IRAN UPDATE

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

No. 100 - 26 July 2007

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SUMMARY

• Iran and the United States hold talks about Iraq
• Iran and the IAEA hold talks about Iran’s nuclear programme
• Iran’s deal with Syria?

Iran and the US held a second round of talks on Iraq this week. It has been reported that the talks began after the US officially requested them. The White House has cited " a change in Iranian behavior" as the goal of the talks and no progress has been reported thus far. Relations between Iran and the US remain tense; reiterating US concerns at the end of one session, US diplomat Ryan Crocker said: "Iran has increased support for militia groups in Iraq in recent months."

Talks have begun between the IAEA and Iran in Vienna about the Iranian nuclear programme. Details have yet to be released concerning the purpose of the talks or any progress made. The talks come in the wake of a statement by Mohammed El Baradei, head of the IAEA, last week, who said that: "Iran still had to clarify some outstanding issues before the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) could confirm its nuclear program was only for peaceful purpose."

Reports surfaced this week that Iran and Syria had done a deal that would see Iran providing Syria with millions of dollars worth of weapons in return for Syria's continued refusal to sign a peace deal with Israel. These reports coincided with the Iranian President's visit to Syria during which he called for a "united defence". Iran has denied the deal exists.

Ita O'Sullivan, BASIC

STORIES AND LINKS

Iran, Tajikistan tie-up, Ameinfo.com, 23/ 07
Iran and Tajikistan have signed a detailed agreement that will see the two countries work together on scientific research and set up an exchange scheme involving university students and professors, according to the Iran Daily citing IRNA.
http://www.ameinfo.com/127195.html

Threats In Gulf Make It Unlikely U.S. Will Curtail Deployments, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20/ 07
Ongoing threats in the Persian Gulf and elsewhere make it unlikely that U.S. armed forces will soon ease up on the punishing tempo of deployments, the chief of naval operations said yesterday.
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/military/20070720-9999-1m20mullen.html

'Spy Squirrels' seized in Iran, Newsvine.com, 17/ 07
Police in Iran are reported to have taken 14 squirrels into custody on suspicion of espionage.
http://blahmni.newsvine.com/_news/2007/07/17/841393-14-spy-squirrels-seized-in-iran

Iran Suggests That Detainees Were Part Of Plot, NY Times, 19/ 07
Two Iranian-American scholars detained since May on national security charges appeared in a programme, aired on nationwide television on Wednesday night, that suggested that they were part of a project to try to overthrow the Iranian government.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/19/world/middleeast/19iran.html?
ex=1342497600&en=25850d0eefda6b2b&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

Iran nuclear plant not operational before 2008, Freerepublic.com, 25/ 07
Russia said on Wednesday that a nuclear power plant it is building in Iran would not be finished before late 2008 because Iran had "broken the trust" of Russian contractors.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1871228/posts

Iran to unveil its first fighter jet, Payvand.com, 20/ 07
Brigadier General Mustafa Mohammad Najar, stating that the Islamic Republic of Iran was reaching self-sufficiency in its military and defense industry, noted that "Azarakhsh" would soon join Iran's air force.
http://www.payvand.com/news/07/jul/1227.html

Iran's new UN envoy arrives in New York, Payvand.com, 19/ 07
Iran's new Ambassador to the United Nation, Mohammad Khazaei, arrived in New York Wednesday. Khazaei is succeeding Mohammad-Javad Zarif who served as Iran's permanent representative to the UN since 2002.
http://www.payvand.com/news/07/jul/1215.html

U.S. criticizes Turkey for gas treaty with Iran, Panarmenia.net, 18/ 07
The U.S. Department of State has criticized the preliminary gas treaty signed between Turkey and Iran, noting that the time is not right for investments in the Iranian energy sector.
http://www.panarmenian.net/news/eng/?nid=23014

COMMENTS, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

Iran: Offenses Don't Make Good Friends, Wall Street Journal, 18/ 07
Sen. Joseph Lieberman's claims about Iran's meddling in Iraq and Afghanistan ("Iran's Proxy War," editorial page, July 6) are baseless. The presidents of Iraq and Afghanistan have praised Iran's good neighbourly policies, which include a broad range of generous economic, energy, trade and security cooperation.

Link not available

How To Talk To Iran, Washington Post, 22/ 07
After an eight-week hiatus, the American and Iranian ambassadors in Baghdad are scheduled to meet soon to discuss Iraq.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/07/20/AR2007072002056.html