, Anti-Mullah published his response to a common criticism of the Iranian people by Americans which he considers a total disconnect of the American mind from reality in Iran.
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."
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?
Iran Press News reported that the brother of Hassan Rowhani, the Islamic regime’s ex-nuclear negotiator is now the Islamic cultural attaché in the United States. But some are alleging his job title is just a "cover."
Masood Faruvar, The Wall Street Journal examined the question of whether a Sunni-Shia war will soon engulf the new Middle East.
Michael J. Totten, Reason reported that in Iraqi Kurdistan, the war is already over. There are no insurgents in Kurdistan. Nor are there any kidnappings.
Ann Leslie, The Daily Mail argued why Ahmadinejad should give us all nightmares.
A. Yasmine Rassam, Los Angeles Times argued that if the antiwar crowd and Democrats have their way, the United States will be Iran's hostage once again.
Bloomberg reported that the Iranian military forces handed back control of an oil rig seized yesterday in the Persian Gulf to its Romanian owners. But then...
Dow Jones Newswires reported that lawyers for Romanian oil services company GSP, are on their way to Tehran to negotiate a release of an oil rig that has been taken over by Iranians.
FrontPageMagazine.com in an interview with Regnar Rasmussen discussed: How the Soviets gave the Mullahs the bomb.
Charles Krauthammer, The Washington Post argued that the conventional wisdom about President Bush is that the cowboy has been retired. Multilateralism is back. Diplomacy is King. American diplomacy on Iran has, up until now, been defensible.
The Times Online reported on the Secret war being waged in Iraqi Kurdistan’s isolated Kandil mountain range. Since April Iran has been bombing the area, an attempt by the Islamic republic to curry favour with Turkey.

The Experts.

Ali Nouri Zadeh, Asharq Alawsatreported that the Iranian government's pledge of 500 million dollars to Hezbollah has angered many Iranians who say they are still awaiting money to help rebuild their homes that were damaged by wars and natural disasters.
U.S. House of Represenatives announced the release of a committee report on the strategic and intelligence challenges posed by Iran. The complete unclassified report can be read here.
Chatham House released a major new report which seeks to shed light on the Iranian nuclear dispute.
Amir Taheri, New York Post argued that Iran is trying to redefine the Palestinian cause from a political issue into a messianic cause.
Amir Taheri, Asharq Alawsat reviewed the book, The Force of Reason by Oriana Fallaci who argues that Europe is facing a great conspiracy to destroy its civilization, enslave its peoples, and use it as a base for the conquest of the world.
Kenneth R. Timmerman, FrontPageMagazine.com reported that the disgraced former president of the Islamic Republic, Mohammad Khatami, wants to speak in Washington, D.C., next month, and the State Department has already indicated it will welcome his visit. This is pure foolishness. Write the White House and let them know your feelings on this.
Amir Taheri, The Wall Street Journal agues why so many in the Middle East believe that Hezbollah didn't win its recent war with Israel.
Amir Taheri, Asharq Alawsat warned that Ahmadinejad is convinced that his strategy of "pre-emptive move" has succeeded and that with the US entering a period of confusion as the Bush presidency draws to its close, the Islamic Republic can and must establish itself as the regional superpower.

Photos, cartoons and videos.

Cox & Forkum published another cartoon: Disproportionate Response II.
Ardeshir Dolat produced a Cox & Forkum Cartoon Slide Show.
Cox & Forkum published another cartoon: Carrot and Stick.
A photo of Khamtami's Friends.

The Quote of the Week.

Xinhua reported that Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Saturday that the Iranian people would "use force" to protect the country's disputed nuclear program as he inaugurated a heavy water plant. He aqdded:

"There is no talk of nuclear weapons and there is no discussion of nuclear weapons, we are not a threat to anyone."