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Tag: Iran’s nuclear program

Iran Nuclear threat

  • Iran’s Nuclear Weapons Program

    Iran’s Nuclear Weapons Program

    A..NEJAT

    November 10, 2011

    Iran Strike May Set Back Nuke Program at Most Three Years, U.S. Says

    November 9, 2011

    Iran: IAEA Nuclear Report a Breakthrough, But at What Cost?

    A new UN report makes the strongest case to date that Iran’s nuclear program is intended to construct nuclear weapons. The report will significantly affect the debate over Iran’s pursuit of nuclear weapons as well as increase growing tensions over Israel’s reported plans to attack Iran. Outstanding questions are why the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) suddenly decided to release a report with such dramatic conclusions and whether the US sacrificed too much sensitive intelligence to obtain this report.
    November 9, 2011

    Wurmser: Harsh Response from Iran if Attacked

    In an wide ranging discussion with LIGNET Managing Editor Fred Fleitz, LIGNET Senior Analyst Dr David Wurmser says he expects an aggressive response from Iran if attacked by the US or Israel. Wurmser believes recent reports of a possible Israeli air strike are credible but he views the new IAEA report on Iran’s nuclear program as nothing new and confirming what many experts already believed.
    November 9, 2011

    CIA Director Hayden: Fork in the Road Ahead on Iran’s Nuclear Program

    In an exclusive interview with LIGNET.com, former CIA Director Michael Hayden said the United States is fast approaching a crucial fork in the road on the Iranian nuclear program that will require making some difficult decisions. He believes these decisions will need to be taken after next fall’s presidential elections.
    November 9, 2011

    US Mulls Iran Sanctions but Not on Oil, Central Bank

    November 9, 2011

    France Warns Iran of “unprecedented” Sanctions

    November 9, 2011

    Iran Moved Nuclear Material to Bunker

    November 9, 2011

    Iran/Russia: Tehran Dispatches Officials to Moscow to Discuss IAEA Report

    Iran sent an official delegation to Moscow to discuss the new IAEA report on its nuclear program, according to a Russia press report . . . Russia has been a key defender of Iran and its nuclear program and helpd build Iran’s Bushehr reactor and provided it with nuclear fuel . . . Iran’s quick action to begin talks with Russia probably reflects its concern at the unusually blunt accusations in the report that Iran has been engaged in nuclear weapons research . . . Iran and Russia probably are also worried how the US and Israel will use the report to increase international pressure on Iran.
    November 8, 2011

    How Iran Might Respond to an Attack from Israel or the US

    Experts interviewed by LIGNET believe Iran would most likely respond to a US or Israeli airstrike on its nuclear sites by encouraging its terrorist proxies to commit terrorist acts and fire missiles against Israel. The experts generally agreed that other more aggressive steps are possible but unlikely and probably would prove effective if taken.
    November 8, 2011

    Reactions to IAEA Iran Report

    November 8, 2011

    IAEA Says Iran Worked on Nuclear Bomb Design

    November 8, 2011

    Russia Warns against Military Strike on Iran

    November 8, 2011

    Why Obama Might Save Israel From Nuclear Iran: Jeffrey Goldberg

    November 8, 2011

    Israel’s Barak Dismisses Talk of Attacking Iran

    November 7, 2011

    Iran: IAEA to Release New Report on Nuclear Program

    The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is scheduled to release a new report this week that reportedly will suggest Iran has been engaged in multiple activities related to nuclear weapons research, including building an implosion device . . . the report also reportedly will claim Iran has received assistance with its  nuclear weapons program from Pakistani nuclear scientist A.Q. Khan and North Korea . . . the IAEA will be passing on new information gathered from member governments . . . the report will further undermine the US intelligence community’s position that Iran halted its nuclear weapons research program in 2003 . . . this information confirms a mass of earlier information on Iran’s nuclear weapons research and will be used to increase pressure on Tehran . . . LIGNET will provide a detailed analysis of this report after it is released. 
    November 7, 2011

    Has Iran Ended Israel’s Begin Doctrine?

