Last month, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief Mohamed ElBaradei brokered a deal between Iran, France, Russia and the United States to supply much-needed uranium to a research reactor in Tehran. But while Moscow, Paris and Washington all quickly approved the plans, Tehran said it wanted amendments and further talks. Under ElBaradei's proposal, Iran would ship out most of its known low-enriched uranium to Russia for further enrichment. The material would then be turned into fuel for the Tehran research reactor by France. On Friday Iran said it is preparing to give more details on its response to the international proposals for supplying nuclear fuel and expects more negotiations, even as Washington warned the time for talking is over. OOOOOOOOOH!!!I bet the MMs are laughing their a$$es off shaking in their curly toed Nikes slippers over O's admonitions.
Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said Tehran would give the additional details to the IAEA following the initial response it gave on October 29. "We have some more details which we have to give to the International Atomic Energy Agency," state television quoted Mottaki on its website as saying. "We have three options -- enrich the fuel ourselves, buy it directly or exchange our uranium for fuel," he said. "They (the IAEA and the major powers) have to choose from these options. Given the need of Iran to have the fuel, my view is that they will accept another round of discussions."
His suggestion of further talks came despite a warning from US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Thursday that Washington's patience at Tehran's failure to give its definitive response was beginning to wear thin. She called on the Islamic republic to accept unamended the proposals drawn up by the IAEA. "As I have said, this is a pivotal moment for Iran, and we urge Iran to accept the agreement as proposed," Clinton told reporters. "We will not alter it, and we will not wait forever," she said. The IAEA proposal is aimed at allaying Western concerns that Iran could otherwise divert some of low-enriched uranium (LEU) reserves and enrich them further to the much higher levels of purity required to make an atomic bomb. Tehran strongly denies seeking to manufacture a nuclear weapon, and says its atomic programme is for purely peaceful purposes.
The UN nuclear watchdog has asked Iran to explain evidence that it has experimented with highly advanced nuclear warhead designs, a British newspaper reported Friday.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) believes Iranian scientists may have tested components of the sophisticated technology, known as a "two-point implosion" device, the Guardian reported.
This technology -- whose existence is secret in the United States and Britain -- would allow for the production of smaller and simpler warheads and reduce the diameter of a warhead and make it easier to put on a missile, it said.
The Guardian cited previously unpublished documentation in a dossier compiled by the IAEA, drawn in part from reports submitted by western intelligence agencies, and presented to Iran for response.
An unnamed European advisor on nuclear issues told the newspaper: "It is breathtaking that Iran could be working on this sort of material."
Western powers have long feared that Iran is developing nuclear weapons, something it denies.
Iran and western powers are currently engaged in talks over how to procure nuclear fuel for an Iranian research reactor.
Under a UN-brokered proposal Iran would send its low-enriched uranium (LEU) abroad for conversion into fuel for the reactor. Iran says it would rather buy the fuel directly. Build the gadgets small enough so they can be set on a missile. Continued on Page 47
Posted by: Alaska Paul ||
11/09/2009 00:00 ||
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Lest we fergit II, 1990's NET > RADICAL MULLAHS = "Nuke" or nuclear" means THERMONUCLEAR = HIGH-YIELD STRATEGIC NUCLEAR, NOT BATTLEFILED = TACTICAL, or even URANIUM, NUKE.
[Iran Press TV Latest] Amid talks between Iran and the world major powers on the nuclear issue, Tehran welcomes the improvement of strategic cooperation with Russia.
"Strategic cooperation with Russia is an option for the Islamic Republic of Iran," said top Iranian nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili in a meeting with the visiting Deputy Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov in Tehran Sunday.
"Tehran welcomes continuation of talks based on its package of proposals," he added.
Jalili, who is also Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council (SNSC), said Iran had a 'positive and strategic' performance in recently-held talks with the five permanent members of the UN Security Council -- Russia, China, France, Britain and the United States -- plus Germany (P5+1).
He, however, warned that certain countries seek to impose the outcome of their false behavior on others.
The top Iranian nuclear official reiterated that 'technical and economic views of the Islamic Republic' should be completely taken into consideration in any talks on the country's nuclear program.
After holding hot nuclear discussions with Western powers, diplomats close to talks say the country seeks a two-staged, simultaneous exchange of enriched uranium with potential suppliers.
Iran is in need of 116 kilograms of uranium enriched to 20 percent to supply a medical research reactor in Tehran that produces isotopes for cancer treatment.
