IRAN A POSSIBLE NATO SUPPLY ROUTE INTO AFGHANISTAN
"An Iranian diplomat has held informal talks with NATO officials for the first time in 30 years... ... the talks with Iran's ambassador to the European Union, Ali-Asghar Khaji, had concentrated on Afghanistan... news reports have suggested that NATO countries with forces in Afghanistan might have an interest in using Iran as a supply route..."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7966263.stm
Thursday, March 26, 2009
IRAN ACCEPTS U.S. AFGHAN INVITATION
"Iran has confirmed it will attend a US-backed international conference on the future of Afghanistan... US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said earlier this month that Iran should attend the high-level meeting... the two share an interest in a stable Afghanistan."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7965529.stm
"Iran has confirmed it will attend a US-backed international conference on the future of Afghanistan... US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said earlier this month that Iran should attend the high-level meeting... the two share an interest in a stable Afghanistan."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7965529.stm
Saturday, March 21, 2009
IRAN RESPONDS TO OBAMA OVERTURE
"... President Obama on Thursday offered "a new beginning" in relations with Iran... Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has demanded concrete policy changes from the US as the price for new relations between the two states... singling out US support for Israel and sanctions against Iran... a minimum requirement for Iran would be a move by Washington to ease US sanctions..."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7956504.stm
"... President Obama on Thursday offered "a new beginning" in relations with Iran... Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has demanded concrete policy changes from the US as the price for new relations between the two states... singling out US support for Israel and sanctions against Iran... a minimum requirement for Iran would be a move by Washington to ease US sanctions..."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7956504.stm
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
EXTREMIST ARABS NEED IRAN - U.S. CONFLICT
"... There are extremist views among the Arab world, which perceive Iran as an opponent... Arab countries are not pleased with the prospect of [improved] Iran-U.S. relations, and whenever they think this relationship might be re-established, they react negatively. These reactions manifest in their talks with the U.S. or in creating an Iran 'fear factor' in the region, emphasizing regional disputes and trying to create a distorted image of Iran. They see their interests in keeping the current state of continual conflict among the west, the U.S., and the Islamic Republic."
"(But) It is not in the Arab and Islamic world’s best interests to enter into a family feud with Iran. We must be united with other Islamic countries, so that we may focus on the bigger challenges facing the Islamic world."
--Dr. Kazem Jalali, an influential conservative member of Iran’s parliament, the Majlis, and rapporteur of the National Security and Foreign Policy Commission
http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=46138
"... There are extremist views among the Arab world, which perceive Iran as an opponent... Arab countries are not pleased with the prospect of [improved] Iran-U.S. relations, and whenever they think this relationship might be re-established, they react negatively. These reactions manifest in their talks with the U.S. or in creating an Iran 'fear factor' in the region, emphasizing regional disputes and trying to create a distorted image of Iran. They see their interests in keeping the current state of continual conflict among the west, the U.S., and the Islamic Republic."
"(But) It is not in the Arab and Islamic world’s best interests to enter into a family feud with Iran. We must be united with other Islamic countries, so that we may focus on the bigger challenges facing the Islamic world."
--Dr. Kazem Jalali, an influential conservative member of Iran’s parliament, the Majlis, and rapporteur of the National Security and Foreign Policy Commission
http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=46138
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
U.S. STATE DEPT. COMMENTS ON IAEA REPORT ON IRAN
U.S. Department Of State
Office Of The Spokesman
February 19, 2009
Question Taken At The February 19, 2009 Daily Press Briefing
"Question: Does the United States have any comment with regard to the latest IAEA report on Iran?
Answer:... The IAEA’s latest report on its efforts to resolve all outstanding issues on Iran’s nuclear program is clear. Key elements of the report include:
• Iran’s continued refusal to suspend its proliferation sensitive nuclear activities as required by the UN Security Council. Iran has instead continued to enrich uranium and has a stockpile of over 1010 kilograms of low enriched uranium as of 19 February.