    November 4, 2011

    Israel/Iran: Escalating Rhetoric, Leaks Over Iran Attack Plan

    Over the last week, the possibility of an Israeli air strike against Iran’s nuclear program has dominated the Israeli press and refocused public debate. Official statements, Israeli military activities, and accusations of leaks against former senior intelligence officers leaking against a possible attack has the country on edge and has triggered an unusual public debate reflecting deep divisions within the Israeli government.
    November 4, 2011

    How Israel and Iran Shape up Militarily

    November 2, 2011

    Israel/Iran: New Reports Israel Planning an Attack on Iran

    In a flurry of Israeli media stories, reports have resurfaced that Israel is planning an imminent airstrike on Iran’s nuclear facilities. It is impossible to confirm such reports that may have been leaked to the Israeli media for political purposes or to influence policy. They may, however, reflect rising Israeli concern about Iranian rogue behavior, including the recent attempt to assassinate the Saudi ambassador to the U.S.
    October 26, 2011

    CIA Director Hayden: Assassination Plot “Absurd But True.”

    In a new interview with LIGNET.com Managing Editor Fred Fleitz, former CIA Director Michael Hayden said that an Iranian government-backed plot revealed by the Obama administration to kill the Saudi ambassador to the U.S. is “absurd but true” and reflects that “the Iranians are capable of great evil.” Hayden believes this is a dangerous situation for U.S. security and indicates that Iranian decisionmaking is either irrational or dysfunctional.
    October 23, 2011

    EU/Iran: EU Sends Mixed Signals to Iran

    The EU agreed on Friday to sanction five Iranians over the plot to assassinate the Saudi ambassador to the U.S. . . . EU Foreign Policy Director Catherine Ashton also announced on Friday that multilateral talks with Iran over its nuclear program could soon resume . . . Ashton’s statement was in response to a letter from Iran’s chief nuclear negotiator . . . Iran wants recognition of its right to enrich uranium as a precondition to talks; Aston rejected preconditions . . . the EU’s sanctions decision falls well short of the U.S. decision to sanction the Iranian Central Bank but is still a significant achievement by the 27-member EU . . . the simultaneous offer to engage in nuclear talks was unfortunate since it will overshadow the EU sanctions decision and telegraph to the Iranian leadership that relations with the EU will remain unchanged after the assassination attempt. 

    October 13, 2011

    Saudis, U.S. Trade Charges with Iran over Plot

    October 12, 2011

    Situation Report: Iranian Plot To Kill Saudi Ambassador in DC

    The alleged assassination plot against the Saudi ambassador to the U.S. backed by the Iranian government could represent a major change in tactics by Iran in its support of terrorism and must be carefully examined to determine who exactly was behind this plot. Some are challenging whether Iranian leaders could have been behind this plot, including former CIA officer Robert Baer.
    August 8, 2011

    Iran/Russia: Start up of Iranian Nuclear Power Plant Delayed Again

    Iran announced that the Bushehr nuclear power plant has again been delayed and will miss its August start up target . . . Iran blamed Russia for the delay and attacked Moscow’s honesty about the plant . . . this is at least the second delay this year . . . the Bushehr plant also was reportedly delayed by the mysterious Stuxnet computer virus allegedly created by Israeli or American intelligence agencies . . . delays in the start up of Bushehr probably are a combination of technical problems and incompetence by Iranian plant operators . . . the delays and the high cost of the plant are straining Iran-Russia relations .

    June 15, 2011

    Iran: Accelerating Nuclear Weapons Program

    Fred Fleitz, intel project editor and a former CIA analyst, discusses recent reports that Iran has stepped up its efforts to produce nuclear weapons.
    June 8, 2011

    Iran takes step toward to weapons-grade uranium enrichment, triples production

    Iran plans to triple its production of high-grade uranium and transfer the bulk of its operations from its Natanz to an underground bunker in Fordow, a site kept secret until 2009 . . . Iran’s atomic energy chief Fereydoun Abbasi-Davani announced Tehran’s plans on Wednesday, reportedly in response to U.S. sanctions . . . The decision drew immediate condemnation from western leaders who called it a “provocation” . . . Iran’s shift to 20 percent uranium enrichment demonstrates technological capabilities that experts say make weapons-grade 90 percent enrichment within reach.

