IRAN UPDATE

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

No. 89 - 25 April 2007

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SUMMARY

• Iran: we will not cease uranium enrichment under any circumstances
• Javier Solana and Ali Larijani to meet for discussions on nuclear issue
• Ahmadinejad invites Bush to talks
• EU and US to implement further sanctions on Iran

Tehran has invited Western nations to participate in building nuclear power plants across Iran. Iranian Vice President Gholam Reza Aghazadeh has described the move as a test of the West's 'good will'.

Javier Solana, EU foreign policy chief has expressed some optimism over a meeting in Turkey with Ali Larijani, Iran's top nuclear negotiator. In an interview with Reuters, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad stated that while he is supportive of the Larijani/Solana talks, Iran's enrichment program would not stop under any circumstances. Iran has also rejected the notion of a 'double suspension' saying it was unreasonable for Iran to concede its legal right to uranium enrichment in order to secure a suspension of what it considers to be illegal sanctions. Unconfirmed reports emerged, indicating that the US, EU, Russia and China might be prepared to offer some flexibility in the definition of 'enrichment' that could break through the deadlock on preconditions. It appears that they would countenance the operation of centrifuges at Natanz as long as they were not used to actually produced enriched uranium. Beyond keeping the option open for enrichment in future, it is difficult to see how this differs from suspension.

The EU has ratified an expanded version of the sanctions put forward last month by the UN Security Council. The expanded version includes a total arms export embargo and adds further people to the travel ban list. The US also announced a separate set of sanctions designed to step up the pressure on Iran. These sanctions are aimed at 14 individuals, companies and government agencies thought to be involved in the buying or selling of Iranian weapons, including the Syrian army and Hizbullah. Ahmadinejad has said that he does not want to pull out of the NPT and that Iran would resist any additional UN sanctions peacefully.

Former Iranian President Mohammad Khatami has called upon Russia and China to lead the way in laying a framework for a diplomatic solution by recognising Iran's right to a nuclear program. Khatami likened Iran's nuclear program to that of any other developing nation hoping to use nuclear power to conserve its hydrocarbons and improve the environment.

Condoleeza Rice has urged to Iran to attend the 2nd Iraq Security Conference due to be held at the Red Sea Resort area, Sharm El Sheikh, in Egypt next month. Iran has not yet confirmed its attendance citing problems with the list of attendees as well as the venue and date of the conference.

Ahmadinejad has indicated a preference for a negotiated solution to the nuclear crisis and has extended an invitation to hold public talks with George Bush to discuss the issue in the presence of international media. Whitehouse spokespeople said the US had already made an offer for discussions with Iran based on the pre-condition of the cessation of uranium enrichment and were prepared to go ahead with talks once this happened.

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has said that there was still time to solve the standoff diplomatically and that Iran had exaggerated progress on its nuclear programme. Iran and Russia have agreed a new financing plan in an attempt to resolve disputes on the construction of Iran's nuclear plant in Bushehr.

Sara Refai, Crisis Action

STORIES AND LINKS

World Powers May Relent on Iran Uranium - 24/5
The United States, Russia, China and the European Union are for the first time ready to listen to an Iranian proposal that would allow Tehran to keep some of its uranium enrichment program intact instead of mothballing it completely, government officials said Tuesday.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/
0,,-6583390,00.html

Iran tones down Rhetoric Ahead of Nuclear Talks - 25/4
Iran's unusually conciliatory tone ahead of two key meetings tomorrow raised hopes that its tense confrontation with the US and some western countries on nuclear and security issues is beginning to subside.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/
0,,2064605,00.html

U.S. imposes sanctions on Iranian, Syrian weapons - 24/4
The United States has imposed sanctions on 14 foreign people, companies and government agencies, including the Syrian navy and air force, as it boosts efforts to stop transfers of advanced weaponry to and from Iran and Syria.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/851747.html

Britain to rethink relations with Iran in formal protest over hostage crisis - 24/4
Britain is to protest formally to Iran as part of a "recalibration" of relations with the Islamic Republic since the seizure of 15 sailors and marines in the Shatt al-Arab waterway this month. Britain's diplomatic protest is expected as soon as a review of Anglo-Iranian relations, ordered by the foreign secretary, Margaret Beckett, is complete.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/
0,,2064052,00.html

