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

DoctorZin reports, 9.13.2oo6

Sharansky: A troubling story from Putin.

Natan Sharansky, Los Angeles Times reported that in 2000, Russian President Vladimir V. Putin told me a story that he has been unable to get out of his mind. The story involves a nephew, a suitcase, a train to Manhattan and a nuclear bomb.

France's Sarkozy: Iran is an outlaw nation.

NDTV reported that French Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy said that Iran had "made itself into an outlaw nation" and must not be allowed to develop nuclear weapons.

Did Bush promise a pre-emptive attack on Iran?

Mario Loyola, The Corner argued that President Bush is promising preemption against Iran when he said in his 9/11 address to the nation: "If we do not defeat these enemies now, we will leave our children to face a Middle East overrun by terrorist states and radical dictators armed with nuclear weapons."
The Corner published a rough transcript of Senator Santorum's speech from a Senate floor commented on Bush's 9/11 speech where he said: "We just can't get past the politics around here, just can't get past the partisan advantage around here, can't face the reality that we have a dangerous enemy out there, an enemy that wants to destroy everything we hold dear."

Did Iran offer to suspend enrichment?

The Financial Times reported that Europe is poised to compromise on Iran’s nuclear program.
Reuters reported that the State Department said Iran has not offered to temporarily suspend its uranium enrichment program.
Dow Jones Newswires reported that a senior U.S. envoy said the U.N. Security Council still intends to "move forward" toward sanctions if Tehran refuses to freeze uranium enrichment.
Forbes reported that the six world powers abandoned attempts to issue a joint statement criticizing Iran's nuclear defiance.
The Israel Project has created a petition so you may tell Kofi Annan in your own words why Iran should not get the nuclear bomb.

Ahmadinejad writes Merkel, again.

Bridget Johnson, Daily News reported that Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad penned a tome to new German Chancellor Angela Merkel, in which he said: "The propaganda machinery after World War II has been so colossal that has caused some people to believe that they are the guilty party..."

Iraq's PM visits Iran.

USA Today reported that Iraq's prime minister received a red-carpet welcome at the Iran's presidential palace on Tuesday.
NewsOne reported that Iraq‘s prime minister made his first official visit to Iran on Tuesday, asking Tehran to prevent al-Qaida militants from slipping across the border to carry out attacks.

Brits oppose military action against Iran.

Angus Reid reported that most Britons believe their government should not participate in any military effort against Iran.

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

World Politics Watch published it most recent Iran Watch: Activists Arrested, Execution Scheduled. Under-reported translations of Iranian news reports.
United Press International reported that Iran has taken measures to counter a U.S. decision to cut off the Iranian state-owned Bank Saderat from any dealings with the U.S. financial system.
Fortune Magazine reported that Iran's auto industry commissioned a study of how to run their businesses in a war zone.
The Jerusalem Post reported a campaign to expel Iran from the United Nations.
The Jerusalem Post reported that Vladimir Putin, in a rare note of criticism, said he has also deplored Iranian calls for the destruction of Israel.
Amir Taheri, Gulf News considered where are we now in the war on terror?
Caroline Glick, The Jerusalem Post reported that Harvard University's student newspaper ran as its top headline read, "Students plan to protest Khatami's visit." But ran a second headline, "Cheney visits Harvard Club through backdoor." On the surface, these stories seem to perfectly balance one another.
You Tube has a video of the protest of Khatami's Harvard speech.