Iranian Alert -- August 27, 2003 -- LIVE THREAD PING LIST

UN report stokes fears of Iran atom bomb

Reuters - World News
Aug 27, 2003

VIENNA - Iran's repeated failure to inform the U.N. nuclear agency of its atomic activities, as detailed in the agency's new Iran report, boosts fears that Tehran wants nuclear weapons, Western diplomats said on Wednesday.

Several diplomats, who spoke to Reuters on condition of anonymity, said the Iran report showed Tehran was in breach of its U.N. nuclear safeguards obligations. They said there were reasons for the agency's governing board to declare Iran in "non-compliance" with its U.N. Safeguards Agreement.

A verdict of non-compliance would require the International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) board to notify the U.N. Security Council, which has the power to impose economic sanctions.

"There are grounds for a verdict of non-compliance," said a Western diplomat. "It's a pattern of activities that's not just disquieting but of great concern."

Asked if the report confirmed suspicions Iran aims to build a nuclear arsenal, one Western diplomat said simply: "Yes."

Iranian officials were not immediately available for comment, though Tehran insists it is cooperating fully with the IAEA and has nothing to hide about its nuclear programme.

Iran said on Tuesday it was ready to sign up to snap inspections of its nuclear programme, but said it wanted prior clarification on "the preservation of its sovereignty".

The United States, which branded Iran part of an "axis of evil" with North Korea and pre-war Iraq, accuses the Islamic republic of secretly developing atomic weapons, a charge Tehran denies.

The report said traces of weapons-grade highly-enriched uranium were found in samples at the Natanz nuclear facility. Iran blamed this on contaminated components imported for centrifuges, an explanation the IAEA is probing.

One diplomat said this explanation was suspicious as Iran refuses to say where it bought the components and had originally claimed the centrifuges were entirely domestic. Cenfrifuges are used to enrich, or purify, the uranium to make it useable in nuclear fuel -- or weapons.

MODIFICATIONS

The IAEA also said Iran had carried out "modifications" at the Kalaye Electric Company workshop, where centrifuge parts are made, before letting the IAEA take samples to verify no undeclared nuclear activity had taken place.

Diplomats said these extensive modifications raised concerns Iran sanitised Kalaye before letting inspectors take the samples after months of refusing the IAEA's request.

"It sounds like they've got something to hide," a diplomat said.

While praising Iran's cooperation since the agency's harsh June report, the IAEA said "some of the information was in contrast to that previously provided by Iran".

The Western diplomats said this was simply a polite way of saying that Iran has repeatedly lied to the agency.

"That wording is an incredible understatement," a diplomat said. "I can count around six areas where they changed their positions. And it wasn't as if they came forward...They were dragged to it because the IAEA came up with the facts."

For instance, the IAEA report said that Iran had admitted that its uranium enrichment programme began in the 1980s and not in the 1990s as it had originally told the U.N.

Diplomats also expressed concern that Iran has been experimenting with the creation of uranium metal, which has few civilian uses but is very useful in nuclear weapons.

The 35-member IAEA board begins meeting on September 8 to discuss the Iran report.

The diplomats said there was a growing group of states, led by the U.S., on the IAEA board, which believe there are grounds to report Iran to the Security Council now. But there are more than a dozen countries on the board who tend to support Iran.

Pursuing a separate diplomatic initiative over the nuclear crisis involving North Korea, Washington and Pyongyang sat down on Wednesday for talks in China with North Korea's neighbours.

http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=3345345

EU sidesteps row over Iran envoy's arrest

Financial Times - By Judy Dempsey in Brussels, Najmeh Bozorgmehr in Tehran and Adam Thomson in Buenos Aires
Aug 27, 2003

European Union officials were trying to prevent its relations with Iran becoming embroiled in the latest diplomatic row involving Tehran and Brussels on Wednesday.

The attempt to keep bilateral issues separate from the EU's broader strategy with Iran came after Belgian security forces tried to arrest a senior Iranian diplomat serving in Brussels.

Last week Britain arrested Hadi Soleimanpour, the former Iranian ambassador to Argentina, after Argentina had requested his extradition for alleged involvement in the 1994 bombing of a Jewish centre in Buenos Aires that killed 84 people.

The Belgians were acting on Interpol instructions to arrest Saeed Baghban, third secretary in the Brussels embassy.

The request was in response to extradition proceedings recently begun by Juan José Galeano, an Argentine judge who has named eight former Iranian diplomats being sought for their alleged participation in the Jewish centre bombing.

