IRAN UPDATE

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

No. 66 - 13 October 2006

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SUMMARY

• North Korean nuclear test overshadows Iranian controversy
• Security Council disagreement on Iran
• Israeli official conflates North Korea blast with Iran crisis
• Criticism of Bush 'Axis of Evil' approach to foreign policy

North Korea's nuclear test on Monday has dramatically overshadowed the crisis surrounding Iran's nuclear programme. The UN Security Council was due to discuss sanctions against Iran, but agreement over the scale of any action remained elusive, and discussions on Wednesday still only involved the P5+1 grouping. One analyst suggested the test was manna from heaven for Iran; it has also been suggested that global attention will be focused on Pyongyang for days, even weeks. Iran blamed the US for provoking the North Korean blast, and threatened its own retaliatory measures against any UN sanctions.

Israel's Ambassador to Washington, Danny Ayalon, sought to highlight the prospect of nuclear co-operation between the two countries.

While North Korea has faced near universal condemnation for the test, it has also fueled renewed criticism of the Bush administration's foreign policy for emboldened the two remaining members of the 'Axis of Evil'. This could sap the already troubled US-led diplomatic efforts to punish Iran.

Carlos Coke, BASIC

STORIES AND LINKS

Experts: North Korea test may embolden Iran, SFGate.com, October 09 2006
Robert Einhorn, former US assistant Secretary of State, said that the North Korean test may divert Security Council attention away from Iran for "days, even weeks".
http://www.sfgate.com/cgibin/article.cgi?
f=/n/a/2006/10/09/international/i121235D71.DTL&type=politics

Iran dossier moves to UN, yahoo, October 12 2006
The major Security Council powers continue to disagree over how to deal with Iran's refusal to end uranium enrichment.
http://sg.news.yahoo.com/061012/3/43zwt.html

UN council takes steps toward Iran sanctions, Associated Press, October 11 2006
P5+1 talks still deadlocked on the level of appropriate UN sanction on Iran for refusal to cease enrichment.
http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/10/11/news/iran.php

Iran blames US for North Korea nuke test, October 11 2006
The US is accused of provoking North Korea into conducting the test.
http://www.iranmania.com/News/ArticleView/Default.asp?
NewsCode=46346&NewsKind=CurrentAffairs

Iran's tough nuclear talk, Herald Sun, October 10 2006

Israel worried about Korea-Iran N-cooperation, Iranmania, October 10 2006
Israel's ambassador to the US, Danny Ayalon, suggested that the nuclear North Korea's nuclear test could herald Tehran and Pyongyang nuclear cooperation.
http://www.iranmania.com/news/articleview/default.asp?
NewsCode=46328&NewsKind=Current%20Affairs

Iran blames US for North Korea nuke test, October 11 2006
The US is accused of provoking North Korea into conducting the test.
http://www.iranmania.com/News/ArticleView/Default.asp?
NewsCode=46346&NewsKind=CurrentAffairs

US General: Strikes on Iran possible by 2007, ynetnews, October 12 2006
US lieutenant General, Thomas McInerney, said that a US attack against Iran could happen by the autumn of 2007, but dismissed the idea that Israel could act independently.
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3314171,00.html

COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

North Korea eases the heat on Iran - for now, Asia Times, October 11 2006
In informing its own nuclear standoff with the major Western powers, Iran will draw lessons from the international reaction to the North Korean test.
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/HJ11Ak01.html

Bush's 'Axis of Evil' comes back to haunt the United States, Washington Post, October 10 2006
The Bush administration finds itself increasingly beleaguered as the crises over Iraq, Iran and North Korea coalesce.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/09/AR2006100901130.html

Iran, Beijing's key to the Middle East, Asia Times, October 07 2006
Chinese energy demands are seen as driving its support for Iran during the current stand-off with the US and its allies.
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/China/HJ07Ad01.html

Will Iran follow North Korea's lead?, Christian Science Monitor, October 11 2006
Iranian political scientist is quoted as saying that "The North Korea crisis has been manna from heaven for Iran".
http://www.csmonitor.com/2006/1011/p01s03-wome.html

North Korea conducts a nuclear test but Iran remains the target for the next war, Baltimore Chronicle, October 10 2006
Despite the fact that North Korea certainly does possess Weapons of Mass Destruction, and potentially threatens much larger populations of Western-friendly states, the defence of Israel and the abundance of oil in the Middle East mean that the US is much more likely to wage war against Iran.
http://baltimorechronicle.com/2006/101006HICKMAN.shtml