| | This News -
Archive covers the period from 1 July 2007
until 31 December 2007. For other
information click here !
IRAN - Iran, US: Bury the Past! - by Mohammad Reza Mohammad Karimi - 22 August 2007(source: Anti War. com via CASMII
- The Assessment of Argentine
explosions, developments on AMIA dossier - 8 August 2007 - IRNA
Introduction- "Two Jewish centers in Argentine, including the
buildings of Argentine-Israelite Mutual Association (AMIA) and
Delegation of Israeli Argentine Associations (DAIA) were destroyed
in a bomb explosion on July 18, 1994 leaving 85 people dead and more
than 250 others injured. According to reports released at the time, the
explosion took place after a bomb-laden car crashed into the
buildings in a suicide bombing. Two years prior to the blast, an explosion took place
in the Israeli embassy in Buenos Aires on March 17, in which 22 were
killed and dozens, mostly Argentines, were injured. Despite firm evidences that the explosion took place
within the AMIA building and the rejection of the suicide bombing
theory, subsequent developments-- including legal proceedings in the
case, relevant investigations, charges leveled, evidences and
confessions -- proved the existence of a pre-planned conspiracy by
international Zionism and Argentine agents. This was mainly aimed at
vilifying Iran and introducing Iranian officials and Lebanon's
Hezbollah to the world public as terrorists. Many fake documents and false evidences were
presented over the past 12 years and a great number of government
and judicial officials, Jewish associations as well as the Israeli
regime launched a propaganda campaign against the Muslims in a
concerted move." READ MORE>> - PetroPars-Ofisi-OMV oil consortium - 4 Aug 2007 - PressTV
July
2007 - US 'Pouring Oil on Fire' With Middle East Arms Sales- July 30, 2007 - by David Crossland - SPIEGEL ONLINE
- Amerikas neuer Waffenbazar im Nahen Osten - 31.07.2007 - WIELAND SCHNEIDER (Die Presse)
- Sehr negative Botschaft - Heftige Kritik an US-Aufrüstung aus Berlin, Beirut. 31.07.2007 (Die Presse)
- FM: US' arms sale, illusive scenarios, instance of adventurism - Tehran, July 31, 2007, IRNA
- Khatami: So-called advocates of democracy distort reality - Tehran, July 31, 2007, IRNA
- China backs Iran's right to use peaceful nuclear energy - Beijing, July 31, 2007, IRNA
- Majlis approves accession to UN Convention on the Right of the Child - 31 Jul 2007 - PressTV
- IAEA inspectors visit Arak reactor - 31 Jul 2007 - PressTV
- Iran slams US-Saudis arms deal - 30 Juli 2007 - PressTV
- US, UK want more sanctions on Iran - 30 Jul 2007 - Source: Agencies
- Iran's ex-envoy slams IAEA - Sun, 29 July 2007 - PressTV
- US, India reach nuclear agreement - Fri, 27 Jul 2007 - Source: Press TV and Agencies
-
British Envoy: Iran Has No Trust in West - TEHRAN (Fars News Agency) - 21 July 2007
- Iranisch-Österreichische 18-Milliarden-Dollar-Gasgespräche in der Endphase - 21 July 2007 - IRIB
- British Banks Fight US over Iran Embargo - TEHRAN (Fars News Agency)- 20 July 2007
- Iran-Austria Boost Energy Cooperation - 19 July 2007 - Fars News Agency
- Iran will spare no efforts to remove ambiguities on nuclear program - 14 July 2007 - By Arash Zahedi, Press TV
- Iran wants oil pay in yen not dollars - 13 July 2007 - PressTV
- UN praises Iran nuclear agreement - 13 July 2007 - PressTV
- 13 July 2007 | IAEA Team Concludes Meeting in Tehran - IAEA Press Release 2007/11 - 13 July 2007
- Iranian Jews identity not exchangeable for money, statement - Tehran, 10 July 2007 , IRNA
-
US Needs Iran's Help to Survive Problems - 10 July 2007 - TEHRAN (Fars News Agency)
- Iran's UN envoy returns home - 10 July 2007 - PressTV
- UK insists on failed policy on Iran
- 10 July 2007 - PressTV
- IAEA team due in Tehran on Wednesday - 10 July 2007 - PressTV
- Austria supports NIOC-OMV gas deal - 07 July 2007 - PressTV
- "Mein größter Verdienst ist der OMV-Deal mit dem Iran" - 06 July 2007 - Arian Faal - Wiener Zeitung
- Iran: PGCC supports Tehran's N-drive - 03 July 2007 - PressTV
- Iran to resume nuclear talks in 3 weeks
- 02 July 2007 - PressTV
- Saudi for dialogue in Iran's atomic issue
- 02 July 2007 - PressTV
- 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 - 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
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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.
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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.
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| 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.
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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."
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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.
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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.
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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
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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. | ![](http://www.presstv.ir/photo/20070707/parhizgari20070707205004897.jpg)
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.
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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.
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EU backs Iran-PGCC N-consortium
- 05 July 2007 - PressTV - ![](New05.gif)
Portuguese
President has underscored continuation of talks with the Islamic
Republic to end the ambiguities over Tehran's nuclear program. | |
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![Iranian ambassador Ali Asghar Soltanieh to IAEA](http://www.presstv.ir/photo/20070706/salami20070706221125109.jpg)
| 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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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