Mr Baghban, responsible for consular affairs, was leaving the country when the security services tried to arrest him.

Antoine Eurard, Belgium's chargé d'affaires in Iran, was summoned to the foreign ministry and asked to ensure Mr Baghban's early release. Mr Baghban was questioned and allowed return to the embassy after the Belgian foreign ministry confirmed his diplomatic immunity.

Belgian diplomats said they did not expect any moves by the Iranian authorities to expel any of their embassy staff. Iran has threatened to expel Britain's ambassador to Tehran and downgrade diplomatic relations in protest at Mr Soleimanpour's arrest.

Diplomats are concerned that the poor relations between Britain and Iran - which had markedly improved over the past year - could spill over into broader relations between Tehran and the EU.

The EU, with strong backing from London, had recently started negotiations on a lucrative trade and co-operation agreement (TCA) with Iran.

Progress on the trade issues is linked to progress on political issues, such as human rights, fighting terrorism, Middle East peace and Iran's compliance with the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

In recent weeks the TCA talks have stalled - but not officially suspended - as the EU awaits next month's report on Iran's nuclear programme by the International Atomic Energy Agency.

A Commission official said: "We are waiting to see what the IAEA concludes. We do not want any bilateral issues to impinge on EU relations with Iran."

The Iranian government has cut off economic and cultural ties with Argentina, though not diplomatic relations, over the arrest warrants.

http://www.daneshjoo.org/generalnews/article/publish/article_1988.shtml

Finger pointing in Kazemi case

Globe & Mail - By AP & CP
Aug 27, 2003

Tehran — Iran's reformists accused hardliners of a coverup, with a parliamentarian reporting Wednesday that a judiciary agent had been blamed for the murder of a Montreal photojournalist who died after being beaten in custody.

Such charges and countercharges have characterized Iran's probe into the death of Zahra Kazemi, which has become the latest battleground in the power struggle between elected reformers and hardliners who control Iran's police force, judiciary and security agencies.

Earlier this week, the hardline Tehran prosecutor, whose office is part of the judiciary, issued a statement in which an independent judge said two Intelligence Ministry agents had been indicted "on charges of involvement in the semi-premeditated murder" of Ms. Kazemi. The Intelligence Ministry is loosely controlled by reformists.

However, a Canadian newspaper report said the two indicted were reportedly low-level female medical workers: a nurse and a personal caregiver.

Reformist legislator Naser Qavami told The Associated Press on Wednesday that a top Intelligence Ministry official told a closed meeting of parliament late Tuesday that a judiciary official working in the prison where Mr. Kazemi was held had beat her, leading to her death.

Mr. Qavami did not name the accused judiciary official. Intelligence Ministry officials contacted by the AP also refused to name their suspect.

The legislator said ministry officials also accused the judiciary of moving prison officers who witnessed the beating of Kazemi to different positions and pressuring them not to tell what they saw. During the closed parliament session, the officials also accused the judiciary of tampering with prison records and forcing Intelligence Ministry agents to accept responsibility for the murder.

Ms. Kazemi, 54, died July 10, nearly three weeks after being detained for taking photographs outside a Tehran prison during student-led protests. Prisons are under the authority of the hardline judiciary.

Initially, the hardline Tehran prosecutor, Saeed Mortazavi, was quoted as saying Ms. Kazemi had died of a stroke.

On July 30, Vice-President Mohammad Ali Abtahi told reporters Ms. Kazemi had been murdered. By then, Mr. Khatami had called for an independent judicial investigation. Veteran Judge Javad Esmaeili was appointed by the head of hardline judiciary Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi to direct the probe.

Ms. Kazemi's death was condemned inside and outside Iran. Canada threatened sanctions, and withdrew its ambassador after Kazemi was buried in her birthplace, the southern Iranian city of Shiraz, against the wishes of Canadian authorities and her son, who lives in Montreal.

Tuesday, government spokesman Abdollah Ramezanzadeh said that the Iranian government had no duty to inform Canada of the results of its investigation into Kazemi's death. In Canada later Tuesday, France Bureau, spokeswoman for Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Bill Graham, responded that Graham expects Iran to keep Canada informed.

Mr. Graham has said what Canada wants in the Ms. Kazemi case is an "understanding why she died, how she died and who will be held responsible."

Ms. Kazemi's son Stephan Hachemi told a news conference Tuesday in Montreal that high-ranking Canadian Embassy officials will meet soon with Mortazavi. He said they're going to ask him among other things to return the body of his mother to Canada.

http://www.daneshjoo.org/generalnews/article/publish/article_1989.shtml

UN inspectors found two types of enriched nuclear material in Iran

AFP - World News (via Yahoo)
Aug 27, 2003

VIENNA - A confidential UN report says inspectors found two different types of highly enriched nuclear particles at facilities in Iran that are not needed in civilian atomic programmes, a Western diplomat said.

