RCI SELECTED NEWS BRIEFS

POWER PLAY FOR TOP HONCHO POSITION UNDER WAY

Rooz Online reported that the six individuals arrested on charges of disrupting Rafsanjani's speech in Qom were accolyte clerics and members associated with hard-line Qom cleric Mesbah Yazdi and they were quickly released. Mesbah Yazdi, of the apocalyptic Hojatieh sect, acts as Ahmadi-Nejad's spiritual guide and mentor. He plans to snatch the position of Supreme Ruler from cancer stricker Khamenei in November, 2006.

Rooz Online reported on the absurd praise of Ahmadinejad by some in Iran.

The Observer reported that Iran's Football team will be met with a series of protests across Germany during their World Cup campaign as anger mounts against the country's viciously anti-Semitic President, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

Spiegel Online reported that in Bavaria, where Iran is set to play its first match in Nuremberg on Sunday, the state's interior minister has expressed concerns that Iranian intelligence agents may seek to stage what he described as a "provocative action" aimed at intimidating Iranian opposition members living in exile in Germany.

SMCCDI reported that tens have been arrested, in the last days, in several Iranian cities with the approach of Iran-Mexico World Cup soccer game on Sunday June 11th in an effort to avoid any massive popular unrest to take place following the game.
Alan's NOTE: I have not had time to check but will bet Iran lost as the Los Angeles based IRTV mentioned the game but not the results, despite two chances to do so and two teases.

Iran has until June 29th to respond to Perm-5 proposal.
SFGate reported that Iran given June 29 deadline to respond to anti-nuke offer.

Bolton: No "Grand Bargain" for Iran.
The Financial Times reported that John Bolton said Washington has no intention of striking a comprehensive "grand bargain" with Tehran.

Iran hopes to change the debate on its nuclear program.

Reuters reported that Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said Iran may send its own nuclear package in response to proposed incentives agreed by six world powers that seek to persuade Tehran to stop its atomic fuel work.

Alan's Note: They have successfully managed to drag out talks for three years and only need a year or so for there to be an "earthquake" type rumble in a remote area of Iran and Ahmadi-Nejad to announce from the shrine of Imam Reza (Saint of MIracles) in Mashhad that Iran had tested its first nuclear bomb. So once again they play the same "let's talk" game at which they have been winning hands down against the West.