IRAN

• US 'Pouring Oil on Fire' With Middle East Arms Sales - July 30, 2007 - by David Crossland - SPIEGEL ONLINE 
  The US government seems to have stopped talking about exporting democracy and is resorting instead to good old-fashioned weapons sales to Middle East allies to keep Iran in check, say German media commentators. Those sales could backfire, newspapers warn. An Iranian long-range missile being test-fired last November. The planned US arms sales to moderate Arab states are aimed at countering the threat from Iran.
  AFP - An Iranian long-range missile being test-fired last November. The planned US arms sales to moderate Arab states are aimed at countering the threat from Iran. American arms manufacturers will be jumping for joy at news that the Bush administration plans to sell $20 billion of advanced weaponry to Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states. The plan, expected to be announced Monday, will be balanced by a 25 percent rise in US military and defence aid to Israel. A further $13 billion will be pledged to Egypt. The $20 billion, spread over 10 years, aims to provide Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates with advanced satellite-guided bombs, upgrades to its fighters and new naval vessels. Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has posed new objections to the sale of weapons to moderate Arab states. "We understand the need of the United States to support the Arab moderate states and there is a need for a united front between the US and us regarding Iran," Olmert said at a weekly cabinet meeting on Sunday. 
• German newspapers criticized the plan.
  Center-left Süddeutsche Zeitung writes:
  "By toppling the Taliban in Afghanistan and Saddam Hussein in Iraq, the United States indirectly strengthened Iran. Now the US is trying to curtail Iran's power again. But this will only succeed if the USA, in addition to arming the neighboring states, rediscovers the other half of their old strategy -- and conducts direct and comprehensive talks with Tehran."
  Conservative Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung writes:
  "Washington is once again resorting to the instrument of military cooperation and modern weapons sales to kill several birds with one stone: shore up Israel's security, maintain established links with allies and not least to counter Iran's bid to become the predominant power in the Gulf region." "America has been noticably quiet for a long time about promoting democracy, which used to be its miracle weapon against the malaise of an Islamic Arab world in which militant Islamism is fermenting." "Even if President Bush continues to believe in exporting democracy -- his policy is geared towards achieving security and stability in the region in the classic way."
  Left-wing Berliner Zeitung writes:
  "This is just the same political approach the US used after the Iranian revolution in 1979 when it armed neighboring Iraq under Saddam Hussein. This rearming didn't just lead to a long and horrifying war with countless victims on both sides. It also made the dictator Saddam feel strong enough in 1991 to march into Kuwait sand oppose US interests. Bush surely must have learned this lesson: The autocrats ruling the rich oil states can't be bossed around like the coup generals Washington used to back in Latin America."
  Left-wing Frankfurter Rundschau writes:
  "Washington shifted the balance of power with its war in Iraq. Now it's looking for ways to get the genie back in the bottle: Pushing back Iranian influence in the region is the new leitmotiv of US policy in the Middle East. "The Bush Administration now thinks it has found a way: massive arms sales to Israel and those Arab regimes that Washington calls moderate. Anyone who believes an arms race in the Middle East is a clever strategy must have given up on alternative strategies. It's the same kind of logic as trying to put out a fire by pouring oil onto it."

• Amerikas neuer Waffenbazar im Nahen Osten  - 31.07.2007 -WIELAND SCHNEIDER ("Die Presse", Print-Ausgabe, 01.08.2007) 
  Condoleezza Rice bringt Ägypten und den Golfstaaten teure Gastgeschenke – nicht ohne Hintergedanken. 
  Condoleezza Rice und Robert Gates kamen nicht mit leeren Händen. 33 Milliarden US-Dollar ist das Gastgeschenk der Amerikaner für ihre arabischen Freunde wert, 33 Milliarden für Präzisionsbomben, Kampfflugzeug-Elektronik und andere hochmoderne Rüstungsgüter. US-Präsident George W. Bush schickte seine Außenministerin und seinen Verteidigungsminister in den Nahen Osten, um mit den Verbündeten die Details des geplanten Mega-Waffendeals zu besprechen.  Am Dienstag war Rice in Sharm El-Sheikh. 13 Milliarden US-Dollar Rüstungshilfe soll Ägypten in den nächsten zehn Jahren erhalten. Saudiarabien und den anderen befreundeten Golfstaaten wollen die USA High-Tech-Waffen im Wert von 20 Milliarden liefern. Israels Premier Ehud Olmert hat bereits versichert, kein Problem mit der Aufrüstung der arabischen Staaten zu haben. Immerhin geht auch Israel nicht leer aus: 30 Milliarden US-Dollar Militärhilfe wird es in kommenden zehn Jahren bekommen, eine klare Aufstockung der derzeitigen Unterstützung von 2,4 Milliarden US-Dollar pro Jahr. Das Verschieben großer Mengen an hoch technisiertem Kriegsgerät in den Nahen Osten ist nicht nur ein Bombengeschäft für die US-Rüstungsindustrie. Neben dieser indirekten Subvention für einen der wichtigsten Wirtschaftszweige verfolgt die Bush-Administration auch strategische Ziele.
  Druck auf den Iran. Die jüngsten Gespräche zwischen den USA und dem Iran über die Lage im Irak zeigen zwar, dass in technischen Fragen Kontakte zwischen den beiden Erzfeinden möglich sind. In Sachen iranisches Atomprogramm sind die Fronten aber weiterhin verhärtet. Zudem wächst mit dem Aufstieg der Schiiten im Irak der Einfluss des Iran in der gesamten Region stetig an. 
  Die Bush-Administration versucht daher, mit der Aufrüstung Israels und der arabischen Verbündeten den Druck auf Teheran zu erhöhen. Zum einen sollen die geplanten Waffenlieferungen die Position der Golfstaaten gegenüber der benachbarten Militärmacht Iran stärken. Zum anderen soll Israels konventionelles Verteidigungspotenzial ausgebaut werden – sollte es tatsächlich wegen der Atomstreits zum Schlagabtausch mit den Mullahs kommen.
  Druck auf Syrien und die Hisbollah. Die weitere Aufrüstung Israels ist auch ein klares Warnsignal an Syrien und die Hisbollah.Die bisher letzte Runde im Kampf der israelischen Armee gegen die libanesische Schiiten-Miliz ging vor einem Jahr unentschieden aus, Beobachter halten eine weitere Runde aber jederzeit für denkbar. Dabei könnte diesmal auch Syrien, das die Hisbollah unterstützt, ins Visier der Israelis geraten. Ein höherer Druck soll zudem Damaskus' Bereitschaft zu neuen Friedensgesprächen mit Israel erhöhen.
  Erkaufen von Wohlverhalten im Irak.Mit dem Zugang zu neuen High-Tech-Waffen will die Bush-Administration auch das Wohlverhalten Saudiarabiens im Irak erkaufen. Die Saudis stehen der irakischen Regierung, die von Schiiten dominiert wird, äußerst reserviert gegenüber. US-Geheimdienste werfen dem befreundeten Golfstaat sogar vor, aktiv sunnitische Rebellen im Irak zu unterstützen. 
  im internationalen „Kampf gegen den Terror“ sind die Saudis ein unsicherer Kantonist. Reiche Familien im Ölstaat finanzieren weltweit Extremistengruppen, die der al-Qaida nahestehen. Aus diesem Grund sorgen die neuen Rüstungszusagen der Regierung für Unmut bei den Demokraten, Bushs Plänen droht noch Widerstand im Kongress. 
  Saudiarabien gehörte aber schon bisher neben Ägypten und Israel zu den wichtigsten Abnehmern von US-Waffen. Von 2002 bis 2005 bezog es Rüstungsgüter im Wert von 4,4 Milliarden, in den Jahren davor sogar um 12,6 Milliarden Dollar. 
  Heute wird das Königreich der Sauds gegen den Iran aufgerüstet. Zuvor saß der Feind in Bagdad und hieß Saddam Hussein. 