"The discovery of enriched uranium is particularly worrying. IAEA inspectors found two different types of highly enriched particles. You do not need that to make nuclear power," the diplomat told AFP.

The findings are contained in a report by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) that was handed to the UN nuclear watchdog's board of governors here Tuesday ahead of a crucial meeting on Iran.

The diplomat said the report poses questions that "all speak to the purpose of Iran's nuclear programme" and shows "a pattern of non-compliance" with the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

It includes revelations that Iran "has admitted that it tried to import centrifuge material" and that it started a heavy water programme in the 1980s.

Heavy water is used for reactors that produce plutonium, a material which can be used to make nuclear weapons.

Tehran insists that its nuclear programme is intended purely to help meet its energy needs but the United States charges that it is secretly trying to develop nuclear arms.

IAEA Secretary General Mohamed ElBaradei this week confirmed that enriched uranium was found at Natanz, 180 miles (290 kilometres) south of Tehran, where Iran is building a uranium processing plant.

Diplomats said this week that the report, which ElBaradei will formally present to the board of governors when they start meeting here on September 8, gives no clear verdict on the nature of Tehran's nuclear programme.

But one told AFP "there will clearly be some sort of resolution on Iran from the board", which can refer the matter to the UN Security Council.

In June, an initial IAEA report found that Tehran had not fully respected the Non-Proliferation Treaty by failing to inform the IAEA of some of its nuclear activities, including importing uranium in 1991.

In Tehran the Iranian permanent representative to the IAEA said on television the new report on nuclear activities in Iran was much softer in tone than its predecessor.

"The report was much less severe than the previous one," said Ali Salehi: "Nowhere is there any mention of negligence or omissions by Iran."

As to the samples indicating enriched uranium, the official said these "must still be submitted to laboratory examination and the IAEA will have to take into consideration Iran's explanation that the samples were contaminated while abroad."

Salehi said Iran had submitted a letter to the IAEA on Monday saying it was willing to pursue talks on remaining problems.

http://www.daneshjoo.org/generalnews/article/publish/article_1985.shtml

U.S. presses Russia to halt nuclear aid to Iran

Reuters - World News
Aug 27, 2003

WASHINGTON - The United States on Wednesday put fresh public pressure on Russia to halt nuclear cooperation with Iran after U.N. inspectors issued a new report faulting Tehran's program.

"Until Iran satisfies the IAEA's questions and fully addresses the concerns of the international community ... we believe that no country should be engaging with Iran in nuclear cooperation, and that would include Russia," State Department deputy spokesman Phillip Reeker told reporters.

He was reacting to an announcement from the Russian Atomic Energy Ministry that Russia and Iran in September would sign an agreement requiring Tehran to return nuclear waste to Moscow.

Nothing Reeker said suggested that Undersecretary of State John Bolton made headway in resolving U.S.-Russian differences over Iran's nuclear program during talks in Moscow on Tuesday.

Russia has pressed ahead with plans to build a nuclear plant at the southern port of Bushehr in Iran despite criticism from Washington which accuses Tehran of seeking to develop nuclear weapons under the cover of a civilian program.

Once the new Russia-Iran agreement is signed, Russia would ship fuel to Iran for the Bushehr reactor which will process it to generate power and send all spent nuclear material -- which can be converted into weapons grade material -- back to Russia.

Two senior U.S. officials have told Reuters the Russians have told Washington they would not provide Iran with the fuel for Bushehr until next spring.

In a confidential report obtained by Reuters on Tuesday, the U.N. nuclear watchdog -- the International Atomic Energy Agency -- confirmed it had found particles of highly-enriched uranium -- weapons grade -- in environmental samples taken at a nuclear facility at Natanz.

The finding may buttress U.S. claims about Iran's nuclear weapons ambitions.

The IAEA is expected to take up the Iran issue at its September 8 board meeting when the Bush administration is looking to pass a resolution finding Tehran in non-compliance with international nuclear safeguards and transfer the issue to the U.N. Security Council for further action.

http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=3347087

Iran's Khatami Tells Japan He'll Cooperate With UN

Aug. 28 (Bloomberg) -- Iranian President Mohammad Khatami told Japan's Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi his country will cooperate with the United Nations' inspectors to assure the world that Iran isn't developing nuclear weapons.

