Fissures in the Iranian regime increase


Sunday, June 25, 2006.
The fissures in the Iranian regime increase.

• Abbas Milani, The Washington Post reported that despite Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei insistence that there are no fissures in the Iranian regime, something is clearly rotten in the state of Iran. They discuss the four main factions struggling for control in the Islamic republic.
• The Guardian reported that Rafsanjani is preparing a quixotic final bid for political power - with backing from some surprising quarters. If he succeeds he will be in prime position to become Iran's next Supreme Leader. But some factions consider Rafsanjani a traitor to the Iranian revolution.

Washington is concerned North Korea may sell Iran the bomb.

• The New York Times reported that late last year the White House told American intelligence agencies to evaluate the danger that the North Koreans might be tempted to sell their nuclear expertise — or a bomb's worth of plutonium — to the Iranians.

The US prepares to sever Iran's financial support for terrorist activities.

• Dow Jones Newswires reported that a Treasury official said the U.S. government will use "all instruments of national power," to combat Iran's sponsorship of terrorism.

Germany: We can talk if Iran stops enrichment.

• Independent Online reported that German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier reminded Iran that it must halt nuclear enrichment if it wanted to begin negotiations with six world powers.

Kissinger asks "is Iran a nation or a cause?"

• The Washington Post reported that Henry Kissinger said: "Iran has to take a decision whether it wants to be a nation or a cause," Kissinger explained. "If a nation, it must realize that its national interest doesn't conflict with ours."

While Iran and Syria increase ties, Syrians are concerned.

• The New York Times reported on the Iranian and Syrian governments, and their people, are tightening relations on several fronts as power in the region shifts away from the once dominant Sunni to Shiites, led by Iran. But it is creating concerns inside Syria.

Iranian officials can't decide if the US is interested in a united, powerful, and integrated Iraq.

• Mehran Riazaty reported on the conflicting statements by Iranian officials on the conditions in Iraq.

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

• Los Angeles Times reported that the VenIran low-rise tractor factory in remote eastern Venezuela is one of the signs of Iran's growing presence in Venezuela which is being monitored by a U.S. government on alert for any evidence that Iran may be exporting terrorism.
• Peoples Daily Online reported that Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul will pay a visit to Iran to facilitate the peaceful solution to Iran's nuclear issue.
• Monsters & Critics reported that while the Iranian national football team returned to Tehran in the early hours of Saturday, the 'scapegoats' for the Iranian defeat preferred to stay abroad.
• Alan Peters, AntiMullah.com found a cartoon video of the other World Cup games. Humor.

Category: Iran.
- posted by Rosemary Welch@10:38 PM