Iran claims Nuke capacity increased 10-fold

Tuesday's Daily Briefing on Iran.
Ahmadinejad declares their nuclear capability has increased "10 fold"

• Dow Jones Newswires reported that Ahmadinejad said that Iran 's nuclear capability has increased "10-fold" despite Western pressure to roll back the country's nuclear program.

Islamic Republic announces a second enrichment facility.

• Dow Jones Newswires reported that within the past few weeks Iranian nuclear experts had started up a second pilot enrichment facility.

Rafsanjani warns the UNSC.

• Iran Press News reported that Rafsanjani cited the United Nations Security Council’s resolution against the Islamic Republic and said: "I warn the Security Council not to tempt fate around the world or this region anytime soon."

Russia denies the UNSC is discussing a resolution on Iran's nuclear program.

• RIA Novosti reported that Russia 's foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, said Monday the UN Security Council is not discussing a resolution on Iran 's controversial nuclear program.
• The Wall Street Journal reported that Condoleezza Rice ended her round-the-world trip on a chilly note in Russia , finding limited support for her next big international challenge: imposing sanctions on Iran over its nuclear program.

Minister of Islamic culture and guidance confesses to people’s widespread opposition to the regime.

• Iran Press News reported that Revolutionary Guard-cum-minister of Islamic culture and guidance, Mohammad-Hossein Saffar-Harandi (pictured), confessed to the Iranian people’s widespread opposition to the Islamic Republic and cited the Saturday, October 7th riots in Tehran as an example of the hundreds of such protest movements against the regime.

Massive corruption and embezzlement in oil and gas projects.

• Iran Press News reported that the deputy of the economic sector of the Islamic regime’s inspector general has discovered widespread corruption and embezzlement in several oil and gas pipeline projects.

Ahmadinejad tells Iranians to "Go forth and multiply"

• The Scotsman reported Ahmadinejad wants his country to grow from its 70 million citizens to 120 million. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said "Western countries have problems, and since they have a negative population growth, they are worried and scared that if our population grows we may dominate them."

Protests grow in advance of Khatami's award in Scotland.

• Harry's Place reported on the varied groups protesting Khatami's award at St Andrews University in Scotland.

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

• Iran Press News reported that esteemed activist and blogger, Kianoosh Sanjari is now officially known to be detained in the notorious ward 209 of Evin prison.
• Iran Press News reported that a weekly publication entitled Safeer’eh Dashtestan was banned by the public prosecutor of the city of Boushehr . The charges were “insulting the person of the supreme leadership.”
• Iran Press News reported that Delara Darabi’s painting exhibition entitled “The prisoner of colors" opened in Tehran . Delara is one of the young women who are on death row in Iran.
• Spengler, Asia Times Online argues that it is time to teach the Islamic Republic a lesson for its troublemaking in Iraq and beyond.

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