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IRAN UPDATENews and comment on the diplomatic movements over Iran's nuclear programmeNo. 72 - 24 November 2006 If you do not want to receive this update please send an email to request removal from the list. Feedback on format and content is also gladly received. Please e-mail comments by reply to Carlos Coke on iran at basicint.org An archive of previous Iran Updates is available at: http://www.basicint.org/updates/iran.htm. SUMMARY
In a report for the New Yorker magazine, investigative journalist, Seymour Hersh, questioned assumptions that the Bush administration would be unable to pursue a military option in the wake of its mid-term defeat. Joseph Cirincione, quoted in the article, warned that there were those, still in office, who believed that 'chaos would be a small price for getting rid of the threat.' Speculation that a military option remains firmly on the table was compounded by reports of the White House's dismissal of a CIA report. The CIA report, based on technical intelligence collected by overhead satellites and other empirical evidence such as measurements of radioactivity in water samples, concluded that, as yet, there is no evidence of an Iranian nuclear weapons programme. John Pike, of GlobalSecurity.org, added to warnings against complacency by suggesting that the US will attack Iran in mid-2007. Iran faced tough opposition at the IAEA following its request for technical assistance to ensure the safety of its heavy water plant at Arak. The intense debate among the 35nation IAEA Board has drawn a sharp reaction from the Iranians. Iran argues that IAEA decisions have become politicised and point to IAEA assistance given to Israel, even though it is not a member of the NPT. IAEA members pushing for a refusal to Iran's request, led by the US and EU, fear that plutonium produced at Arak is likely to be diverted for the production of nuclear weapons. In a bid to reclaim the initiative, Iran invited representatives from Damascus and Baghdad to a summit on Iraq. Against the backdrop of US difficulties in Iraq, and the perception that Washington faces an impasse in relation to the imposition of sanctions through the UN Security Council, the move reflects enhanced Iranian confidence and signals continued defiance. Carlos Coke (BASIC) STORIES AND LINKSUS bomb Iran nuclear sites in 2007:analyst, AFP, November 21
2006 CIA analysis finds no Iranian nuclear weapons drive: report,
Khaleej Times, November 19 2006 White House dismisses CIA report on Iran's nuclear weapons
program, eitb, November 20 2006 IAEA delays ruling on disputed Iran atom aid, Iranmania,
November 22 2006 Iran to hold Iraq summit, The Guardian, November 22
2006 Iran probably has germ weapons, possibly North Korea:US,
Reuters, November 20 2006 COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSISThe Next Act: Is a damages administration less likely to
attack Iran, or more? The New Yorker, November 27 2006
issue Iran's defensive posturing, Asia Times, November 23
2006 Iran despises weakness, The Times, November 19 2006 Don't Iraq Iran, Commondreams.org, November 18 2006 |
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