Thursday, January 10, 2008

38. Iran's nuclear programme.

38. Iran's nuclear programme.

3 comments:

brandy said...

Tue, January 15, 2008

Israel could use force to halt Iran's nuke plans By MARK LAVIE, THE
ASSOCIATED PRESS


JERUSALEM -- Prime Minister Ehud Olmert warned yesterday that all
options are open when it comes to keeping Iran from obtaining atomic
weapons, his clearest sign yet that Israeli could use force against
a country considered among its most serious threats.
Addressing a closed meeting of the parliament's Foreign Affairs and
Defence Committee, Olmert was quoted as saying that Israel would not
accept an Iran armed with nuclear weapons.
Iran has always insisted that its nuclear program is for peaceful
purposes, and a recent report by U.S. intelligence agencies
concluded that Iran suspended its nuclear weapons program in 2003.
However, Israel continues to warn that Iran's goal is to acquire
nuclear weapons.
Israel considers Iran a serious threat because of suspicions over
its nuclear program and its long-range missile capabilities. Iranian
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has repeatedly called for Israel to be
"wiped off the map," and there is evidence that Iran bankrolls
extremist anti-Israel groups like Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in
the Palestinian areas.



A participant in yesterday's committee meeting said Olmert warned,
"Israel clearly will not reconcile itself to a nuclear Iran,"
adding, "All options that prevent Iran from gaining nuclear
capabilities are legitimate within the context of how to grapple
with this matter."
The meeting participant spoke on condition of anonymity because the
session was closed.
Olmert discussed the Iranian threat with U.S. President George W.
Bush during his visit to Jerusalem last week. Afterward, Bush
declared that Iran remained "a threat to world peace," but
reasserted his commitment to trying to resolve the dispute
diplomatically.



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brandy said...

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Comment
Iran’s Nuclear Ambitions – Western Buffer, Eastern Bulwark
Andy Mason
London, England
February 11, 2005

President Mohammad Khatami of Iran addresses a crowd at a rally held
yesterday to mark the 26th anniversary of the 1979 Islamic
Revolution. (Photo: Atta Kenare / AFP-Getty Images)

