Final stage of nuclear program; Iran: DBI

Wednesday's Daily Briefing on Iran.
Iran in final stage of nuclear program.

• TheAge.com.au reported that Iran 's president said his country was in the final stages of its nuclear program.

Iran Warns EU Against Nuclear Sanctions.

• The Guardian reported that Ahmadinejad warned Washington 's European allies on Tuesday that Iran would reconsider its relations with them if they insist on punishing Tehran for its nuclear program.

Nations fail to agree Iran nuclear sanctions plan.

• Reuters reported that the six world powers failed to agree a draft U.N. resolution to slap sanctions on Iran over its nuclear program.

'US won't order preemptive Iran strike'

• The Jerusalem Post reported that the US defense establishment's new and updated assessment for 2007 does not foresee the United States undertaking a preemptive strike on Iran 's nuclear installations.

Pentagon pick Gates: Iran seeks nuclear weapons.

• Reuters reported that Robert Gates, nominated to replace Donald Rumsfeld as U.S. defense secretary, on Tuesday said Iran was trying to acquire nuclear weapons and its leaders were lying when they said the program is strictly civilian.

Iran to host meeting on Holocaust.

• BBC News reported that Iran 's foreign ministry will host an international conference in Tehran next week that will ask if the Holocaust in World War II actually happened.

Tehran awaits Wednesday's “The University is Alive” Protest.

• Iran Press News reported that this year on the anniversary of “students’ day” many students still remain in prison. The student committee for the defense of political prisoners is calling for a protest against the continued imprisonment of students and other issues, on Wednesday December 6th at 12 noon in front of the Tehran university college of technical studies.
• Iran Press News reported that the office of fostering unity (Takim Vahdat)* has invited students, professors, civil and political activists in Iran to gather for a protest entitled “The University is Alive”.

There's no civil war in Iraq.

• Amir Taheri, Gulf News argued that the claim that Iraq is in a state of civil war has been made and unmade every three or four months on the average. Before examining the aptness of the "civil war" claim, let us see who benefits from it.

Shiite Leader Sees No Role for Iraq 's Neighbors.

• Los Angeles Times reported that the leader of a key Shiite Muslim faction in the Iraqi government told President Bush on Monday that his country's problems could not be solved by enlisting the help of Iran and Syria.

Is American Support for Middle Eastern Dissidents the Kiss of Death?

• Michael Rubin, The American Enterprise Institute reported that nowhere has the question of how to promote democracy been more controversial than in Iran . He examined two sorts of prominent Iranian dissidents who opposed American aid to pro-democracy forces and why he believes US support is important and can work.

Here are five news items you may have missed.

• Reza Pahlavi, OpenDemocracy argued that the US must consider the moral and strategic price for direct talks with the Islamic Republic of Iran.
• Middle East Media Research Institute reported that on the most recent reports of deliberate actions by the Iranian regime aimed at persecuting the intellectual elite and significantly restricting its activities. This is a general policy, apparently dictated by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as part of what he has termed the Second Cultural Revolution.
• Middle East Media Research Institute reported that Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) Commanders threatened that Iran would strike U.S. military targets in the Gulf in the event of an attack on Iran.
• Yahoo News reported that Iran 's top national security official urged his Arab neighbors Tuesday to eject the U.S. military from American bases in the region and instead join Tehran in a regional security alliance.
• Iran Press News reported that the Interpol website has been filtered in Iran.

Thank you, Doctor Zin and Team, for all you do to bring us this very important news.