[Iran Press TV Latest] In its latest report on Iran, the UN nuclear watchdog has confirmed that the country is improving its cooperation with the agency while it continues to enrich uranium in spite of UN Security Council resolutions.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said in the report released on Friday that "following repeated requests" by the IAEA, the agency was provided with access to the heavy water reactor at Arak, in central Iran.
After carrying out a design information verification (DIV), the agency "verified that the construction of the facility was ongoing," the IAEA said in the report, a copy of which was obtained by Press TV.
The IAEA report quoted Iranian operators of the reactor as saying that "the reactor vessel was still being manufactured, and that it would be installed in 2011."
The access to the reactor had been denied for a year.
Western countries say the Arak site could have been transformed into a weapons-grade plutonium-producing factory after its roof was installed, foiling monitoring with satellite imagery.
Iran says the site would be used for producing isotopes for medicine and agriculture. The country also denies seeking any nuclear weaponry, calling for the removal of all weapons of mass destruction around the world.
The report, meanwhile, added that the agency has been able to continue "to verify the non-diversion of declared nuclear material in Iran."
"Iran has cooperated with the agency in improving safeguards measures at FEP [Fuel Enrichment Plant at Natanz]," the report said.
Meanwhile, it warned that, "Iran has not suspended its enrichment-related activities or its work on heavy water related projects as required by the Security Council."
Tehran is under three rounds of sanctions resolutions for its enrichment work.
"Contrary to the requests of the [IAEA] Board of Governors and the [UN] Security Council, Iran has neither implemented the Additional Protocol nor cooperated with the agency in connection with the remaining issues of concern which need to be clarified to exclude the possibility of military dimensions of Iran's nuclear program".
The Additional Protocol requires member states to provide an expanded declaration of their nuclear activities and grants the agency broader rights of access to sites in the country.
Iran says a broader access would expose sensitive information related to its conventional military and missile related activities, insisting that any government would be reluctant to accept such a protocol because of national security concerns.
The report added that as of July 31, Iran has stockpiled at least 1430kg of low-enriched uranium hexafluoride (UF6).
The agency also confirmed in 29 unannounced inspections, it had found that the Fuel Enrichment Plant at Natanz as well as the Pilot Fuel Enrichment Plant (PFEP), a test facility located at the same site, had been "operating as declared."
Iran has only managed to enrich uranium-235 to a level "less than 5 percent."
Uranium, the fuel for a nuclear power plant, can serve in military purposes if enriched to high levels. Nuclear arms production requires an enrichment level of above 90 percent.
Continued on Page 47
Posted by: Fred ||
08/29/2009 00:00 ||
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[Iran Press TV Latest] Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad says that Britain's foreign secretary had predicted the demise of the Iranian state in the aftermath of the June presidential election.
"One of the foreign ministers of friendly countries told us that when I asked the Old Colonialism's (United Kingdom) foreign secretary why they interfered in Iran's affairs, he answered that 'this time the time was up for the Islamic Republic system, and this time we have worked out everything'," Ahmadinejad said Friday.
"The whole world knows that in Iran, elections are fundamental maters, and, contrary to common democracies of the world, they are not a sham or previously arranged, but, with the presence and supervision of the people," he added. "It is a necessity for the continuation of the revolutionary and Islamic values."
"This election shattered the enemies' plots and revealed their plans, and well illustrated the firmness of the system," said Ahmadinejad, who is embarking on his second four-year term, Fars News Agency reported.
He went on to say that the hope of the enemy "was to direct and steer to victory, [their plans] to finish off Iran, in the same way that they could in other places, through color revolutions, with money, various media and expertise."
"But, during the election, our nation slapped their faces in such a way, that, after more than two months since the election, they are still dizzy, and have lost their way home," Ahmadinejad exclaimed.
Iran has blamed foreign elements for the unrest that followed the presidential election in June.
#2
Obama doesn't want regime change. He thinks he can negotiate with Imadinnerjacket. Besides in Obama's world the only "bad guys" in the middle east are Israel.
[Iran Press TV Latest] Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad says foreign forces orchestrated the post-election turmoil in the country and are thus responsible for its controversial aftermath, including alleged mistreatment of detainees in Iranian jails.
In a pre-sermon speech to Friday prayers worshippers in Tehran University, President Ahmadinejad said he is in possession of evidence that exonerates "revolutionary, military, security and intelligence forces" from any allegations of detainee abuse.
The June 12 election was followed by massive street protests after the official results declared that the incumbent, President Ahmadinejad, was chosen by a massive margin to serve for another four years.