According to the diplomats, Iran has proposed that it twice exchange 400 kilograms of low-enriched uranium (LEU) with some 60 kilograms of 20-percent nuclear fuel.
Ryabkov, who is in Tehran at the invitation of deputy secretary of the SNSC Ali Baqeri, said that continuation of talks between Iran and the P5+1 states would be in the interests of all sides.
He said that enrichment of uranium is an absolute right and an indication of wise attitude of the Islamic Republic.
Talks on the fuel supply for the Tehran reactor include only economic aspects, he added, expressing hope that the talks would bear fruit soon.
A senior Iranian lawmaker warns that any attempt by Moscow to back down on a deal to the deliver S-300 air defense system to Iran 'would run counter to Russia's interests'.
"The S-300 case, which is an old case, marks a new chapter in Russia's failure to keep its end of the deal," Iran's Parliament (Majlis) National Security and Foreign Policy Committee Chief Alaeddin Boroujerdi told reporters on Sunday.
Boroujerdi was referring to a contract signed between the Tehran government and the Kremlin in 2007.
"Given the extensive bilateral cooperation between the two countries, it would run counter to Russia's interests if negotiations fail to bear fruit in this matter," the influential lawmaker added.
Iran has opted to acquire the sophisticated S-300 defense system in reaction to Israeli rhetoric against Tehran. The missile defense system, according to Western experts, would shield Iranian nuclear sites against any Israeli airstrike.
"If Tehran obtained the S-300, it would be a game-changer in military thinking for tackling Iran," says long-time Pentagon advisor Dan Goure.
The S-300 surface-to-air missile system can track targets and fire at aircraft 120 kilometers (75 miles) away. The system features high jamming immunity and is able to simultaneously engage up to 100 targets.
The Israeli officials have on numerous occasions expressed concern over the possibility of the system being delivered to Iran.
"The S-300 is a Russian-made surface-to-air missile system that is very advanced, with long ranges and many capabilities," Israeli Air Force (IAF) commander, Major General Ido Nehushtan said in September.
"We need to make every effort to stop this system from getting to places where the IAF needs to operate or may need to operate in the future," he added.
While Russia's Federal Service for Military and Technical Cooperation said in October that Moscow would fulfill its commitment according to its 'international obligations', there has been interminable confusion reigning over the delivery of the defense system.
Boroujerdi warned that should Russia fail to fulfill its promises regarding the S-300 missile system, 'a negative point in the two states' relations would emerge'.
#2
An obvious solution to the dilemma is for the Rooskis to deliver the S-300s the day after the Juice do their traditional ceremonial reactor flyover.
[Asharq al-Aswat] A high-ranking Lebanese security source has revealed to Asharq Al-Awsat that, "The investigations into the firing of a rocket from the Town of Hula in south Lebanon have not ended." And that, "According to the available information, it is obvious that a suspect party seeks to implicate Hezbollah by infiltrating a sheer Shiite area."
The source said: "Hezbollah does not want to start a battle at this stage, and the way it operates indicates this fact."
"Accordingly, it seems that this party managed by money to cause a clear breach. This fact is indicated by some information that has resulted from ongoing investigations into the placing of rockets inside the house from where one of the rockets was fired." The source added.
He said it is likely that the Fatah al-Islam Organization is involved in this action. He added that he is convinced of Fatah al-Islam's connection to Israeli parties.
The source said: "This organization, which adopts the Al-Qaeda Organization's thought, is financed by wealthy extremists to help it recruit people. These extremists belong to parties that seek to use Lebanon as a place to achieve their goals."
He added: "Currently, the Fatah al-Islam extremists are incited against the Shiites, the United States, and the regimes that are allied with it. This harms moderate Islam and moderate Arabs and serves Israel's interest through fomenting confessional feuds. The aim behind such actions is to embarrass Hezbollah and then drive it out."
The security source noted the importance of the army intelligence service's success in arresting Palestinian Fadi Ibrahim, 35, alias Samku, a few days ago. Ibrahim is one of the Fatah al-Islam Organization's activists.
The source said: "Ibrahim played an important role in Fatah al-Islam, alongside fugitives Naim Abbas and Tawfiq Taha. He is among the five leading members of this organization. During the investigation of this organization's members, it transpired that they try to conceal his role. They accuse dead persons or people residing outside Lebanon of the crimes that their organization committed."