• Sehr negative Botschaft -Heftige Kritik an US-Aufrüstung aus Berlin, Beirut. Die Presse", Print-Ausgabe, 01.08.2007) 
  Berlin/Beirut (ag.). Deutschland, der Libanon und der Iran sind nicht oft einer Meinung. Die geplanten Rüstungslieferungen der USA an ausgewählte Staaten im Nahen Osten im Wert von rund 63 Milliarden Dollar aber vereinten die drei Staaten in zum Teil heftiger Kritik. Ziel dieser Aufrüstung ist es, den Iran einzudämmen. Der US-Koordinator der deutschen Bundesregierung, Karsten Voigt, sagte in einem Interview mit der Agentur Reuters: „Ich habe große Zweifel, dass die Stabilität durch solche Waffen erhöht wird.“ Die Rüstungshilfe der USA an Saudiarabien und die Golfstaaten stelle zudem eine Kehrtwende in der bisherigen Nahostpolitik dar: „Wie man demokratischen Wandel fördern will, indem man Waffen an Saudiarabien liefert, das vieles ist, nur nicht besonders demokratisch, ist für mich ein großes Fragezeichen.“ Rückendeckung erhielt Voigt von Ex-Außenminister Hans-Dietrich Genscher, der „neue Probleme für das transatlantische Verhältnis“ sieht. Der libanesische pro-westliche Ministerpräsident Fouad Siniora meinte, er sei „überrascht und konsterniert“ über die Pläne Washingtons. Mit dieser „sehr negativen Botschaft an die Libanesen und die Araber“ würden „nur neue Krisen provoziert“. Der Iran warf den USA vor, ein „Horrorszenario“ im Nahen Osten zu schaffen.

• FM: US' arms sale, illusive scenarios, instance of adventurism - Tehran, July 31, 2007, IRNA 
  Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said on Tuesday that the US plan to sell billions of dollars worth of arms and prepare illusive scenarios in the region is an instance of adventurism and a disparate effort.
  "Washington has taken such a move to save the US arms manufacturing companies from bankruptcy," said Mottaki in reaction to recent claims by the US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.
  He said the White House rulers, some of whom being major shareholders of the large arms companies, want to use their influence at the end of their tenure in office and wage a psychological war so as to garner growing benefits for owners of their arms companies.
  Elsewhere in his remarks, Mottaki said contrary to such disparate attempts, regional nations and countries, sharing many historical commonalties and unbreakable cultural and religious affinities, have had peaceful co-existence for years.
  He said that the convulsive and unindeginized policies would never succeed in damaging the firm bonds among regional nations. "The US knows quite well that the Middle East has suffered a lot from Washington's one-sided and unfair support for the Zionist regime and for its war mongering and expansionist policies," he added.
  The US support for the Zionist regime's aggression on Lebanon last year is a clear example of Washington's untailored strategies on the Middle East, said Iran's top diplomat.
  "Such approaches would severely tarnish the US image as the sponsor of the peace conference. Moreover, the US neo-cons' vain strategies to encourage hostility and division among the regional and friendly states would never work," added the minister.
  Calling Iran "a victim of terrorism" and highlighting its leading role in campaign against terrorism, Mottaki said the baseless and false scenarios would not help restore peace and stability to the region and would never leave a negative impact on good relations and mutual interests of regional nations and states. 1420/2322/1412

• Khatami: So-called advocates of democracy distort reality - Tehran, July 31, 2007, IRNA 
  "Former president and Head of Baran (Rain) Foundation Mohammad Khatami said on Tuesday that the so-called advocates of democracy who claim to strive to restore and export democracy and those who seek to impose democracy in the region are now distorting the realities and telling lies. According to the Public Relations of Baran Foundation, Khatami underlined, "You are witnessing that the purported advocates of democracy are now interacting with despotic governments and sowing seeds of plots against those who wish to experience democracy.
  Country's authority depends on success in the field of science and technology which requires collective cooperation of all strata to bring political and economic development, he said. Iran, before and after Islam, was the cradle of civilization and the role of the country's intellectuals in human civilization is unprecedented and the whole world owe them very much, he said. 1430/2322/1412

• China backs Iran's right to use peaceful nuclear energy - Beijing, July 31, 2007, IRNA 
  
  The Chinese vice foreign minister said here Tuesday that his country respects the right of Iranians to make use of civilian nuclear energy. Dai Bingguo, who is also the chairman of head office of Chinese Communist Party, made the remarks in a meeting with his Iranian counterpart Mehdi Safari. Bingguo reiterated that China calls for settlement of the dispute over Iran's nuclear program through diplomatic channels. "The Chinese government and its president give priority to the strategic relations with Iran," he noted. The Chinese official outlined his country's policies on regional and international issues, saying, "China underscores the importance of its own independence-seeking policy." He added that Tehran-Beijing economic ties have increased during recent years. He further appreciated Iran's Foreign Ministry Manouchehr Mottaki for his congratulatory message on the occasion of the appointment of new Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi. On his part, the Iranian deputy foreign minister praised China for its support for Iran, expressing hope that Tehran and Beijing will increasingly strengthen their bilateral ties. At the meeting, also attended by Iran's Ambassador to China Javad Mansouri, Safari outlined Tehran's policy on nuclear program as well as the latest developments in this respect. Safari, who is deputy foreign minister for Asia, Pacific and Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), submitted Mottaki's congratulatory message to his counterpart, inviting him to attend a conference of foreign ministers of Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) in Tehran next September. The Iranian deputy foreign minister also invited his counterpart to pay an official visit to Tehran which was welcomed by him. Dai Bingguo visited Iran while he served as the international minister of Communist Party in 2002. AN/2322/1412

• Majlis approves accession to UNCRC - 31 Jul 2007 - PressTV 
  
  Iran's Majlis (parliament) has given the yes vote to a bill on the country's accession to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. In their open session on Tuesday, the MPs discussed and endorsed a bill by the Majlis Legal and Judicial Commission on the Iranian government's accession to the UNCRC, ratified by the UN General Assembly in May 2000.The Majlis deputies also ratified a report by the commission on Iran's joining the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT). Meanwhile, they voted in favor of a bill on cooperation agreements between the Islamic Republic and the governments of the Republic of Serbia and the Montenegro Republic.