• Iran’s refusal to respond constructively to the IAEA’s requests regarding its past work to develop a nuclear weapons capability. The report notes that Iran has refused to work with the IAEA on this issue since August 2008. This is deeply troubling.
• Iran’s noncompliance with its international obligations, having refused to permit the IAEA to conduct an inspection at the under-construction Arak reactor, a facility which Iran should have suspended per the requirements of the UN Security Council.
We once again urge Iran to suspend its uranium enrichment-related reprocessing, and heavy water-related activities, to make a full disclosure to the IAEA of all nuclear weapons activities, and to facilitate full IAEA verification of its nuclear program, including through the application of Additional Protocol measures, without delay."
http://www.america.gov/st/texttrans-english/2009/February/20090220100344eaifas0.4128687.html
U.S. Department Of State
Office Of The Spokesman
February 19, 2009
Question Taken At The February 19, 2009 Daily Press Briefing
"Question: Does the United States have any comment with regard to the latest IAEA report on Iran?
Answer:... The IAEA’s latest report on its efforts to resolve all outstanding issues on Iran’s nuclear program is clear. Key elements of the report include:
• Iran’s continued refusal to suspend its proliferation sensitive nuclear activities as required by the UN Security Council. Iran has instead continued to enrich uranium and has a stockpile of over 1010 kilograms of low enriched uranium as of 19 February.
• Iran’s refusal to respond constructively to the IAEA’s requests regarding its past work to develop a nuclear weapons capability. The report notes that Iran has refused to work with the IAEA on this issue since August 2008. This is deeply troubling.
• Iran’s noncompliance with its international obligations, having refused to permit the IAEA to conduct an inspection at the under-construction Arak reactor, a facility which Iran should have suspended per the requirements of the UN Security Council.
We once again urge Iran to suspend its uranium enrichment-related reprocessing, and heavy water-related activities, to make a full disclosure to the IAEA of all nuclear weapons activities, and to facilitate full IAEA verification of its nuclear program, including through the application of Additional Protocol measures, without delay."
http://www.america.gov/st/texttrans-english/2009/February/20090220100344eaifas0.4128687.html
Sunday, March 15, 2009
IRAN READY TO AID AFGHANSTAN
"... Iran has accepted an invitation from Italy to participate in the Group of Eight summit on Afghanistan, to be held in Trieste in June. This conference will discuss the "spillover" of conflict in Afghanistan and ways to secure the borders of Afghanistan and Pakistan. Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan have already begun a trilateral initiative in this regard.... An important axis of cooperation between the Islamist states of Iran, Pakistan and Afghanistan is on the horizon... closer cooperation between the three nations is imminent..."
"This week's landmark summit of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) again highlighted the increasingly important regional dimension of Tehran's foreign policy. "Iran is ready for cooperation to aid Afghanistan," the spokesperson said at the closing of the ECO meetings...."
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/KC13Ak03.html
"... Iran has accepted an invitation from Italy to participate in the Group of Eight summit on Afghanistan, to be held in Trieste in June. This conference will discuss the "spillover" of conflict in Afghanistan and ways to secure the borders of Afghanistan and Pakistan. Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan have already begun a trilateral initiative in this regard.... An important axis of cooperation between the Islamist states of Iran, Pakistan and Afghanistan is on the horizon... closer cooperation between the three nations is imminent..."
"This week's landmark summit of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) again highlighted the increasingly important regional dimension of Tehran's foreign policy. "Iran is ready for cooperation to aid Afghanistan," the spokesperson said at the closing of the ECO meetings...."
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/KC13Ak03.html
Sunday, March 08, 2009
IRAN NOT MAKING NUCLEAR WEAPON
"Public confusion over Iran comes from misunderstanding nuclear enrichment...
Iran is producing low-grade uranium-235 (LEU U-235), enriched to only 2.5%, to generate electricity. Tehran has this absolute right under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Its centrifuge enrichment process at Nantaz is under 24-hour international inspection. Iran's soon-to-open nuclear plant at Bushehr cannot produce nuclear weapons fuel.