However, the source added: "The security agencies managed to piece together the information about him. These agencies were able to secure the requirements of the investigation through persistent work."
With regard to the explosion that took place in the Town of Tayr Filsayh on 12 October, the source said: "The explosion happened by mistake, and it was not a powerful one."
He added: "They delayed us one hour during which they managed to erase the traces and burn down the place where the explosion happened in order to hide the evidence."
He continued: "Because we do not have the necessary equipments to facilitate monitoring on roads, we could not complete the investigation. Anyway, the investigation is continuing, and some time is needed for the evidences to be complete."
Commenting on the incidental cooperation between the Lebanese security agencies and Hezbollah in the Southern Suburb of Beirut, the source said: "Anyone who secures money and his situation improves needs the state agencies to protect his interests. Poverty exists not in the Southern Suburb or the south, but in Bab al-Tabbanah and the Central and Northern Al-Biqa."
He noted: "Hezbollah cannot provide all the state requirements in the areas that it controls, and the experience has shown this fact. Had it not been for Hezbollah's fear for its leaders, it would have handed the responsibility for security in the Southern Suburb over to the army and other security forces."
The source pointed out: "Hezbollah rejected the presence of the state in the past, but its plan seems to have changed. However, this does not negate the fact that Hezbollah has obligations that it cannot give up because it needs Syrian and Iranian support."
[Asharq al-Aswat] Iran is poised on the southern border of the Arabian Gulf countries after having swallowed Lebanon to the north through its divine party [Hezbollah] and settled in the veins of the wounded Iraqi state. What is left? Can Saudi Arabia be blamed if it takes the Huthist danger seriously and dealt with it firmly? I believe that Saudi firmness came much later than it should have.
By firmness I do not mean only military effort but I mean something that is much deeper. The literature and "manuals" of Hussein Badr-al-Din al-Huthi, the first commander of the Huthist current, show that it is part of Iran's policy in the region. It has the same slogans, same flavor, and same approach as that of Hezbollah in Lebanon. This means appropriating part of state land, imposing control over this piece of land, creating a specific security and political fence around it, and resorting to popular slogans that titillate the sentiments of the wretched masses. And there is nothing better than attacking the United States -- the mother of all evils -- and Israel and, of course the agents of the United States. Nothing tops mobilizing the masses that are groaning under the burden of poverty and that are weak with ignorance. This is how Hezbollah in Lebanon was first established and this is what the Huthist current is trying to do. The recent clashes in the border region of Jabal Dukhan between the Huthist militias and the Saudi Army mark a tolling alarm bell. The problem should be examined more thoroughly and comprehensively. What can the Huthists do more? Is the Iranian operations room, intelligence services, and the intelligence organs of the Revolutionary Guard that support and manipulate the Huthist band taking the pulse of the situation?
Some people become angry when we talk about Iranian fingers in Yemen. They say that we are repeating the lies of the hostile government in Sanaa, that the Huthist current is a domestic movement, and that the members of this current are the sons of the Yemeni people and that they have just issues with the government. This is a distorted and empty discussion. No one said that the Huthists came from Madagascar and no rational person has said that they justified demands regarding the government in Sanaa. However, this is one thing and manipulating these matters in the interest of a political agitation that is bigger than mere demands is another. In Lebanon, Hezbollah too is originally from Lebanon, its human resources are the sons of Lebanon, and its geographic presence is in Lebanon. However, this is not important in the balance of political interpretation that wants to know who will gain from Hezbollah's activities in the region. Of course, it is Iran. The same thing applies to the Huthist current in Yemen. In fact, it is an amazing cloning process of the Hezbollah model in Lebanon even in the most insignificant things. I saw a video clip on YouTube of Abdul-Malik al-Huthi addressing his masses and repeating the same chants of sacrifice and redemption as he waved his hand, raised and lowered his voice, and kept silent to give the gathering masses the chance for organized, not spontaneous, chanting. This is exactly how Hasan Nasrallah appears as he addresses the masses in Al-Dahiyah al-Junubiyah [Hezbollah stronghold in Beirut] or Al-Nabatiyah.