Iran Establishes Nuclear Companies - 21/4
The Information Secretariat of the Iranian cabinet announced on Saturday that the three companies are specializing in nuclear enrichment, fuel production and nuclear waste.
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?
id=6910&sectionid=351020104

Iran rules out nuclear suspension ahead of EU talks - 22/4
TEHERAN - Iran on Sunday rejected Western calls for a suspension of its sensitive nuclear activities just days ahead of crucial talks on its atomic drive
http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticleNew.asp?
xfile=data/middleeast/2007/April/middleeast_April330.xml&
section=middleeast&col=

EU to debate Iran nuclear ambitions, troubled ties with Russia on Monday - 22/4
LUXEMBOURG: EU foreign ministers on Monday are to discuss efforts to curb Iran's nuclear ambitions and meet with their Russian counterpart to review
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/04/22/
europe/EU-GEN-EU-Iran.php

Larijani given 'authority for compromise' - 23/4
A former senior Iranian diplomat said on Monday that Ali Larijani, Iran's top security official, had been given "the authority for compromise" over Iran's nuclear programme in talks with the European Union due Wednesday in Turkey.
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/85df5fb0-f1c0-11db-b5b6-
000b5df10621,dwp_uuid=fc3334c0-2f7a-11da-8b51-
00000e2511c8,_i_rssPage=fc3334c0-2f7a-
11da-8b51-00000e2511c8.html

Iran Offers Direct Talks With U.S. - 23/4
Iran's hard-line president proposed Monday to hold public talks with President Bush on a wide range of issues, without saying whether that included international suspicions of the Iranian nuclear program or allegations of Iranian meddling in Iraq.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/04/23/
world/main2719785.shtml

Come to terms with nuclear Iran - 22/4
When asked about the concerns of neighbouring Arab countries about Iran's nuclear program, he said, "We have always held talks with our Arab neighbours and ...
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?
id=7035&sectionid=351020104

US and Bahrain forces hold land drill - 25/4
Hundreds of Bahrainis and Americans were yesterday involved in the largest and most comprehensive combined land exercise ever staged here, a spokesman for the US Navy said yesterday.
http://gulfnews.com/region/Bahrain/10120628.html

COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

Iran four years from atomic bomb, say experts - 24/4
Iran's nuclear programme is facing such severe technical difficulties that it could take four years to produce enough weapons-grade uranium for one bomb
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?
xml=/news/2007/04/24/wiran24.xml

Cracks show under Iran's strongman - 22/4
It is Ahmadinejad's apparent detachment from the economic realities facing ordinary Iranians that now threatens his position, according to critics who also argue that his nuclear obsessions have left the country isolated and vulnerable to attack
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/
middle_east/article1687371.ece

Tehran under fire at home as consumer prices soar - 24/4
With the world's eyes focused on its nuclear program, economists and lawmakers have sounded alarm bells over inflation in Iran after a conspicuous surge in prices in recent months. A combination of expansionary economic policies, US pressure on the Iranian banking system and high money supply growth is fuelling price rises in staple goods in the Islamic Republic and hitting the lowest classes hardest.
http://dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?
edition_id=10&categ_id=3&article_id=81641

U.S. quietly increasing back channel contacts with Iran - 24/4
The United States has quietly increased its back-channel diplomatic contacts with Iran in recent months, a sign that those who favour engagement with Tehran have strengthened their hand in the Bush administration, according to U.S. officials.
http://www.ledger-enquirer.com/mld/ledgerenquirer/
news/politics/17128670.htm

Iran: A nation of nose jobs, not nuclear war - 21/4
An extraordinary article from Peter Hitchens, usually seen as from the right on the political spectrum, writing in one of Britain's two most influential tabloid papers, describing a recent visit to Iran. He concludes: "Iran is not a serious threat to us, and if we treat it as one we will be tumbling into yet another foolish trap, devised by silly, ignorant politicians, from which it will take decades to escape".
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?
in_article_id=449880&in_page_id=1770