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IRAN UPDATENews and comment on the diplomatic movements over Iran's nuclear programmeNo. 108 - 2 November 2007 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. In particular we are keen to hear feedback of how useful you find this update. Please e-mail comments by reply to pingram at basicint.org. An archive of previous Iran Updates is available at: http://www.basicint.org/updates/iran.htm. SUMMARY
The US issued a new round of sanctions against Iran on Thursday 25th. Defending the move, Condoleezza Rice said: "the international community cannot just sit idly by until we face unpalatable choices. A nuclear weapon in the hands of the Iranian regime would be deeply destabilizing in the world's most volatile region." Responding to the sanctions, Ali Larjani, out-going chief nuclear negotiator for Iran, said that the sanctions could force Iran to "rethink" its cooperation with the IAEA. The sanctions have divided the international community: both China and Russia have opposed them, while Britain and Australia have supported further sanctions. In an indication that hawks in the United States are making headway with public opinion, a recent Zogby poll suggested that a majority of Americans would support an attack on Iran if it were to stop Iran acquiring nuclear weapons. Those polled thought it is likely that the government would indeed launch such an attack before the next Presidential elections. Mohammed El Baradei, head of the IAEA, has urged a peaceful solution to the current crisis. El Baradei criticized Iran's critics, who he said were "spinning and hyping the Iranian issue". El Baradei said he worried that this could encourage Iran to speed up its efforts and shorten the timescale to achieving a nuclear weapon capability. Ali Larjani, chief nuclear negotiator for Iran, has resigned. It is believed that differences between Larjani and the more hard-line President Ahmadinejad were the principal reason behind the move. Larjani's resignation took immediate effect. Saeed Jalili, the deputy foreign minister for European and American affairs, is expected to replace Larjani, no official announcement has yet been made. The Islamic Iran Participation Front (IIPF), Iran's largest reform party, has openly criticized Iran's nuclear policy and President Ahmadinejad's anti-western sentiment. The criticisms came after the US imposed further sanctions. Mohsen Mirdamadi, secretary-general of the IIPF said: "Are we allowed to impose hardship of (U.N.) sanctions and other harsh measures on our nation as a result of our illogical and unreal self-glorification?" STORIES AND LINKSIran defiant at new US sanctions, BBC, 26th October German foreign Minister wars against intervention in Iran, DW-World,
27th October U.S. sanctions target force at heart of Iran's system, Reuters,
26th October ANALYSIS-New sanctions boosts talk of war with Iran, Reuters,
25th October Israel push China for tougher sanctions on Iran, Voanews, 28th
October Iran says documents show U.S. backing "terrorists"' Reuters,
28th October Vice-President Cheney speaks on Iran, NY Times, 22nd October
UN Sec Gen worried over Iran nuclear programme, Gulf News, 26th
October Iran, IAEA Continue Centrifuge Discussions, NTI Global Security
Newswire, 30th October Comments, Editorials and AnalysisBombing Iran Wouldn't Be Just That, NY Times, 27th October The cost of American bellicosity toward Iran, Last week's sanctions
pave the way toward war, Kaveh L. Afrasiabi writing for Christian
Science Monitor Going It Alone on Iran, Washington Post, 26th October Reuters' video analysis of Ali Larjani resignation and implications,
Reuters, 20th October When you can't deal with the devil, Asia Times, 30th October
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