• IAEA inspectors visit Arak reactor - 31 Jul 2007 - PressTV 
  
  A team of IAEA Inspectors have visited Arak's heavy water reactor in central Iran in a bid to resolve the dispute over Iran's nuclear issue. Quoting unnamed sources, IRNA said the inspection took about five hours. The visit comes following negotiations between IAEA Chief Mohammad ElBaradei and Iran's top nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani to resolve 'the remaining issues' about Iran's nuclear program. Tehran limited IAEA inspections after the UN Security Council adopted a resolution against the country to force it to suspend uranium enrichment. Since then, the IAEA inspectors had been denied access to the heavy water reactor. Tehran allowed the visit as a good-will gesture after the country and UN nuclear watchdog reached an agreement on a 'modality plan' to remove alleged ambiguities in Iran's nuclear activities.

• US, UK want more sanctions on Iran - 30 Jul 2007 -  Source: Agencies 
  
  Brown arrived in the US on Sunday - UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown and US President George W. Bush have agreed to impose tougher sanctions against Iran over its nuclear issue. "On Iran, we're in agreement that sanctions are working and the next stage we are ready to move towards is to toughen the sanctions with a further UN resolution," Brown told a joint news conference with Bush at Camp David, the presidential retreat in the mountains of western Maryland, outside Washington. Iran has repeatedly denied the Western countries' allegations over its nuclear issue insisting that the program is merely for energy purposes. Brown started his two-day visit to the US on Sunday. Before leaving for his visit with Bush, Brown said he would not rule out military action against Iran adding that he would also seek a policy of sanctions to force Iran to drop its nuclear program.

• Iran's ex-envoy slams IAEA - Sun, 29 July 2007 - PressTV 
  
  Iran's former envoy to the IAEA says international organizations are suffering from the world's leading countries' lust for power. In an interview with Mehr news agency, Mohammad Kiyarashi added "This lust has stained international organizations' reputation." "The UN nuclear watchdog is expected to be concerned with legal and technical issues, whereas now it is not acting as an unbiased international agency any more," he noted. "Iran's cooperation with the IAEA goes beyond the agency's demands. But the country's nuclear issue has been politicized despite its gestures of goodwill."  Kiyarashi said that IAEA's stance on Iran's nuclear case is an example of international injustice. "In case the nuclear watchdog fails to settle Iran's nuclear problem, there would be no guarantee for the access of other countries to nuclear energy for peaceful purposes." Such a failure would have detrimental effects on the global reputation of the agency, which is playing a difficult and decisive role at the moment," he noted.US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has announced the US and India have reached a "historic milestone" agreement for a landmark nuclear deal. "The United States and India have reached a historic milestone in their strategic partnership by completing negotiations on the bilateral agreement for peaceful nuclear cooperation," she said in a statement. She did not provide details of the agreement, which according to reports had gone beyond the terms approved by the US Congress, where lawmakers have threatened to block the deal if it sidestepped safeguards to prevent military uses of the technology. Under the pact, Washington has promised to help India build a nuclear fuel repository and find alternative sources of nuclear fuel, an arrangement that skirts some of the provisions of the law, the New York Times reported Friday. In December, Congress gave approval to landmark legislation allowing US export of civilian nuclear fuel and technology to India for the first time in 30 years. It was aimed at reversing three decades of sanctions on India for its nuclear tests. India has not signed the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. "The successful completion of the (operating agreement) text permits us to move forward" on the nuclear deal, first announced by President Bush and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh two years ago, Rice said. The next steps include India's negotiation of a "safeguards" agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency watchdog and support for nuclear trade with India in the 45-member Nuclear Suppliers Group, she said. READ ALSO: U.S. Concessions in U.S.-India Nuclear Agreement Raise Concerns -  The Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 27, 2007:CONTACT: Travis Sharp, Communications Director, 202-546-0795 ext.123; tsharp AT armscontrolcenter DOT org
• Leonor Tomero, Director for Nuclear Non-Proliferation, 202-546-0795 ext.119; ltomero AT armscontrolcenter DOT org Washington, D.C. – The Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation expressed grave concern about U.S. concessions to India on important non-proliferation provisions after the Bush Administration announced today that it had finalized the implementation agreement with India that will govern nuclear trade between the two countries. The joint statement by Secretary of State Rice and Indian Minister of External Affairs Shri Pranab Mukherjee is available online. See also below
• Although the text of the agreement has not been released, several details reported in the U.S. and Indian media raise questions about whether the agreement complies with the non-proliferation provisions of the December 2006 Hyde Act. The Hyde Act changed U.S. law to allow an exception for nuclear trade with India even though India is not a signatory of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and maintains a nuclear weapons program. Leonor Tomero, Director for Nuclear Non-Proliferation at the Center, commented: “There is cause for concern as it appears the agreement does not draw a clear line if India tests a nuclear weapon, while allowing India to produce weapons-usable material from the fuel obtained pursuant to the agreement. These details raised many red flags.”  The United States agreed to give India advance, long-term permission to reprocess U.S. origin nuclear material once New Delhi builds a new reprocessing facility that would only use such material. Indian National Security Adviser M.K. Narayanan reportedly stated that the pact contained no reference to "testing and non-testing" of nuclear weapons by India. “These further concessions and lack of clear rules of the road undermine the U.S. ability to limit the consequences of Indian actions that threaten non-proliferation efforts, such as a potential Indian nuclear weapon test, the production of weapons-usable material, and India’s military ties to Iran.” Tomero continued. Tomero added: “Congress should examine this agreement very closely. These are crucial issues that bear on the continued viability of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and the U.S. ability to stem effectively the spread of nuclear weapons and the production of nuclear weapons-usable material.” It may take at least several months – and perhaps not until 2008 - before Congress votes on the U.S.-India agreement, as the Hyde Act requires that India make substantial progress on its safeguards agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency and that the 45-country Nuclear Suppliers Group change its guidelines to allow an exception for nuclear trade with India. Secretary Rice is expected to visit New Delhi in August to formalize the agreement. For further analysis of the implications of the U.S.-India nuclear deal, see Leonor Tomero’s commentary, “Blow Up This Nuclear Deal.“

