Daily Briefing on Iran 3/19/2006

Thursday, March 16, 2006

ET, A View from Iran offered some sanctions on Iran that would actually work. Humor.

Bob Gorrell published a cartoon: From Russia with love.

Friday, March 17, 2006

The White House released their National Security Strategy of the United States of America which has a major focus on Iran. Full text.

Iran Press News published a report and photo of the graves being prepared on University grounds for the burial of designated martyrs.

Eli Lake, The New York Sun reported that Akbar Ganji must stay in prison because he is likely to face additional charges.

Kenneth R. Timmerman, FrontPageMagazine.com warned the US administration needs to know who its friends are inside of Iran and more importantly, who they are not.

Ilan Berman, Iran Democracy Monitor reported Iranian diplomacy is now targeting Turkey.

Wanadoo reported an Iranian appeals court has confirmed a sentence of 18 months in jail for a German and Frenchman accused of illegally entering Iranian waters in a fishing boat.

And finally, Forbes.com reported Nippon Oil Corp said it will slash its imports from Iran by 15 pct, in part because of the international confrontation over Iran's nuclear program.

Saturday, March 18, 2006

FOX News reported that U.S. Ambassador John Bolton said the U.N. Security Council appears determined to send a "strong and clear signal" to Tehran about its suspect nuclear program, after a meeting of the powerful U.N. body that he described as the best so far.

Nick Wadham, Forbes reported that Russia's U.N. ambassador on Friday rejected proposals that would have the U.N. Security Council demand a quick progress report on Iran's suspect nuclear program, saying - half in jest - that fast action could lead to the bombing of Iran by June.

U.S. Department of State reported that Secretary of State Rice said that talks with Iran would not be "negotiations." Full text.

White House released a Presidential Message to commemorate the Iranian holiday of Nowruz.

Alex Alexiev, Center for Security Policy examined the transition of Iranian totalitarian theocracy to messianic Islamofascism and suggestions towards a strategy for regime change.

BBC News reported that a group of exiled Syrian opposition leaders has announced they are to form a common front to oppose President Bashar al-Assad's government.