Khatami's message was conveyed in a letter handed over by Iran's Foreign Minister Kamal Kharazi when he met Koizumi this morning, said Koichi Aiboshi, a section manager in the Middle Eastern and African Affairs Bureau at Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He didn't give further details.

Iran's cooperation with the UN may not be enough for Japan to sign a $2.5 billion agreement to develop the country's Azadegan oil field, according to analysts at a Tokyo think- tank. The UN wants Iran to allow its inspectors to conduct spot checks at nuclear sites, a demand that Iran hasn't yet accepted.

``It'll take some time'' before Japan signs an agreement on the Azadegan oil field, said Tsutomu Toichi, a managing director at the government-funded Institute of Energy Economics in Tokyo. ``There are so many uncertainties. No one knows how Iran will respond to the demand'' for nuclear checks, he said.

Koizumi and Kharazi didn't discuss development of the Azadegan oil field during their meeting, Aiboshi said.

Azadegan

In June, Japan was close to agreement on developing the Azadegan field, which has as much as 6 billion barrels of recoverable oil, when the U.S. opposed Japanese investment because of concern Iran is developing nuclear weapons.

Tomen Corp. and Japan National Oil Corp. lost their priority right to develop the field when Japan missed the June deadline. China, India and Russia have since said they are interested in developing the field.

Iran has the world's fifth-largest proven oil reserves, holding about 90 billion barrels, or about 9 percent of the total reserves.

Japan has backed demands from the U.S. and European Union for Iran to sign an agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency that will allow UN inspectors to check the Middle East nation's nuclear facilities with little or no warning.

Japan is close to an agreement with Iran on developing the Azadegan field, Takeo Hiranuma, Japan's minister of trade and industry, said this week. Japan sees the agreement to develop Iran's biggest oil discovery in 35 years as a key step towards securing its oil needs.

``We have reached substantial compromises on some points,'' Hiranuma said at a press conference in Tokyo on Aug. 26. ``We still need to tie up loose ends.''

Energy Competition

Japan is competing with China and other countries to secure stable sources of oil and gas. Winning access to the Iranian oil field will help ensure the world's second-largest economy does not run out of energy.

``We depend for almost 99 percent of our oil on outside sources,'' Japan's Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi, who will meet Kharazi today, told reporters yesterday. ``To secure oil has been a very important policy goal for Japan.''

Japan considers its efforts to secure oil a separate issue from international concerns over Iran's nuclear program, she said.

``We do share the concerns of the international community on the nuclear issue,'' Kawaguchi said. ``We are as a separate matter currently engaged in discussion with Iran on oil.''

``Axis of Evil''

Iran is one of the countries U.S. President George W. Bush includes in a so-called Axis of Evil, along with Iraq and North Korea. In the post-Iraq War period, Bush has renewed calls for tough sanctions because of Iran's alleged nuclear weapons development. Tehran denies the allegations.

UN inspectors reported on June 6 that Iran has failed to disclose materials, facilities and activities required by its current agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency. Iran says it is cooperating with international officials and says its nuclear program is for electricity generation.

Iran hopes to reach an agreement with Japan this year to develop the oil field, Bijan Namdar Zanganeh, Iran's oil minister, said earlier this month.

Further talks today between Iranian foreign minister and Japanese government officials may not include direct negotiations on the Azadegan field, said Toichi at the Institute of Energy Economics.

``I don't think it's a good time to talk business,'' he said.

http://quote.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000101&sid=aKag0n7kWTW8&refer=japan

We don't really believe we can win, not in the long run. The suicide bomber is a symbol of weakness, of a culture so comprehensively failed that what ought to be its greatest resource - its people - is instead as disposable as a firecracker. But in our self-doubt the enemy's weakness becomes his strength.
We simply can't comprehend a man like Raed Abdel Misk, pictured in the press last week with a big smile, a check shirt and two cute little moppets, a boy and a girl, in his arms. His wife is five months pregnant with their third child. On Tuesday night, big smiling Raed strapped an 11-pound bomb packed with nails and shrapnel to his chest and boarded the No. 2 bus in Jerusalem.
The terrorist leaders watch CNN and the BBC and, understandably, they conclude that in Iraq America, Britain and all the rest will do what most people do when they run up against someone deranged: back out of the room slowly.

They're wrong. There's no choice. You kill it here, or the next generation of suicide bombers will be on buses in Rotterdam, Manchester, Lyons, and blowing up the UN building in Manhattan. This is the battlefield.

Pinggggg!

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