IRAN UPDATE

News and comment on the diplomatic movements over Iran's nuclear programme

No. 63 - 15 September 2006

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SUMMARY

• Iran offers 2 month enrichment suspension
• US to press for Iran sanctions as early as next week
• IAEA attacks 'erroneous' US report on Iran's nuclear programme
• US admits to nuclear double-standard
• Right-wing UK opposition leader criticises US foreign policy
• Toronto protests as newspaper advocates nuclear attack on Iran

Diplomatic developments this week suggest increased flexibility in negotiations between the EU and Iran, with Kofi Annan stating that he felt encouraged by the talks. At a weekend meeting in Vienna between Javier Solana and Ali Larijani, reports emerged that Iran might consider a unilateral, two-month suspension of uranium enrichment. The Iranian official response to the P5+1 offer was also published in English on the ISIS website. However, hopes of a breakthrough suffered a setback with the postponement of talks scheduled for Thursday 14th, and at the time of writing, there had not been any announcement of a new date. Furthermore, despite the suggestion that the US could possibly relent on its insistence that Iran ends enrichment before direct talks, the signs are that Washington still intends to pursue the option of sanctions at a Security Council meeting next week. However, amidst continuing reports of opposition to a hard-line approach, which surfaced most recently at an IAEA meeting, it is still unclear as to whether the US is in a position to gather sufficient backing for any sanctions move.

Indeed, this week an official US report was criticised by the IAEA for using its material in a misleading assessment of Iran's nuclear programme. In a strongly worded letter [pdf] the document was said to contain 'erroneous' statements concerning the level of Iranian uranium enrichment and other technical details. There has so far been no US response.

The US also acknowledged that it was employing a double-standard in its stance on Iran's nuclear programme. But despite this admission, US Assistant Secretary of State, Richard Boucher, defended the contrasting US position on India's nuclear programme, where Washington has offered assistance on New Delhi's civilian nuclear project.

Two Angus Reid polls reflected continued public uncertainty on both sides of the Atlantic over foreign policy. In the US, 65% of those questioned felt that the US was ' less respected' now than in the past. In Britain, 67% of respondents said that the government should reject any US requests for participation in an invasion of Iran. Meanwhile, the leader of the British Conservative party, David Cameron, expressed his own criticism of US foreign policy, which is notable given his party's links with US Republicans.

Whilst in Canada, there were protests outside the offices of the Toronto Sun, after a commentary in the tabloid, advocated a nuclear attack against Iran.

Carlos Coke, BASIC, +44 (0) 20 7324 4680

STORIES AND LINKS

Diplomats: Iran may suspend enrichment, CNN, September 11 2006
Iran reportedly suggested that it could unilaterally suspend uranium enrichment for 2 months.
http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/europe/09/10/iran.nuclear.ap/
index.html?section=cnn_topstories

EU, Iran report progress in nuclear talks, MSNBC, September 10 2006
Signs apparently emerged of increased flexibility in the EU-Iran negotiations in Vienna.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14765717/

UN 'encouraged' by Iranian talks, bbc news, September 13 2006
Kofi Annan endorses the EU-Iran talks.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/5343274.stm

Iran and Europe Union postpone talks, USA Today, September 13 2006
Solana and Larijani, the EU and Iran's chief negotiators, will now unexpectedly not attend a September 14 meeting in Vienna. The talks were to discuss Iran's offer to halt uranium enrichment activities for up to two months. The meeting, which continued, was relocated to Geneva.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2006-09-13-iran_x.htm?csp=34

Brief Nuclear Halt May Lead to Talks With Iran, Washington Post, September 12 2006
The US may drop its insistence that Iran ends enrichment activities before direct negotiations.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/11/AR2006091100766.html?nav=rss_world

World Powers to Meet Next Week on Iran sanctions, Iran Herald, September 14 2006
Reports suggest that the US will push for sanctions at a meeting of the UN Security Council next week.
http://story.iranherald.com/index.php/ct/9/cid/
1b76a2b4cf7810bd/id/247aa16bdc8dc9cf/

World Powers Differing Over Iran, BakuToday, September 12 2006
At this stage, the US is alone in driving for sanctions.
http://www.bakutoday.net/view.php?d=26419

IAEA Says U.S. Report in Iran 'Erroneous', Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, September 14 2006
The IAEA has reacted strongly to what it perceives as the misrepresentation of its findings.
http://www.rferl.org/featuresarticle/2006/9/
b4da7ee9-0a6d-41b3-920c-a7e2182cd15a.html

also

UN Inspectors dispute Panel's Report on Iran, Washington Post, September 14 2006
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/
documents/document091406.pdf

US Says Nuclear Double-Standard on Iran justified, Reuters, September 11 2006
US Assistant Secretary of State, Richard Boucher, defended the contrasting US position on India's nuclear programme.Washington has offered New Delhi assistance on New its civilian nuclear project.
http://www.myantiwar.org/view/92729.html

US Is Less Respected Now, Say Americans, AngusReid, September 10 2006
65% of Americans feel that the US is 'less respected' than in the past.
http://www.angus-reid.com/polls/index.cfm/
fuseaction/viewItem/itemID/13089

Britain Rejects Sending Troops to Iran, AngusReid, September 13 2006
67% say Britain should refuse any US requests to join an invasion of Iran.
http://www.angus-reid.com/polls/index.cfm/
fuseaction/viewItem/itemID/13126

Iranian-Canadians protest Toronto Sun column, cnews, September 13 2006
Reaction to Michael Coren's commentary, We Should Nuke Iran.
http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/MediaNews/2006/09/13/1834592-sun.html

COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

Iranian Official Response to the P5+1 Offer, and analysis from ISIS
Iran appears willing to adhere voluntarily to the Additional Protocol, provided that the UN Security Council sets aside the nuclear issue, and Iran is at least open to negotiating the status of its enrichment program.
Offer: http://www.isis-online.org/publications/iran/iranresponse.pdf
and ISIS analysis:
Analysis: http://www.isis-online.org/publications/iran/confusedbuthopeful.pdf

Modern Iran Struggles Through Hangover of Nuclear Threats, The Canadian, September 09 2006
Aims to present a rounded view of Iranians and life in Iran.
http://coanews.org/tiki-read_article.php?articleId=1252

The Tories and the White House, The Telegraph (Alec Russell blog), September 13 2006
David Cameron expressed criticism of US foreign policy.
http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/foreign/alecrussell/sept06/twh.htm

Europe's foreign policy: Saying 'No' to the US?, openDemocracy.net, September 09 2006
On the growing rift between the US and EU over foreign policy.
http://www.opendemocracy.net/democracy-europe/eu_mideast_3894.jsp

Iran steps back from the brink, Asia Times, September 13 2006
Iran's willingness to consider a temporary suspension of uranium enrichment is seen as a response to diplomatic pressure.
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/HI13Ak01.html

America is losing its best friend, International Herald Tribune, September 2006
Comments on the upcoming resignation of Tony Blair within the context of US foreign policy.
http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/09/08/opinion/eddale.php