President's Statement on H.R. 5682, the "Henry J. Hyde United States-India Peaceful Atomic Energy Cooperation Act of 2006" 
"Today I have signed into law H.R. 5682, an Act containing the "Henry J. Hyde United States-India Peaceful Atomic Energy Cooperation Act of 2006." The Act will strengthen the strategic relationship between the United States and India and deliver valuable benefits to both nations. 
Section 103 of the Act purports to establish U.S. policy with respect to various international affairs matters. My approval of the Act does not constitute my adoption of the statements of policy as U.S. foreign policy. Given the Constitution's commitment to the presidency of the authority to conduct the Nation's foreign affairs, the executive branch shall construe such policy statements as advisory.
Also, if section 104(d)(2) of the Act were construed to prohibit the executive branch from transferring or approving the transfer of an item to India contrary to Nuclear Suppliers Group transfer guidelines that may be in effect at the time of such future transfer, a serious question would exist as to whether the provision unconstitutionally delegated legislative power to an international body. 
In order to avoid this constitutional question, the executive branch shall construe section 104(d)(2) as advisory. The executive branch will give sections 103 and 104(d)(2) the due weight that comity between the legislative and executive branches should require, to the extent consistent with U.S. foreign policy. The executive branch shall construe provisions of the Act that mandate, regulate, or prohibit submission of information to the Congress, an international organization, or the public, such as sections 104, 109, 261, 271, 272, 273, 274, and 275, in a manner consistent with the President's constitutional authority to protect and control information that could impair foreign relations, national security, the deliberative processes of the Executive, or the performance of the Executive's constitutional duties. GEORGE W. BUSH - THE WHITE HOUSE, December 18, 2006. "

• United States and India Complete Civil Nuclear Negotiations - Joint Statement by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Indian Minister of External Affairs Shri Pranab Mukherjee - July 27, 2007  - U.S. State Department - The United States and India have reached a historic milestone in their strategic partnership by completing negotiations on the bilateral agreement for peaceful nuclear cooperation, also known as the “123 agreement.” This agreement will govern civil nuclear trade between our two countries and open the door for American and Indian firms to participate in each other’s civil nuclear energy sector. The conclusion of negotiations on this agreement marks a major step forward in fulfilling the promise of full civil nuclear cooperation as envisioned by President Bush and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. The successful completion of the text permits us to move forward on the U.S.-India Civil Nuclear Cooperation initiative, first announced by the two leaders on July 18, 2005, and reaffirmed on March 2, 2006. The next steps include India’s negotiation of a safeguards agreement with the IAEA and support for nuclear trade with India in the forty-five member Nuclear Suppliers Group. Once these additional actions have been completed, President Bush will submit the text of the agreement to the U.S. Congress for final approval. Civil nuclear cooperation between the United States and India will offer enormous strategic and economic benefits to both countries, including enhanced energy security, a more environmentally-friendly energy source, greater economic opportunities, and more robust nonproliferation efforts. This achievement reinforces the growing bilateral relationship between two vibrant democracies. We are committed to the strategic partnership outlined by President Bush and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, and look forward to working together to implement this historic initiative. 2007/644 Released on July 27, 2007

• Iran slams US-Saudis arms deal - 30 Juli 2007 - PressTV

  Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad-Ali Hosseini at Monday's press briefing Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad-Ali Hosseini has criticized a US plan to strike a $20 billion arms deal with Saudi Arabia. Speaking at his weekly press briefing on Monday Hosseini noted that 'The US arms deal with Saudi Arabia would undermine security in the Middle East.' Mohammad-Ali Hosseini's comments followed reports of an estimated $20 billion US arms deal with Saudi Arabia and five other oil-rich Persian Gulf states. "Americans have always tried to prepare an opportunity for selling their arms by raising fear and playing regional countries off against each other," he said. "What the Persian Gulf region needs is stability, unity, security and economic development, but Americans have been trying to prevent this", IRNA reported Hosseini as saying. Hosseini added that "The arms deal subject was intentionally raised on the threshold of the US Foreign and Defense secretaries visit." The US will also extend its military aid to its closest Middle East ally, the Zionist regime, by 25% next year. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is expected to announce the proposed aid deals and a proposed arms sales package to Persian Gulf nations before she leaves on a trip to the Middle East on Monday. CS/HGH/RA

  Related News US too stretched to start conflict Oman: Iran no threat to region Kuwait praises Iran's regional role

