Posted on 09/27/2005 12:06:56 AM PDT by DoctorZIn
Top News Story
Iran threatens to halt nuclear checks as it is declared 'non-compliant'
By Anton La Guardia, Diplomatic Editor
(Filed: 26/09/2005)Iran yesterday threatened to halt spot inspections of its nuclear sites in retaliation for a harshly worded resolution that brought Teheran a step closer to being reported to the United Nations Security Council for possible sanctions.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) at the weekend declared Iran to be in "non-compliance" with the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty because of a catalogue of violations that has stoked strong suspicions that Iran is seeking to build an atomic bomb.
Defiant: Iran's hardline president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad But because of opposition from Russia, China and several developing countries, Western states stepped back from an immediate referral to the UN.
The Iranian foreign minister, Manouchehr Mottaki, nevertheless rejected the decision as "illegal, illogical and politically motivated".
Insisting that Iran would never give up the right to all aspects of nuclear technology, he declared that "Iran has no legal commitment to continue implementation of the Additional Protocol".
The Additional Protocol is a voluntary system of reinforced inspections that Iran currently abides by but has not yet ratified into law.
However the foreign minister said that Iran "does not see the path of negotiations closed".
Iran insists it seeks to develop nuclear energy only for civilian uses, but the West believes it is using this as cover for a military project.
Under the terms of a deal with Britain, France and Germany, Iran agreed to freeze the enrichment of uranium and reprocessing of plutonium - two technologies that would give it the means to make nuclear weapons.
But last month it defiantly restarted a factory making uranium hexafluoride - a preliminary step in the enrichment process.
Teheran now faces a dilemma over how to respond. If it curtails nuclear inspections, or acts on earlier threats to resume full-scale enrichment or use oil contracts to punish its foes, it may fuel suspicions that it has something to hide.
The abstention by Russia, China and many developing world countries means that Iran cannot entirely rely on them to block a referral to the Security Council, or later action by it. The fact that India, a pillar of the Non-Aligned Movement, voted with the West against Iran was a particular shock.
In Teheran, the Aftab-e Yazd daily newspaper commented: "Overestimating some countries' verbal support and making a fuss over it was a mistake. It has imposed huge costs on Iran."
- Iran Press News reported that in a meeting with the Islamic regime's assembly today, Ahmadinejad said: The 3 European countries who are being manipulated from behind the scenes by their allies are racists and are looking to take the world back to the dark ages.
- Iran Press News reported that Reza Jalaali, a member of the "People's Leadership" Party which is faction of the now defunct ruling Reformist's said: The conjecture emerging from the authorities of the Islamic regime, vis a vis the nuclear issues, is confusing and disconcerting to the world. If things continue in this vein, everyone will be consumed.
- Iran Press News reported that political prisoners, Behrooz Javid-Tehrani, Bina Darab-Zand and Hodjat Zamani who have been on hunger strike for a month, were threatened by the Islamic Republic's judiciary.
- Iran Focus reported that Tehran’s Islamic Revolutionary Prosecutor, Saeed Mortazavi, announced their plan to fight trouble-makers, or dissidents, in the Iranian capital and extended the campaign by one month.
- Mori Jex, Iran Watch Canada reported that Mr. Ahmad Saraji, a blogger from the city of Tabriz who is now in Tabriz central prison, is in great danger! He has been accused of publicity against the system.
- SMCCDI reported that the Islamic regime is making more changes in its top military command. The regular Iranian Army is falling completely in the hands of commanders of the IRGC.
- Scott Gearity, Export Control Blog asked if the military option and sanctions really off the table now, it's not clear to me what sticks the Europeans have got left. I have an idea.
- Eli Lake, The NY Sun reported that the wife of Iranian journalist Akbar Ganji went public this weekend with a letter to the head of her country's judiciary, asking the whereabouts of her husband, whom she has not seen since August 26.
- SMCCDI reported that two more militiamen were killed and another wounded, yesterday, near the City of Yazd located in central Iran.