Today, some 15 nations produce LEU U-235, including Brazil, Argentina, Germany, France, and Japan. Israel, India and Pakistan, all nuclear weapons powers, refused to sign the non-proliferation treaty. North Korea abrogated it.
UN inspectors report Iran has produced 1,010 kg of 2% to 3% enriched uranium for energy generation. Theoretically that is enough for one atomic bomb. But to make a nuclear weapon, U-235 must be enriched to over 90% in an elaborate, costly process. Iran is not doing so, say UN inspectors.
Highly enriched U-235 or plutonium must then be milled and shaped into a perfect ball or cylinder. Any surface imperfections will prevent achieving critical mass. Next, high explosive lenses must surround the core and detonate at precisely the same millisecond. In some cases, a stream of neutrons must be pumped into the device as it explodes.
This process is highly complex. Nuclear weapons cannot be deemed reliable unless they are tested. North Korea recently detonated a device that fizzled. Iran has never built or tested a nuclear weapon.
Even if Iran had the capability to fashion a complex nuclear weapon, it would be useless without delivery. Iran's sole medium-range delivery system is its unreliable, inaccurate, 1,500-km ranged Shahab-3. Miniaturizing and hardening nuclear warheads capable of flying atop a Shahab missile is another complex technological challenge.
It is inconceivable that Iran or anyone else would launch a single nuclear weapon. What if it didn't go off? Imagine the embarrassment and the retaliation. Iran would need at least 10 warheads and a reliable delivery system to be a credible nuclear power.
Israel, the primary target for any Iranian nuclear strike, has an indestructible triad of air, missile and sea-launched nuclear weapons. An Israeli submarine with nuclear cruise missiles is on station off Iran's coast. Iran would be wiped off the map by even a few of Israel's 200 nuclear weapons...
Much of the uproar over Iran's so far nonexistent nuclear weapons must be seen as part of efforts by Israel's American partisans to thwart President Barack Obama's proposed opening to Tehran, and to keep pushing the U.S. to attack Iran's nuclear infrastructure. They and many Israeli experts insist Iran has secret weapons programs that threaten Israel's existence."
http://www.torontosun.com/comment/columnists/eric_margolis/2009/03/08/8671731-sun.html
"Public confusion over Iran comes from misunderstanding nuclear enrichment...
Iran is producing low-grade uranium-235 (LEU U-235), enriched to only 2.5%, to generate electricity. Tehran has this absolute right under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Its centrifuge enrichment process at Nantaz is under 24-hour international inspection. Iran's soon-to-open nuclear plant at Bushehr cannot produce nuclear weapons fuel.
Today, some 15 nations produce LEU U-235, including Brazil, Argentina, Germany, France, and Japan. Israel, India and Pakistan, all nuclear weapons powers, refused to sign the non-proliferation treaty. North Korea abrogated it.
UN inspectors report Iran has produced 1,010 kg of 2% to 3% enriched uranium for energy generation. Theoretically that is enough for one atomic bomb. But to make a nuclear weapon, U-235 must be enriched to over 90% in an elaborate, costly process. Iran is not doing so, say UN inspectors.
Highly enriched U-235 or plutonium must then be milled and shaped into a perfect ball or cylinder. Any surface imperfections will prevent achieving critical mass. Next, high explosive lenses must surround the core and detonate at precisely the same millisecond. In some cases, a stream of neutrons must be pumped into the device as it explodes.
This process is highly complex. Nuclear weapons cannot be deemed reliable unless they are tested. North Korea recently detonated a device that fizzled. Iran has never built or tested a nuclear weapon.
Even if Iran had the capability to fashion a complex nuclear weapon, it would be useless without delivery. Iran's sole medium-range delivery system is its unreliable, inaccurate, 1,500-km ranged Shahab-3. Miniaturizing and hardening nuclear warheads capable of flying atop a Shahab missile is another complex technological challenge.