British Envoy: Iran Has No Trust in West - TEHRAN (Fars News Agency) - 21 July 2007- Iran has lost its confidence in the West and rebuilding that confidence is a challenge that we face, Britain's Ambassador to Tehran Jeffrey Adams said, stressing that confidence-building is a phenomenon which should happen mutually.  Speaking to FNA, the envoy said the international community has lost its confidence in Iran's nuclear activities, and continued, "But I admit very honestly that Iran has lost its confidence in the West as well." He said that his country views the proposals made a year ago in Tehran by EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana as possible solutions to the problem of confidence-building. "On the same basis, we fully welcome any kind of measure taken by Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) - similar to what has happened in the last few days - which could increase this confidence," the diplomat added. "We always support measures which lead to increased transparency and create mutual understanding," he said. Adams also pointed to the referral of Iran's nuclear case to the UN Security Council, and said, "We believe that Iran's nuclear case has always been an agenda for the IAEA. We have never thought that the IAEA is through with Iran's dossier because of the UN Security Council's involvement with the issue. Neither of these two (authorities) can replace the other one." He further reiterated that increased cooperation between Iran and the IAEA could help deepen the two sides' confidence, and expressed the hope that the constructive process of talks between Iran and the Agency in the last few days could prevail in the other aspects of the issue and produce useful and positive results. Iranisch-Österreichische 18-Milliarden-Dollar-Gasgespräche in der Endphase - 21 July 2007 - IRIB (Fars News)  Die OMV gab bekannt, dass ihre Gespräche über ein Abkommen im Wert von 18 Milliarden Dollar mit Iran bis zum Ende des laufenden Jahres beendet würden.Laut der Nachrichtenagentur Fars und unter Berufung auf Reuters, gab die OMV kund, dass die iranisch-österreichischen Gespräche fortgesetzt würden. Die OMV hat ein Abkommen mit der iranischen Gasgesellschaft unterzeichnet. Der OMV Sprecher Thomas Huemer wies darauf hin, dass der Gesprächspartner seiner Gesellschaft nur Iran sei. Er sagte: „Die Gespräche sind bereites im Gang und es wird erwartet, dass diese bis Ende des laufenden Jahrs in die Endphase gelangen werden.“ Bei den Gesprächen handle es sich um die Teilnahme der OMV an den Entwicklungsprozessen im Süd Pars Gasfeld sowie einer LNG Produktionslinie. Iran, Austria Boost Energy Cooperation - TEHRAN (Fars News Agency)- 19 July 2007  Chairman of Iran's Chamber of Commerce Mohammad Nahavandian, in a meeting with Austrian ambassador to Tehran here on Thursday, called for the bolstering of the two countries' economic cooperation.  During the meeting Nahavandian pointed to Iran's new economic conditions, and reminded that the private sector's activities have been facilitated since the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei issued orders for the full implementation of article 44 of the Constitution. He further stressed the need for enhanced economic cooperation between Iranian and Austrian private sectors, and reminded, "We need cooperation in giant energy projects and Austria … can be a good partner for Iran in energy transfer."  "At a time when our government seeks to reduce fossil fuel consumption, use of healthy energy resources can provide a good opportunity for cooperation," Nahavandian continued. He voiced preparedness of Iran's chamber of commerce, industries and mines to remove the barriers and problems facing the two countries' trade ties and to facilitate Iran-Austria economic exchanges. For his part, Austrian ambassador to Tehran elaborated on his country's economic advantages in grounds of using healthy energy resources and other fields of hi-tech. Noting the two countries' age-old economic relations, the envoy stressed that his country has always been a good friend to Iran, and added, "I believe that the two countries' joint interests would not allow a downgrading of their economic ties." British Banks Fight US over Iran Embargo - TEHRAN (Fars News Agency)- 20 July 2007  A mounting US crackdown on foreign companies and banks doing business with Iran is provoking serious opposition in the UK and Europe, where diplomats are warning that the action could lead to a new trade war. Congress wants all international companies to end their investment in Iran now and is pushing through a bill that would penalize companies that fail to do so. The British government, along with other European governments, views the US approach as draconian and are lobbying hard against it. The US move reflects frustration at the failure so far of western diplomacy to persuade Iran to stop its uranium enrichment program, which the US, Britain and others suspect is a step towards achieving a nuclear weapons capability. Iran rejects the allegations vehemently calling on the US to substantiate its claims by presenting corroborative evidence. A senior British banking source said today there was a great deal of annoyance in the City with the US approach. The two British banks most frequently mentioned in Washington in relation to Iran are HSBC and Standard Chartered. The banker said both HSBC and Standard Chartered have run down their operations in Iran and maintain a modest presence in Tehran. However, much of their former business there, which consisted principally of managing payments between companies, has now been picked up by German and French banks, whose governments have resisted pressure from Washington, the source said. The US state department has been pressing for disengagement for months. But the move is being given added impetus by the Iran counter-proliferation bill going through Congress, which would penalize the US interests of companies that continue to have a presence in Iran. European governments are lobbying against the bill. The chairman of the House foreign affairs committee, Tom Lantos, said, "Our goal must be zero foreign investment." The bill appears to have overwhelming support in Congress. Congress passed the Iran and Libya Sanctions Act in 1996 that threatened action against non-US governments and companies, but gave the state department discretion over when to implement it. The new bill proposes to remove that discretion. The US state department prefers persuasion to coercion, fearing the latter will alienate allies, and is opposed to the bill. The United Nations security council has so far passed two resolutions imposing limited sanctions against Iran, mainly economic and travel bans, and a third round of sanctions is being discussed. The US administration sees it as inconsistent for European countries to support sanctions but to allow companies to continue trading. But the British government says that it has no legal basis to order the banks to close their Iranian operations. European diplomats meanwhile say that the US is aiming at the wrong targets and should be focusing on Arab and far east banks and companies that have greater exposure to the Iranian market. They point out that any penalties imposed by the US would be in breach of World Trade Organization rules. A senior US official said that there have been discussions between Stuart Levey, the US undersecretary of state at the Treasury, and the British government, though he acknowledged the involvement of British banks and companies was not as deep as some on the continent. He said the European Union had $22bn (£11bn) in export credits to Iran in 2005, the latest figure available. "So we have been in discussions with many of the leading governments - Germany, France, Italy, Spain - the four largest countries with exposure to export credits. This is really quite inconsistent with where we are going with UN sanctions," he said. "We have had two sanctions resolutions: so why would you be promoting trade with Iran?" Iran will spare no efforts to remove ambiguities on nuclear program - 14 July 2007 - By Arash Zahedi, Press TV, Tehran  Following three series of talks described as 'positive and harmonious' with the visiting IAEA delegation, the top nuclear negotiators announced that they would continue their talks within a month. Iran's permanent representative at the IAEA Ali Asghar Soltanieh has elaborated on the recent developments regarding the nuclear case in an exclusive interview with Press TV. Press TV's Arash Zahedi: Can you give us more details about the new voluntary step taken by Iran to show its good will regarding the upcoming talks with the IAEA within the month? Soltanieh: We will be discussing a modality plan to deal with the outstanding nuclear issues within the next 60 days. The two days of positive and constructive discussions, which has also been conclusive in some areas, was the first step towards that direction. In the second round of discussions which will be in about two weeks - July 25 and 26 in Vienna - we are determined and we have always assured that our nuclear activities are peaceful, and we spare no effort to remove any ambiguities, if there are any. At the same time, we are not going to withdraw from our inalienable right enshrined in the NPT for peaceful uses of energy including enrichment. Therefore, these go side by side. We will continue our enrichment activities and will continue to cooperate with the IAEA. There have been some concerns expressed regarding some outstanding issues. Therefore, Iran has voluntarily made an initiative, although we are very disappointed and frustrated with the legally baseless solutions of the UN Security Council, we are ready to enter the discussion dealing with the outstanding issues which belong to the past which are beyond our legal obligations. Apart from that matter, during the intensive two-day discussion we had tangible results. We voluntarily accepted to permit the IAEA to visit the heavy water research reactor in Arak. We also discussed the necessity for more efficient inspections. We also welcomed having more organized inspections in Natanz and reached a mutual agreement that in one month technical experts from the IAEA and the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran should have discussions on the two documents, which is a safeguard approach and facilitates attachment of enrichment facilities in one month and this means from now on inspections will be more organized, well defined and their timetable and everything will be in the correct criterion which is defined in this safeguard approach. Arash Zahedi: Do you think that convincing the IAEA of the peaceful nature of Tehran's nuclear program will persuade the international community to stop sanctions threading against Iran? Soltanieh: We have been always referring these issues in a very logical pragmatic manner. We have said that the resolution of the board of governors, the last one which referred this issue to the UNSC, and to be followed by the three resolutions of the UN do not have a legal basis. This is not a slogan. Unfortunately the time constraint does not permit to elaborate in details, but I will give you three main reasons supporting my assertion. The Article 12C of the statute, which says that only in the case of non-compliance will this issue be referred to the UNSC, but this should be recognized and informed by a report by the inspectors. And then the inspectors report to the Director General, and then the director General will report to the board of governors. This has never occurred. It means the inspectors have never used the phraseology of 'non-compliance' or 'diversion' by Iran. And therefore the few members of the board of governors, because of political motivations referred this issue and considered quote on quote 'non-compliance, the other issue according to statute and also as a safeguard agreement is if the agency reports that it is unable to verify the activities of Iran, like the case of North Korea for example, withdrawing from the NPT and stopping the inspections in that country. Then the IAEA reported that it is unable to continue its verification activities. This has not occurred in Iran; therefore, there has been no impedance or obstacles in the way of the IAEA inspectors; and this is another legal justification criterion which has not been fulfilled. Last but not least, if there is not any evidence of nuclear diversion of nuclear material and activities to permitted purposes. That is very clear that in all the reports of the Director General, that your viewers could just immediately after this interview go to the website, continuously and repetitively has said that they have found no evidence of diversion of nuclear activities, and this is of course a very clear and important matter. It is of course following 2000 man-day inspection. The most robust inspection in fact in the history of IAEA. The is not the result of a couple of days inspection. This is the result of four years of the most intrusive inspections. Therefore we are sure, and it is confirmed by the IAEA, all our activities are peaceful. Now regarding the past we are in fact expressing our willingness to discuss the modality in 60 days and deal with this issue in order to assure that these have been, are and will remain exclusively for peaceful purposes. Arash Zahedi: Thank you very much for your time. Iran wants oil pay in yen not dollars - 13 July 2007 PressTV  The dollar has sharply plummeted against the yen this afternoon on reports Iran has asked Japan to stop paying for its oil in dollars. The dollar was driven down against the Japanese yen this afternoon, hit by the news that Iran had asked Japan to pay for its oil purchases in the Japanese currency and not in dollars. Iran has sent a letter to Japanese refiners, signed by Ali A Arshi, the general manager of crude marketing and exports for Iran's national Iranian Oil Company, according to a report by Bloomberg. The letter asks for yen payments "for any/all of your forthcoming Iranian crude oil liftings." The request is for all shipments "effective immediately". Japan's oil payments to Iran rose 12 per cent last year to 1.24 trillion yen (£5 billion). The yen dropped against the dollar initially coming down to below 120 from 122.40 but later recovered somewhat on strong consumer confidence data from the US. Three big oil producing nations - Iran, Venezuela and Russia - have all been moving much of their foreign currency reserves from dollars to euros in recent months. The latest move can only add to the long-term pressure on the dollar, already hit by worries about the US economy based on the crisis in the sub-prime mortgage market. It was also under pressure against the euro and sterling as US retail sales for June showed their sharpest drop for two years. This was later countered by consumer sentiment data showing consumers had high confidence in July. By mid session Wall Street was trading up on its record rise from yesterday with the Dow Jones index up 29 points at 13890. Against the euro, the dollar was still close to all-time highs this afternoon at $1.378 and against sterling it was $2.033. UN praises Iran nuclear agreement - 10 July 2007 -  PressTV  The UN's nuclear watchdog says it has reached a deal with Iran to allow new inspections and safeguards at key nuclear facilities. UN atomic agency announced on Friday that UN inspectors are slated to visit Iran this month regarding a reactor being built which could produce plutonium to clear up questions about Tehran's nuclear work. The measures were agreed during a visit earlier this week by IAEA deputy director for safeguards Olli Heinonen to Tehran. Heinonen met with Iranian officials to draw up a plan to resolve 'outstanding issues,' including Tehran's refusal to allow 40 inspectors designated by the IAEA into the country. "During the visit, agreement was reached on the designation of new agency inspectors, a visit of agency inspectors to the Heavy Water Research Reactor at Arak by the end of July 2007 and the finalization of the safeguards approach at the Fuel Enrichment Plant at Natanz during early August 2007," the IAEA said in a statement. Iranian Jews identity not exchangeable for money, statement - Tehran, July 10, IRNA Iranian Jewish community on Tuesday refuted Israeli offer for the Jews to go to the occupied Palestinian territories in return for money. Leaders of the Iranian Jewish Community, Siamak Marreh-Sedgh and Member of Parliament from the Jewish society Morris Mo'tamed said in a strongly worded statement that Iranian Jewish citizens will never exchange their identity with money.The western media had reported that Israel offered dlrs 60,000 reward for attracting Iranian Jewish families to the occupied lands of Palestine. But Iranian Jewish people do not show any interest in immigration to the occupied territories of Palestine for the reason of enjoying full religious freedom in Iran. Recently an Israeli agency reported a fall in level of Jewish immigration to the occupied territories of Palestine.The statement said that Iranian Jews are of the oldest Iranians and love their pure culture and Iranian identity.They also noted that political threats or bribing never have been successful in changing the identity of the Iranian Jews.1486/1416  US Needs Iran's Help to Survive Problems - 10 July 2007 - (Fars News Agency)   A prominent Iranian lawmaker said that the US is in desperate need of Iran's help and assistance to get rid of the quagmire it itself has created in the region. Addressing a political meeting of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) navy personnel on Tuesday, chairman of the Iranian parliament's National Security and Foreign Policy Commission Alaoddin Boroujerdi said that Iran's power and influence is no more restricted to the Middle-East region. "Rather, Iran's power is now expanding to the other parts of the world," he stressed while presenting his analysis of Iran's foreign policy outlook. The MP noted the present conditions of the alien troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, and said, "To get rid of the quagmire they have created in the region, Americans are now in need of talks and relations with Iran."  Regarding the countries' nuclear issue, he viewed progress in the nuclear technology as a symbol of the Islamic Republic's power and grandeur, and praised Ahmadinejad's administration for playing an undeniable role in the acquisition of the nuclear science. Boroujerdi also reminded that Iran's progress and achievements in the nuclear field have resulted from the resistance of the people and officials. Iran's UN envoy returns home - 10 July 2007 -  PressTV Iranian ambassador to the United Nations Mohammad-Javad Zarif has left New York for Tehran at the end of his five-year tenure.  Deputy Foreign Minister for economic affairs Mohammad Khazaie is to succeed Zarif. Zarif has been serving as Iran's UN ambassador since 2002. He has earned world reputation as one of the most competent and skilled Iranian diplomats for successfully defending the nation's rights. UK insists on failed policy on Iran - 10 July 2007 -  PressTV     Britain's Foreign Secretary David Miliband has said that Gordon Brown's government would push ahead with plans to impose more sanctions on Iran. Miliband said that Gordon Brown's government would not shrink from confrontation with Iran and would press for a third UN resolution that tightens sanctions on Iran if Tehran does not comply with the West demand, Fars news agency reported. "I think that the international community wants a non-military, diplomatic solution to the issue," the British official admitted. In his first interview since becoming Foreign Secretary 10 days ago, Miliband said Iran "has every right to be a secure rich country", claiming that the West was making a "very clear offer" that would allow Iran to develop the civil nuclear program it needed. But in a clear sign that Brown's new government would not change its hostile approach toward Iran, Miliband said, "We are ready to work with our partners on a third resolution. We think it's very, very important that the international community remains clear and united on this issue." The IEA chief had earlier warned that the West should shift from the policy of confrontation with Iran.