Saudi Arabia is justified in repulsing Al-Huthist's militias. It should take the matter more firmly and seriously and should use all the necessary force to protect the land and deter aggression. But this is part of the solution. The broader framework of the solution should have the military efforts complementing the political and strategic efforts. All the countries of the Arabian Peninsula -- the Gulf countries and Yemen -- should take the matter seriously and leave petty differences behind them. Iran is targeting Saudi Arabia through Yemen and Saudi Arabia -- in geography, demography, economy, and spiritual and international status -- constitutes the heart of the region and the umbrella of the Arabian Peninsula. No one wants to be in the mood for wars. We have had enough wars that have mutilated us and obstructed our progress, but it seems that the mullahs of Tehran have another opinion.
Continued on Page 47
Posted by: Fred ||
11/09/2009 00:00 ||
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"Huthist current is a domestic movement" > Yokay-y-y, and pray tell what do the HOUTHIS + HITHIS + HETHIS, etal. Der PanzerKamel Gruppes say about the HUTHIS???
[Asharq al-Aswat] Hezbollah issued a statement condemning the decision to suspend the broadcast of Iranian Al-Alam [news] channel on satellite operators Arabsat and Nilesat. In this statement, the [Lebanese] party said "Hezbollah declares its solidarity with the Al-Alam channel and considers this [the channel's suspension] to be a violation of the freedom of speech and opinion, and calls for this issue to be treated immediately in order to ensure the preservation of public freedoms."
Hezbollah talking about freedom reminded me of a funny story that I received once in an e-mail.
A philosopher and an illiterate decided to travel to the desert and spend a day there. They erected their tent, and after a long day decided to go to sleep in the tent. After they both fell asleep, the illiterate woke up, he then woke up his philosopher friend and asked him "Look up and tell me what you see."
The philosopher looked up and said "I see stars, an innumerable number of them."
The illiterate asked him "And what does that mean?"
The philosopher said "This is evidence of the Creator's ability which can be seen here in the magnificence of this star-studded sky, and in fact if you like I can tell you what time it is now, and even what the weather will be like tomorrow."
The philosopher then turned to his illiterate friend and asked "Very well, tell me what you see."
The illiterate answered "I see that our tent has been stolen, idiot!"
This story is applicable to what Hezbollah is saying about the violation of the freedom of speech and opinion, and the necessity of preserving public freedoms. This is because Hezbollah is lecturing us about freedom that it itself is exploiting to serve the goals of establishing sectarian division and in order to threaten the preservation of Arab society. Hezbollah is arguing for freedom today, however the first thing that Hezbollah did following the 7 May Beirut coup -- during which Hezbollah took control of Sunni areas in Beirut -- was to use weaponry to attack the media organizations that opposed Hezbollah, not to mention intimidate Lebanese journalists.
It is strange that Hezbollah announced its support and defense of the Iranian Al-Alam [news] channel on behalf of the freedoms of speech and opinion however we did not hear one word from the group about the newspapers that are being closed down every day in Iran. This is something that has been happening for years, and more than 200 newspapers have been shut down in Iran, not to mention the persecution and imprisonment of journalists in Tehran who -- reflecting the demands of half of Iranian society -- called for reform. This is contrary to the demands of a small group [of Iranian society] or groups who are affiliated to foreign countries, such as Hezbollah. The Al-Alam [news] channel wants to convince us that it is concerned with the Arab world, whilst all that it is doing is supporting the separatists [in our region] and their armed movement against our security and stability.
The Iranian Al-Alam [news] channel incites sectarianism, and is not a television station which follows the principles of professional media. The same applies to the Al-Manar television channel that belongs to Hezbollah. Both of these television stations serve as examples of media organizations that mobilize sectarianism, and this is something contrary to the concept of freedom of speech and opinion. The first condition of this -- freedom -- is responsibility, and this principle is based on the understanding that your freedom ends when it begins to usurp the freedom of others.
Therefore Hezbollah shedding crocodile tears about the suspension of the broadcast of Al-Alam television is similar to the talk of the philosopher under the tent. Those sympathetic to Iran's agents [in our region] are making the same mistake, and are not paying attention to the fact that the tent of stability in our region is at risk because of Iran and its agents.
Continued on Page 47
Posted by: Fred ||
11/09/2009 00:00 ||
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[Asharq al-Aswat] A high-ranking Lebanese security source has revealed to Asharq Al-Awsat that, "The investigations into the firing of a rocket from the Town of Hula in south Lebanon have not ended." And that, "According to the available information, it is obvious that a suspect party seeks to implicate Hezbollah by infiltrating a sheer Shiite area."