It is inconceivable that Iran or anyone else would launch a single nuclear weapon. What if it didn't go off? Imagine the embarrassment and the retaliation. Iran would need at least 10 warheads and a reliable delivery system to be a credible nuclear power.
Israel, the primary target for any Iranian nuclear strike, has an indestructible triad of air, missile and sea-launched nuclear weapons. An Israeli submarine with nuclear cruise missiles is on station off Iran's coast. Iran would be wiped off the map by even a few of Israel's 200 nuclear weapons...
Much of the uproar over Iran's so far nonexistent nuclear weapons must be seen as part of efforts by Israel's American partisans to thwart President Barack Obama's proposed opening to Tehran, and to keep pushing the U.S. to attack Iran's nuclear infrastructure. They and many Israeli experts insist Iran has secret weapons programs that threaten Israel's existence."
http://www.torontosun.com/comment/columnists/eric_margolis/2009/03/08/8671731-sun.html
Friday, March 06, 2009
U.S. INVITES IRAN TO AFGHANISTAN CONFERENCE
May open office in Tehran
"... the Obama administration intends to invite Iran to an international conference on Afghanistan... Iran borders Afghanistan and worked closely with the United States after the U.S. military offensive there to topple the Taliban and fight al Qaeda following the September 11, 2001 attacks... The United States is doing a full policy review of the traditional isolation policy of Iran, including whether to open up a low-level diplomatic office in Tehran..."
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20090305/ts_nm/us_iran_usa_3
May open office in Tehran
"... the Obama administration intends to invite Iran to an international conference on Afghanistan... Iran borders Afghanistan and worked closely with the United States after the U.S. military offensive there to topple the Taliban and fight al Qaeda following the September 11, 2001 attacks... The United States is doing a full policy review of the traditional isolation policy of Iran, including whether to open up a low-level diplomatic office in Tehran..."
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20090305/ts_nm/us_iran_usa_3
Monday, March 02, 2009
FORMER IRANIAN PRESIDENT VISITS IRAQ
"One of Iran's most powerful political and religious figures — former President Hashemi Rafsanjani — began talks Monday with Iraqi leaders in the latest high-level contacts between the neighboring countries... Rafsanjani, an influential Shiite ayatollah, was given a red carpet welcome by Iraqi President Jalal Talabani at Baghdad's airport... Talabani said Iraqi authorities could benefit from Rafsanjani's "long experience" as a leader who helped rebuild Iran after its war with Iraq."
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090302/ap_on_re_mi_ea/ml_iraq
"One of Iran's most powerful political and religious figures — former President Hashemi Rafsanjani — began talks Monday with Iraqi leaders in the latest high-level contacts between the neighboring countries... Rafsanjani, an influential Shiite ayatollah, was given a red carpet welcome by Iraqi President Jalal Talabani at Baghdad's airport... Talabani said Iraqi authorities could benefit from Rafsanjani's "long experience" as a leader who helped rebuild Iran after its war with Iraq."
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090302/ap_on_re_mi_ea/ml_iraq
Sunday, March 01, 2009
IAEA SAYS IRAN NOT PRODUCING WEAPON GRADE URANIUM
"Iran has not converted the low-grade uranium that it has produced into weapon-grade uranium, inspectors belonging to the International Atomic Energy Agency have said... (in) a report to the U.N. Security Council... (which said) “so far, Iran has carried out good cooperation with us in relevant verifications”... Iran has denied accusations by the United States and its allies that it has been engaged in a clandestine nuclear weapons programme.
http://www.hinduonnet.com/2009/02/22/stories/2009022253751300.htm
"Iran has not converted the low-grade uranium that it has produced into weapon-grade uranium, inspectors belonging to the International Atomic Energy Agency have said... (in) a report to the U.N. Security Council... (which said) “so far, Iran has carried out good cooperation with us in relevant verifications”... Iran has denied accusations by the United States and its allies that it has been engaged in a clandestine nuclear weapons programme.
http://www.hinduonnet.com/2009/02/22/stories/2009022253751300.htm
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)