IAEA team due in Tehran on Wednesday - 10 July 2007 -  PressTV  Iran will be receiving an IAEA delegation on Wednesday in a bid to find a negotiated solution to the current standoff over its nuclear activities. Iran's permanent envoy to the IAEA Ali Asghar Soltanieh made the announcement on Tuesday, adding that Deputy Director of IAEA Olli Heinonen and his entourage of legal advisors and IAEA policymakers will be discussing the "Modality Plan". Ali Asghar Soltanieh added that the officials will try to develop a framework for discussing the outstanding issues between Iran and the IAEA. He stressed that the team would not inspect Iran's nuclear facilities. During the trip which is taking place before the fourth round of Larijani-Solana talks, the delegation will also hold a meeting with the secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council Ali Larijani. According to Soltaneih, the visit is a positive gesture that highlights Iran's good-will and transparency and indicates that the country is willing to resolve the standoff 'peacefully' through negotiations. This visit is the result of an agreement between Iran's top nuclear negotiator Larijani and IAEA Chief Mohammad ElBaradei, who says such visits can influence the work of the Security Council and also may help bring the parties back to the negotiation table. ElBaradei had earlier said that Iran had slowed down uranium enrichment activities in its Natanz facility but Iran denies the claim. IAEA Deputy Director Olli Heinonen Iran denies slowing down N-activities - 10 July 2007 -  PressTV  A member of Majlis National Security Commission has denied reports that Iran is slowing down the expansion of its uranium enrichment activities.