     

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    LIGNET Videos
    Wurmser: Harsh Response from Iran if Attacked
    In an wide ranging discussion with LIGNET Managing Editor Fred Fleitz, LIGNET Senior Analyst Dr David Wurmser says he expects an aggressive response from Iran if attacked by the US or Israel. Wurmser believes recent reports of a possible Israeli air strike are credible but he views the new IAEA report on Iran’s nuclear program as nothing new and confirming what many experts already believed.
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  • Iran nuclear talks could resume soon – EU’s Ashton

    Iran nuclear talks could resume soon – EU’s Ashton

    By Fredrik Dahl

    VIENNA | Sat Oct 22, 2011 1:43am IST

    ahmedi

    (Reuters) – Major powers are willing to meet with Iran within weeks if it is prepared to “engage seriously in meaningful discussions” and address concerns about its nuclear programme, the European Union’s foreign policy chief told Tehran in a letter on Friday.

    In a long-awaited response to an offer of talks last month from Iran’s chief nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili, Catherine Ashton made clear her position that there must be no repeat of the last round of talks, which took place in January in Istanbul and ended with no progress.

    EU foreign policy chief Ashton has been leading efforts on behalf of six countries — the United States, Britain, France, Germany and non-Western powers China and Russia — to negotiate with Tehran over its disputed atomic activities.

    Iran has said it is willing to resume discussions, but insists that other countries recognise its right to enrich uranium, a major stumbling block, particularly for Western diplomats who see it as an unacceptable precondition.

    They want Iran to agree to suspend enrichment activity which they suspect forms part of a covert weapons programme, and answer questions raised by the U.N. nuclear watchdog.

    If Iran is ready to discuss concrete confidence-building measures without pre-conditions, “we would be willing to agree on a next meeting within the coming weeks at a mutually convenient venue,” Ashton said.

    “I welcome your suggestion to resume talks, in order to take fundamental steps for sustainable co-operation,” she said in the letter, a copy of which was obtained by Reuters.

    Her response to Jalili comes amid heightened U.S.-Iran tension. The United States accused Iran this week of a plot to kill the Saudi envoy to Washington, a charge Iran rejected as an attempt by its arch foe to further isolate it.

    “CONFIDENCE-BUILDING EXERCISE”

    In Vienna, the U.N. International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is next month expected to issue a report on Iran that will strengthen suspicions that it may be working to develop a nuclear missile. The document may provide the West with new arguments to impose further punitive steps on Iran.

    But divisions have emerged among the six powers over the report, with Russia and China signalling concern it could hurt any chance for diplomacy and arguing Iran should be given time to study its content before it is published.

    Western diplomats often accuse Iran of seeking further negotiations to buy time for its nuclear programme without making any major concessions.

    The United Nations has tightened sanctions on Tehran, and the six powers have offered Iran economic and political incentives if it suspends enrichment.

    Iran says it needs refined uranium for a planned network of power plants, and has the right to produce it.

    “When moving to continuation of our talks, it is crucial to look for concrete results and not to repeat the experience of Istanbul,” Ashton said. “We have to ensure that when we meet again we can make real progress on the nuclear issue.”

    She said the goal “remains a comprehensive negotiated, long-term solution which restores international confidence in the exclusively peaceful nature” of Iran’s nuclear programme.

    “In order to start such a process, our initial objective is to engage in a confidence-building exercise aimed at facilitating a constructive dialogue on the basis of reciprocity and a step-by-step approach,” the letter added.

    via Iran nuclear talks could resume soon – EU’s Ashton | Reuters.

  • National Iranian American Council (NIAC): The Turkey-Brazil-Iran Deal, One Year Later

    National Iranian American Council (NIAC): The Turkey-Brazil-Iran Deal, One Year Later

    By: NIAC Staff – News

    One year after a deal to remove over one ton of nuclear fuel from Iran was rejected by the U.S., experts assessed why the deal was scuttled and what have been the resulting implications.

    Erdogan-Lula

    erdogan lulaWashington, DC – In May 2010, through intensive diplomatic efforts in Tehran, Turkey and Brazil brokered an agreement for Iran to give up over one ton of its nuclear fuel in exchange for fuel to produce medical isotopes. But the deal, known as the “Tehran Declaration,” was ultimately rejected by the U.S. One year later, the Foundation for Political, Economic, and Social Research (SETA) convened a panel discussion assessing why the deal was ultimately scuttled and what have been the resulting implications.