The demonstrations, which provoked firm actions by the authorities, turned deadly when at least 30 people lost their lives and resulted in the arrest of thousands of protesters, opposition figures and journalists, as well as foreign suspects.
Most of the detainees have since been released; while nearly 300 have so far stood mass trials.
The issue of a nightly raid on Tehran University dormitories on June 14 was among controversial incidents in Iran's post-vote frenzy which drew fierce criticism from various political quarters.
"The attack on (Tehran) University dorm and certain mistreatments in detention centers were foul deeds," President Ahmadinejad said. However, these acts "were parts of the enemy's plot and were carried out by 'coup' elements."
His remarks come as Parliament is conducting investigations into the allegation of sexual abuse in Iranian jails after opposition figure Mehdi Karroubi, a former two-time Majlis speaker, plucked up the courage to broach the taboo subject.
President Ahmadinejad, meanwhile, asked the Judiciary to "without mercy" judge the elements who, he said, "in the disguise of a friend, carried out inhumane acts" and stirred up the unrest.
He also threw his weight behind calls for the prosecution of opposition leaders who are accused of devising plans that led to the recent deadly tumult.
"Severe punishment must await the leaders of the movement and its main elements," Ahmadinejad said. "Lest they have immunity and lowly agents be punished cruelly."
[Iran Press TV Latest] As the Iranian president awaits parliamentary approval for his new Cabinet, a newly-appointed interim Friday prayers leader for Tehran urges the lawmakers to clear all the nominees.
"The Majlis (the Iranian Parliament) should swiftly prepare the ground for the new government to be established," said Hojjatoleslam Kazem Seddiqi, who for the first time led the prayers at Tehran University on Friday.
His remarks come as the president is lobbying members of the Majlis to approve the Cabinet-designates amid debates over the credentials of some of his nominees as well as the three women Ahmadinejad has suggested to take ministerial posts.
Hojjatoleslam Seddiqi, for his part, said before making decisions on a candidate, lawmakers should assess whether the nominees have "good credentials, reputation, and expertise" and if they hold anti-hegemonic views and abide by the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei.
He also called upon Ahmadinejad's soon-to-be-established government to resolve the country's "problems" in its first step.
"Now that the administration has Islamic legitimacy after the Leader's approval and is lawful due to the vote of the people, it must take up the establishment's duties and resolve the country's problems," Seddiqi was quoted as saying by the semi-official Fars News Agency.
[Bangla Daily Star] Iran's hardline President Mamoud Ahmadinejad called for the first time yesterday for the punishment of opposition leaders over the unrest unleashed by his disputed re-election.
"Serious confrontation should take place with the leaders and main instigators of the incidents. Those who provoked, organised and implemented the enemy's line should be confronted firmly," Ahmadinejad said in a speech at Tehran Friday prayers carried live on state radio.
It is the first time Ahmadinejad has made such a call against his political opponents, who have charged his re-election was fraudulent.
"Those from lower ranks and the ones who were deceived should be treated with Islamic compassion," Ahmadinejad added, drawing chants of "riot leaders should be executed" from the worshippers.
Iran faced its worst crisis since the establishment of the Islamic republic in 1979 when hundreds of thousands took to the streets in week-long protests against the June 12 poll results during which about 30 people -- and by opposition accounts 69 -- were killed.
About 4,000 people were initially arrested and scores of senior reformists, journalists and opposition supporters have been put on trial on accusations of seeking a "soft" overthrow of the regime with foreign backing.
Opposition leaders including presidential candidates Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi have condemned the "show trials", refused to recognise Ahmadinejad's presidency and vowed to continue protests.
The Islamic republic has faced further embarrassment by allegations that detained protesters have been raped and tortured.
Iran shut down Kahrizak prison south of Tehran after at least two detainees died of injuries reportedly sustained in custody.
Iran jailed several prison guards and vowed to prosecute them but the hardline president on Friday pointed an accusing finger at Iran's foreign enemies and the "overthrowing movement" over attacks on university dormitories and prisoner abuse.
"What happened in the dorms and detention centres was part of the enemy's scenario carried out by the dependants of the overthrowing movement," he charged. "Revolutionary forces are innocent of such shameful acts.
"Our Basijis were beaten up in the street as they were protecting people's rights," he said of Iran's hardline Islamist militia, which played a key role in stifling street protests.
Continued on Page 47
Posted by: Fred ||
08/29/2009 00:00 ||
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#1
"Our Basijis were beaten up in the street as they were protecting people's rights," he said
Video says you're a damn liar.
Posted by: Redneck Jim ||
08/29/2009 0:17 Comments ||
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#2
Hey! Taqqiya is supposed to be for the infidels.
Posted by: ed ||
08/29/2009 7:41 Comments ||
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