Solana to meet Iran's Larijani soon - 10 July 2007 -  PressTV  EU Foreign Policy Chief Javier Solana is to meet Iran's top nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani to continue talks on Tehran's nuclear standoff.

IAEA delegates to visit Iran - 09 July 2007 -  PressTV  Iran's Representative to IAEA has said the agency's technical, legal and political delegation is due to visit in the upcoming days.

Iran's nuclear case should go to IAEA -  07 July 2007 -  PressTV - A member of Majlis National Security Commission says the key to Iran's nuclear case lies in returning it to the International Atomic Energy Agency. UNSC to discuss Iran's N-activities -  07 July 2007 -  PressTV  The US Envoy to the UN says the negotiations on whether to adopt a new resolution against Iran over its nuclear activities will resume soon. In an interview with Japan's Kyodo News Agency, Zalmay Khalilzad criticized Iran for allegedly ignoring its commitments. He claimed that since Iran has deviated from the resolutions issued by the UN Security Council the pressures on Iran should be mounted. "It is only through adopting and implementing a new resolution that Iran will be forced to cooperate," Khalilzad noted. Declining to mention what the US wants to include in the new anti-Iran resolution, the US diplomat asserted that the new sanctions should be in a way as to target those objectives that are deemed as important for Iran. Khalilzad also rebuked Chinese envoy to the UN who said: "No one should think of issuing a new resolution against Iran". Austria supports NIOC-OMV gas deal  -  07 July 2007 -  PressTV -   Iranian Ambassador to Vienna, Mohsen Nabavi, announces the support of Austrian government for the MoU signed between NIOC and Austria's OMV.  The Iranian diplomat said that Vienna's support for the project and its attempt to confront US pressure on the Austrian gas and oil company OMV marks the country's role in softening Europe's policy on Iran, reported IRNA.  Nabavi made the remark in an interview with the Austrian directory of online newspapers, Wiener Zeitung, on Saturday. Quoting the Austrian foreign minister, "We are not the 51st state of the United States.", he assured that the National Iranian Oil Company and OMV will implement the project.  Elsewhere in his remarks, the outgoing Iranian diplomat said, "Through time, all parties, including the US, will realize that Iran's nuclear issue can only be solved through diplomatic ways."  "The only key to reaching agreement on the issue is reconciliation between Western states on Iran's legal right to use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes," he said. At the end of his four-year diplomatic mission in Vienna, he added, "At the same time, Iran should propose a confidence-building package."  Mein größter Verdienst ist der OMV-Deal mit dem Iran - 06 July 2007 - Arian Faal - Wiener Zeitung  - Wien/Teheran. Im Zuge der Neuordnung des diplomatischen Corps im Iran kehrt heute, Samstag, auch der Vertreter der islamischen Republik in Österreich, Seyed Mohsen Nabavi, nach viereinhalbjähriger Tätigkeit in Wien nach Teheran zurück. Der erfahrene Diplomat, der aufgrund seiner engen Beziehungen zur Führungselite Teherans europaweit großes Ansehen genießt, zieht in seinem Abschiedsgespräch mit der "Wiener Zeitung" eine positive Bilanz: "Die größten Errungenschaften meiner Amtszeit sind ohne Zweifel der Dialog der Kulturen, einer der Früchte der ausgezeichneten österreichisch-iranischen Beziehungen und der Beginn des historischen Gasprojektes zwischen unseren Ländern." Dass sich die österreichische Regierung vom US-Druck auf die OMV, der völlig sinnlos sei, nicht beeindrucken lasse, zeige, dass Wien sich als Knotenpunkt der europäischen Iranpolitik etabliert habe. "Ich bin fest davon überzeugt, dass der geplante Gas-Deal erfolgreich realisiert wird und verweise auf die deutlichen Worte der österreichischen Außenministerin Ursula Plassnik, die klargestellt hat, dass Österreich nicht der 51. Bundesstaat der USA ist", sagt Nabavi. Hinsichtlich des Atomstreits ist Nabavi mehr als optimistisch. Nach und nach seien alle Beteiligten – die USA inklusive – dahintergekommen, dass kein Weg an einer diplomatischen Lösung vorbeiführe. Der Schlüssel zu einer Einigung sei einerseits das Zugeständnis des Westens, dem Iran seine legalen Rechte hinsichtlich der friedlichen Nutzung der Kernenergie zu gewähren und andererseits ein vertrauensbildendes Paket vom Iran, so Nabavi.  Nachfolger ist noch nicht nominiert worden - Angesprochen auf die Rolle seines Landes in der Region, erklärt der scheidende Botschafter, dass sich vor allem in der Irakfrage gezeigt habe, dass sogar Washington mittlerweile eingesehen hätte, dass Sicherheit im Nahen Osten ohne Teheran nicht möglich sei. Das zeige auch die Miteinbindung Teherans in die Gespräche. Der Iran sei ein Garant für Frieden und Stabilität in der Region. Man werde auch weiterhin die Türen offenhalten. Österreich habe ihn sehr geprägt, die Erinnerung an die Menschen, den kulturellen Reichtum und an die wundervolle Stadt Wien werde er nie vergessen. "Mein besonderer Dank gilt den österreichischen Politikern, zu denen ich immer ein ausgezeichnetes Verhältnis hatte", sagte der Diplomat kurz vor seinem Abschied. Nabavi´s Nachfolger ist – entgegen anfänglichen Meldungen – noch nicht nominiert worden. Mohammad-Javad Zarif Iranian gas deal with Austria EP hears Iran on nuclear issue -  06 July 2007 -  PressTV -   Iran's representative to the IAEA has reiterated that Iran is prepared to provide all assurances with respect to its peaceful nuclear program. Iran expects no new sanctions  -  06 July 2007 -  PressTV -   Iran expects the UN to hold off on new sanctions while Tehran pursues new talks with the UN atomic agency about its disputed nuclear work. EU backs Iran-PGCC N-consortium - 05 July 2007 -  PressTV -   Portuguese President has underscored continuation of talks with the Islamic Republic to end the ambiguities over Tehran's nuclear program. Iran: PGCC supports Tehran's N-drive -  03 July 2007 -  PressTV -  Iran says the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council has always been supporting the country's right to acquire peaceful nuclear technology. Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki told reporters on Monday that PGCC leaders have recently underlined the need for acquiring nuclear technology; an idea that has been welcomed by Iran. "Iran has repeatedly voiced its readiness to share its experiences with the region's nations, under the supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Saudi Foreign Minister Saud Al Faisal has recently put forward a proposal to establish a nuclear consortium of Iran and the PGCC, which has been welcomed," Mottaki added. Mottaki said nuclear cooperation among the region's countries would promote their ties and it would be in the interests of the Persian Gulf littoral states.