    Barbara Slavin, non-resident scholar at the Atlantic Council, said the deal was doomed before it was even finalized.

    In October 2009, the U.S., along with England, France, China, Russia and Germany (the P5+1), had pursued a “confidence building” deal similar to the Tehran Declaration. But that deal, which came during the first high level direct talks between the U.S. and Iran in recent history, was eventally rejected by Tehran.

    By the time Turkey and Brazil managed to revisit and secure a similar agreement in May, Slavin said, the U.S. had shifted to the sanctions track. There was little interest within the Obama Administration to return to the engagement track in the midst of a nearly completed push to build consensus at the United Nations Security Council for new sanctions.

    “There had been enormous pressure to show progress on the nuclear front by the end of 2009. If that didn’t happen, Obama made it quite clear he would pivot toward sanctions. And that was exactly what he did,” Slavin said.

    But for Turkey, according to SETA Research Director Kadir Ustun, there was genuine surprise that the U.S. rejected the agreement. Ustun said that, while Ankara had never considered the agreement to be comprehensive, it believed it was a means to overcome an impasse and prevent “regional tension and eventual war.” Ankara, he said, believed that “sanctions were counter-productive and counter to regional economic integration.” He said that Turkey continues to believe it can play a critical role in providing much needed mediation between Iran and the West.

    For Brazil, according to Matias Spektor of Brazil’s Center for International Relations, President Lula da Silva was led to believe he was pursuing diplomacy on behalf of the United States. President Obama had sent Lula a letter discussing the upcoming negotiations in Tehran, and Lula thought the letter was direct encouragement for him to pursue the Tehran Declaration.

    Spektor argued that Brazil also believed it could provide much needed trust for efforts to engage Iran to be succesful. “They felt that they could talk to Iran,” he said, “because they had willingly given up its weapons program.”

    As a result of not communicating and pursuing the opportunity presented by the Brazil-Turkey deal, but instead going forward with UN sanctions, Trita Parsi of the National Iranian American Council observed that the U.S. is in a much more difficult situation than it was last year. By falling back on sanctions and turning down a chance to secure some of Iran’s low-enriched uranium (LEU) through Brazilian and Turkish interlocutors, Parsi said, an important opportunity was lost. And during the time that has passed, Iran has amassed even more LEU, albeit at a slower pace.

    Parsi said that a peaceful resolution with Iran will take a far greater investment in diplomacy than has been pursued to date. “Between the end of October and the beginning of May, Brazil and Turkey engaged in more direct diplomacy (with Iran) than all of the P5+1 combined,” he stated.

    “Talking for just three weeks isn’t enough to bridge the divide.”

    via National Iranian American Council (NIAC): The Turkey-Brazil-Iran Deal, One Year Later.

  • Iran: Ban stresses need for continued negotiations over nuclear programme

    Iran: Ban stresses need for continued negotiations over nuclear programme

    09 11 nucplantSecretary-General Ban Ki-moon today underscored the need for Iran to continue negotiations with concerned countries over the status of its nuclear programme, telling the country’s President to also cooperate fully with the United Nations International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

    In a meeting with Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, held in Istanbul, Turkey, on the sidelines of the UN Conference on Least Developed Countries (LDCs), Mr. Ban stressed the importance of Iran’s negotiations with the so-called E3+3 – China, France, Germany, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States.

    He also highlighted the importance of Iran cooperating fully with the IAEA, according to an information note released by the Secretary-General’s spokesperson.

    Iran has repeatedly stated that its nuclear programme is for the peaceful purpose of providing energy, but many countries contend it is seeking to develop nuclear weapons and last year the Security Council imposed a fourth round of sanctions against it, citing the proliferation risks of its nuclear programme and Iran’s continued failure to cooperate with the IAEA.

    The issue has been of international concern since the discovery in 2003 that Iran had concealed its nuclear activities for 18 years in breach of its obligations under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

    During their meeting today Mr. Ban also asked Mr. Ahmadinejad to cooperate with the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), including a potential visit by that office to Iran.

