Monday, October 23, 2006

Ahmadinejad: Israel cannot survive

Friday's Daily Briefing on Iran.
Ahmadinejad: Israel cannot survive.
  • Breitbart reported that Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has called Israel a "counterfeit and illegitimate regime that cannot survive", in a live broadcast on state television.
Israeli PM: Iran should be afraid.
  • YNet News reported that Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said "I am the first Prime Minister who says to Iran it should be afraid. It is inconceivable that Iran could not know what it is up against. Otherwise how would it agree on a compromise?"
Iran draft sanctions resolution could be ready in days.
  • Bloomberg reported the U.S., Britain , France and Germany are close to agreement on a United Nations draft resolution that would impose a travel ban and asset freeze on officials in Iran 's nuclear program, and bar acquisition of atomic-bomb or missile technology.
  • Bloomberg reported that U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice urged Japan to support sanctions against Iran for its uranium enrichment program.
Iranian expert: Its too late for sanctions on Iran.
  • CNSNews.com reported that Iranian affairs expert Menashe Amir said it's already too late for sanctions. "The only solution is to topple the regime," said Amir.
Iranian Press: EU warned the Islamic Republic will take revenge if sanctions are imposed.
  • The New York Times reported that Islamic Republic news papers warned Europe that if they impose sanctions on Iran , they will take revenge.
A shift in Britain 's defense doctrine?
  • Amir Taheri, Asharq Alawsat argued that Britain 's new defense doctrine appears to be shifting away from a commitment to defending its friends in the Persian Gulf , based on an interview by the head of the British army, General Sir Richard Dannatt.
The Islamic Republic paid Hamas not to release Israeli hostage?
  • CNSNews.com reported that an Israeli newspaper says that Iran paid 50 million dollars to the Hamas leadership in Damascus to scuttle a deal that would have led to the release of an abducted Israeli soldier.
Here are a few other news items you may have missed.
  • The Guardian reported that the Islamic Republic's health watchdogs are to collect the smoking devices from eating and drinking places under a sweeping purge of tobacco products signed into law by the president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
  • Iran Focus an individual identified only as “Mr. R.” has amassed an enormous personal wealth by taking out the equivalent of 1.5 billion dollars in loans from Iran ’s state banks.
  • Iran Focus reported that Iranian State media named Brigadier General Ahmad-Reza Radan on Wednesday a senior police official in the Iranian capital as Tehran ’s new chief of police.
  • Rooz Online interviewed Abed Tavanche who was among dissident university students arrested in June this year, described his ordeal and the reasons for his arrest.
  • Cox & Forkum published a cartoon: Savoir-Farce.
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