Iran to resume nuclear talks in 3 weeks -  02 July 2007 -  PressTV -  Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki has said that Iran is ready to continue talks on its peaceful nuclear program within the next three weeks. In a televised interview with the Arab-language news channel Al-Jazeera broadcast Sunday evening, the minister said the best way out of the nuclear standoff was to "return Iran's nuclear dossier from the United Nations Security Council to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)."  According to IRNA, Mottaki told the Qatar-based satellite channel that the (nuclear) talks should be supported by all sides."  He noted that two major issues should be the focus of the talks; first, Iran's commitment to its peaceful nuclear activities and the fact that it does not intend to build nuclear weapons and second, recognizing Iran's right to acquire nuclear technology for peaceful purposes. Mottaki reiterated that taking these two principles into consideration will help continue the nuclear talks. Referring to the reaction of Iranians to the West's imposition of economic sanctions against Iran, Mottaki said, "Iran's peaceful nuclear program is completely supported by all Iranians both inside and outside the country."  He added that all Iranians surely "favor a peaceful solution to the nuclear issue but would stand against those who intend to put obstacles in the way."  Mottaki said that Iranians have proved to remain united when it comes to defending their country. He also commented that all Iranians surely favor a peaceful solution to the nuclear standoff and would stand against those who intend to put obstacles in their way.

Saudi for dialogue in Iran's atomic issue -  02 July 2007 -  PressTV -  Saudi Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs Turki Bin Mohamed says that Iran's nuclear issue must be resolved through diplomacy. "We acknowledge Iran's right to peaceful nuclear energy in line with international regulations and strongly urge a diplomatic and political solution to the problem," said Bin Mohamed in his meeting with the Iranian Ambassador to the kingdom, Seyyed Mohammad Hosseini, in Riyadh on Sunday. "Given the current critical situation and considering the difficult challenges the region faces, the importance of dialogue between Iran and Saudi Arabia is felt more than ever before," he added. He said at the moment, Saudi Arabia and Iran play a sensitive and influential role in the region, Iran's Fars news agency reported. The Saudi prince added that his country's foreign policy was based on avoiding interference in other countries' internal affairs and working together to bring about regional peace and stability. For his part, the Iranian official commented that through vigilance and Islamic unity the regional countries would be able to neutralize the plots hatched by the enemies who are determined to sow religious division among Muslims.

Talks underway on Bushehr N-plant -  01 July 2007 -  PressTV -  Senior officials from Iran and Russia have held talks on the progress of the long-awaited completion of the Bushehr nuclear power plant. An official with Iran's Atomic Energy Organization (IAEO) Kamran Kamrani told IRNA that Chairman of Atomstroiexport, Sergei Shmatko arrived in Tehran early Sunday, heading a delegation. Atomstroiexport is the Russian contractor of the project. "the officials are to discuss reasons behind the delay in completing the project," he added. Deputy Head of the IAEO Ahmad Fayyazbakhsh is heading the Iranian delegation to the talks. The Russian state-run company Atomstroiexport has blamed delayed payments on Iran's part for the slow progress in completion stages of the power plant. Iran has denied the claims.

Iran, Russia to discuss Bushehr project -  01 July 2007 -  PressTV -  Iranian officials will be reviewing issues that have resulted in an eight-year delay in the completion of the Bushehr nuclear power plant. An official at Iran's Atomic Energy Organization (IAEO), Kamran Kamrani, made the remark speaking to IRNA in an exclusive interview. He added that the head of the Russian state-owned nuclear contractor Atomstroiexport Sergei Shmatko is expected to arrive in Tehran on Sunday. "Shmatko will be discussing the reasons behind the delay in conducting the executive operation of Bushehr power plant," he said. Atomstroiexport started construction of Iran's first nuclear power plant, in the southern province of Bushehr, on January 8, 1995. The USD 1b project, implemented under the supervision of the UN nuclear watchdog, was set to be inaugurated in 1999. Atomstroiexport had claimed earlier that Iran had not fulfilled its financial commitments, an accusation that the IAEO denies.  LINKS IAEA and Iran: In Focus - News Center   +  IAEA: Director General's Corner + Tlatelolco Treaty "Latin America and Caribbean Celebrate 40 Years as Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone..." "The Treaty set an important precedent in devaluing the role of nuclear weapons in its zone of application –- thereby contributing to regional peace and security by ensuring that Latin America and the Caribbean remained free from nuclear weapons. Four more nuclear-weapon-free zones (NWFZ) followed, with the Pelindaba Treaty in Africa, the Rarotonga Treaty in the South Pacific, the Bangkok Treaty in Southeast Asia and the Treaty of Semipalatinsk in Central Asia in 2006."Today these five NWFZ cover between them nearly two-thirds of the countries of the world and virtually the entirety of the southern hemisphere. In effect, NWFZ constitute important first steps to achieve a nuclear-weapon-free world," THE Tlatelolco Treaty COULD BE A MODEL FOR THE MIDDLE EAST UN Security Council  -  Resolutions 2006  - Resolutions 2007 UNDP in Iran CASMII - Independent Organisation opposing sanctions, foreign state interference  + military intervention in Iran BBC - Inside Iran + Timeline: UK-Iran relations Guardian Unlimited: Full Iran coverage English-Xinhuanet - China View: Iran Nuclear Crisis Iran Nuclear Timeline Iran « Dissident Iran - Yahoo! News Full Coverage + Yahoo Directory: Iran IRAN - SEITE der Universität in  Kassel +  Iran: Stimmen gegen den Krieg (Universität Kassel) Atomwaffen A-Z + IPPNW-Factsheet: Die zwei Seiten des Atomwaffensperrvertrags (pdf-Datei) Iran-Infos.de  Fars News Agency  Iran's News Agency (IRNA) PressTV - is the first international Iran-based news network to broadcast in English on a round-the-clock schedule. Tehran Times- Permanent Mission of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the United Nations  Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic Iran    Presidency of the Islamic Republic of Iran -  News  +  Speeches Pars Times - Iran Nuclear Resources Pars Times - Iran: Law  Mohammad Mossadegh Library   Iranian Oral History Project | Harvard University Center for Middle Eastern Studies   Secrets of History - The C.I.A. in Iran - (New York Times)  +  U.S. - IRAN RELATIONS - TIMELINE  Iran - Wikipedia Oil Depletion Protocol Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists + Nuclear Notebook US Department of Defense (DoD) website on Nuclear Matters ARTICLES 2005 - February 2006 HERE FAIR USE NOTICE This site contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. I am making such material available in my effort to advance understanding of issues of legal, political, ecological and humanitarian significance. I believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use', you must obtain permission from the copyright owner. Impressum