    In addition, the Secretary-General and the President discussed recent developments in the Middle East and North Africa, especially Libya, Syria, Yemen and Bahrain, as well on the importance of a positive outcome for the LDC conference.

    While in Istanbul Mr. Ban has held a series of bilateral meetings with key officials, and today he met with Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, Benin’s President Boni Yayi, Turkish President Abdullah Gül, Georgia’s Prime Minister Nikoloz Gilauri, African Union (AU) Commission Chairperson Jean Ping and Cypriot Foreign Minister Markos Kyprianou.

    via Iran: Ban stresses need for continued negotiations over nuclear programme.

  • Turkey Says No to Inspecting Iranian Cargo

    Turkey Says No to Inspecting Iranian Cargo

    NEW YORK, NY—Turkey has declined a request by the United Nations to inspect Iranian cargo passing through its borders.

    The call for inspection of Iranian cargo comes amid the latest UN Security Council resolution imposing sanctions on Iran for its continued nuclear activities.

    Turkey objected to the UN request on the ground that it hindered its friendly ties with the Islamic Republic.

    Turkey also voted against the imposition of UN sanction against Iran.

    Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani stated that Iran will retaliate if its cargo is subject to inspection by the West.

    “We warn the US and certain adventurist countries that if they are tempted to inspect Iranian air and ship cargos, we will take tough action against their ships in the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman”, said Larijani.

    Turkey and Iran have recently expanded their political, social, and economic ties. The Turkish President, Abdullah Gul, made a recent visit to Tehran to strengthen relationships between the two Islamic neighbors.

    He headed a 300 person delegation that included businesses and investors.

    During his visit to Iran, the Turkish President met with high ranking Iranian officials including the Iran’s Supreme leader and the Speaker of Parliament, Ali Larijani.

    The two nations agreed to boost their trade ties to $30 billion per year.

    Turkey’s refusal to inspect Iranian cargo passing through its borders was a move to preserve its close ties with the Islamic Republic.

    Turkey’s action opens the door for Iran to smuggle weapons and materials to its proxy forces in Palestine and Lebanon.

    Both Hamas and Hezbollah receive financial and military assistance from the Islamic republic and stand ready to attack Israel on the orders of the cleric led government based in Tehran.

    Iran considers the UN mandate on inspecting and restricting the flow of Iranian cargo a violation of international law.

    Turkey is a major border crossing for cargo entering and leaving Iran.

    via Turkey Says No to Inspecting Iranian Cargo | GroundReport.

  • European, U.S. leaders more likely to accept a nuclear Iran than their citizens

    European, U.S. leaders more likely to accept a nuclear Iran than their citizens

    U.S. and European politicians are more likely to accept a nuclear Iran to avoid military confrontation than their citizens are, a new survey has found. The “Transatlantic Trends: Leaders” study was commissioned by the German Marshall Fund to gauge the opinions and priorities of leaders on both sides of the Atlantic and their citizens.

    Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad Natanz Iran nuclear facility

    The study found that should all nonmilitary means fail in preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon, 50% of U.S. leaders and 51% of European leaders were ready to accept a nuclear Iran. But 62% of the American public and 46% of the European public were in favor of military action.

    The study found, however, that Europeans and Americans differed on how they thought Iran should be dissuaded from pursuing its nuclear program.

    “Of the nonmilitary options, there was a clear transatlantic ‘carrot vs. stick’ divide when it came to methods of preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons,” the report read. “While a plurality of the EU public (35%) and the EU leaders (48%) favored offering economic incentives to Iran, pluralities of the US public (41%) and US leaders (33%) preferred economic sanctions.”

    The survey also found that Americans in general viewed Turkey’s ascension to the European Union more positively than did Europeans and were much more likely to see Turkey as sharing common Western values. U.S. leaders thought easing tensions in the Middle East was a higher priority than did the American public, but the American public was the only group that showed some optimism regarding the stabilization of Afghanistan.

    — Meris Lutz in Beirut and Ramin Mostaghim in Tehran

    Photo: Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad tours the Natanz, Iran, nuclear facility. Credit: AFP

    via IRAN: European, U.S. leaders more likely to accept a nuclear Iran than their citizens | Babylon & Beyond | Los Angeles Times.