- Rediff.com reported that Congressman Tom Lantos hailed India's about-face in Vienna in aligning itself with the United States and the European Union and voting to refer Iran to the United Nations Security Council.
- MEMRI provided excerpts from a speech by Iranian Supreme National Security Council Secretary Ali Larijani where he said: You have accepted North Korea's nuclear technology in the field of uranium enrichment. So accept ours now.
- Khaleej Times Online reported that Iran's reformist opposition criticized the nation's nuclear policies.
- And finally, Adnkronos International reported that the Iranian media has reported a decision by the United States to finance radar stations in the central Asian republic of Azerbaijan. Tehran says this is part of a military strategy by Washington to encircle the Islamic Republic.
"If you want on or off this Iran ping list, Freepmail DoctorZin
We're going to bomb their nuclear facilities in the end. Even if we have to do it unilaterally.
Join Us At Today's Iranian Alert Thread – The Most Underreported Story Of The Year!
"If you want on or off this Iran ping list, Freepmail DoctorZin”
Now that the NYT, WAPO and all the other media traitors are telling them that President Bush isn't going to jeopardize oil markets/supplies by taking action against them, the Iranians are going to get bolder and more intrasigent in their lust for terror nukes.
Isn't another Asian Muslim extremist country (Iran) with nukes a nightmare scenario for India? I do not understand the geopolitics of India not aggressively trying to block Iran from WMD.
I believe it's an enemy of my enemy scenario with a dash of fifth column reluctance. Indian foreign policy tends to center on Pakistan. We work closely with Pakistan, India's militant foe. Also Sunni Pakistan is an ideological foe of Shiia Iran. The “fifth column” comes into the picture when we consider India is a democratic country that has a large Shiia population. Add to all of this; historically India was supported by the Soviets during the Cold War. Apparently India is still thawing in some circles.
In my opinion, the Iran-nuclear debate is so clear cut that it comes down to a simple case of who's right and who's wrong. It is an undeniable fact that Iran did breach its agreements with the IAEA and it’s the IAEA’s job to record it. Only one state chose to be dead wrong on this issue and it was Venezuela! Apparently Venezuela is willing to politically jab the U.S. at the expense of the IAEA and its own credibility... Sad, very sad…
India on the other hand has become the champion of the day! It has overcome all of its baggage because officials there had the strength and confidence to be right. It is a great day for India and a huge leap forward in U.S.-India relations. My crystal ball is showing shiny new U.S. designed power plants in India in the near future.
Do you agree with my take on India's reluctance to push hard on the Iran issue? Ref -- post above this one.
Then there's this ...
Iran 'linked' to bombing at American air base
26 September 2005
MUNICH - Federal investigators in Germany have unearthed new evidence linking Iran to the 1985 bombing of a U.S. military base that injured 35 persons, according to a report Saturday.
Iranian secret agents allegedly detonated explosives concealed in a vehicle at the Frankfurt post-exchange food store on November 24, 1985, said the report in Focus news magazine.
Focus said investigators believe the agents were members of a hit squad working on orders from Tehran to eliminate dissidents living in Europe in exile.
http://www.expatica.com/source/site_article.asp?subchannel_id=26&story_id=23978&name=Iran+%27linked%27+to+bombing+at+American+air+base
Iran's marker is way overdue. Time to collect...
It is true that India is reluctant to push. In fact, they have been very friendly to Iran and their stance. Only lately have there been slow moves away.
Thanks a lot for your analysis. I have a better understanding now.
Still, it seems to me that the fact that Iran and Pakistan are (Muslim) religious enemies would make the scenario of them both having nuclear arms even more frightening.
Things are really heating up now.
Clearly, 2006 will be the year.
To read today’s thread click here.
Join Us At Today's Iranian Alert Thread – The Most Underreported Story Of The Year!
"If you want on or off this Iran ping list, Freepmail DoctorZin”
Those rascally mullahs!
PING!
Sorry about the late response, humint. I wanted to reply to your post but forgot about it (too many unread pings from lists). Ys, I agree with your analysis....spot on.
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