The powerful European Union trio of Britain, France and Germany has
attempted to thwart Iran’s nuclear progress diplomatically. The United
States and Israel have threatened pre-emptive strikes against its nuclear
sites. Yet still Iran flouts any attempt to nullify its nuclear program.
Is this because of a deep-seated disregard for the West or is it due to
the ongoing technological and diplomatic support Tehran is receiving from
Moscow and Beijing?
The answer to this is, probably both.
Promises and Pacts
In late November 2004, Tehran made promises to Britain, France and Germany
to freeze its uranium enrichment processes, under the threat of potential
trade sanctions, and with the promise of compliance bringing the
antithesis of such an eventuality.
However, Gholam Reza Aghazadeh, Iran’s nuclear chief, has recently
authorized the construction of a facility to produce anhydrous hydrogen
fluoride, a gas that can be used to produce highly enriched uranium. The
plant itself is to be built near the town of Isfahan close to one of
Iran’s many (secret) nuclear sites. Although the gas is not classified as
a nuclear technology, and thus potentially not a controlled substance, its
use to convert uranium tetraflouride to uranium hexaflouride (used in atom
bombs) is a contentious point for Foreign Minister Jack Straw of Britain
et al., who hammered out the previous agreement with the Islamic Republic.
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Iran has constantly deployed delaying tactics in recent months, so as to
continue its uranium enrichment processes and has pushed the letter of the
deal made with the Union trio to the limit. The accord with the Union trio
allowed Iran to finish processing some 37 tonnes of “yellowcake” uranium
that it had already been using to “test” the conversion facility at
Isfahan, and it may do so until February. However, the conversion of this
amount can produce enough highly enriched uranium for five nuclear
weapons. This does not inspire much western confidence in Tehran, and thus
a further showdown looks set to take place in the coming months, but with
the presence of a supportive Russia and China, Iran undoubtedly has a few
more cards to play.
Communist Capitalist
Iran’s relationship with China is currently growing exponentially, due to
the communist state’s insatiable energy needs. (According to the
Washington Post, China’s energy needs climbed nearly 40 percent in the
first few months of 2004). Iran is therefore meeting China’s energy needs
in return for access to China’s large scale and low-cost manufacturing
industry, as well as the obligatory support for nuclear co-operation.
China is currently Iran’s second largest export partner and third largest
import partner, and with the contracts that are currently on the table,
these positions are soon to be bettered.
In July 2004, Iranian parliamentary speaker Gholam-Ali Haddad Adel was
very complimentary of the Sino-Iranian relationship. In particular, he
highlighted China’s support for Iran’s nuclear programs. This aside, Iran
also has unfettered access to the improving technology being developed and
utilised by the People's Liberation Army of China.
According to the International Atomic Energy Agency, China has probably
provided nuclear technology to Iran. This fact, coupled with Washington’s
need to pressure China not to sell large quantities of anhydrous hydrogen
fluoride to Iran in 2000, and rumours that Beijing may have also sold a
blueprint for a facility to produce highly enriched uranium to Iran as
part of the same deal, raises questions about the Sino-Iranian
relationship and the possible future ramifications of continuing nuclear
co-operation between China and Iran.
Russia Bears All
China’s nuclear support for Iran may be a well-known secret.
Russia’s transferral of nuclear technology to Iran, however, is no secret.
It is well known, continuous and above all, increasing.
The Iranian nuclear plant at Bushehr is being built by the Russian company
Atomstroiexport (Russia’s sole exporter of nuclear technology), a company
which recently sold a controlling stake to Gazprombank, a subsidiary of
the giant state owned gas company, Gazprom. The chairman of Gazprom,
Dmitry Medvedev, also happens to be chief of staff for President Vladimir
V. Putin of Russia.
Russia’s leaders also have their fingers in other Tehran pies. TVEL,
Russia’s sole nuclear trader, which according to Interfax, recently
appointed a close aide of Putin’s as its new chairman, is about to agree a
deal with Tehran that would supply nuclear fuel to the Bushehr reactor.
Russia, unlike China, could be seen as being quite open in its dealings
with Iran.
Although President Mohammad Khatami of Iran recently applauded the
relationship between Moscow and Tehran with regard to nuclear energy,
calling it “…positive,” Russia is remaining steadfast in its position
that, as Iran is part of the nuclear non-proliferation treaty, it has
every right to pursue nuclear energy for peaceful means. This is fair and
true, however, some believe that some of the more benign nuclear exports
to Iran have dual-usage.
With Iran’s nuclear pursuit, Russia is not fairing too badly economically.
The Bushehr plant brought in $800 million from the Iranians and a contract
for a further seven generating units is being planned. A deal that could
be worth up to $10 billion to the Russians is a deal that cannot be
refused easily even under pressure from Washington.
Russo-Chinese Bulwark
The Chinese have reasons for their pro Iranian stance other than the
import of Iranian energy. Politically, they are not pro the westernisation
of the Middle East. Diplomatically they are not friends with Iran’s
enemies. They have an aggressive stance with the United States regarding
Taiwan and they are not best of friends with Israel, which welched on
defense contracts. In fact, December saw a large deterioration in
diplomatic relations between China and Israel that culminated in China’s
deputy prime minister, Tang Jiaxuan, flying to Jerusalem to demand the
immediate return of an unspecified number of Israeli-built Harpy unmanned
aerial attack vehicles that were sent back to Israel for upgrading, and
that have since been confiscated by the Israelis under pressure from
Washington. The deputy prime minister even suggested that this episode
could prove disastrous for Israeli firms operating in China (including
Hong Kong). It is probable that no small amount of pressure from the
United States will be sufficient to sway China away from continuing its
nuclear co-operation with Iran.
Russia as well may be difficult to dissuade.
During a press conference in October 2004, Russia’s foreign minister,
Sergey V. Lavrov, stated that Russia does not support the idea of
referring Iran to the United Nations for sanctions and will continue
nuclear co-operation with Iran.
Moscow has been seen to pressure Iran on its nuclear activities; however,
Britian and the United States see Russia’s pressure as somewhat aesthetic
rather than for a means to a peaceful end.
Why is Russia aiding Iran in achieving its nuclear ambitions?
There is the obvious answer that such hugely beneficial contracts aid the
Russian economy. But there must be another reason. Is it geopolitical?
Would a westernised Iran be detrimental to the Russians? Could a pro West
Iranian government drag other Middle East countries towards the West?
Either way the push for a pro West and “democratised” Middle East is not
in either Russia’s or China’s best interests. By acting as a bulwark in
Iran’s nuclear development, these two powerful states could be seen to be
creating a buffer to the United States’ aspirations in the region.

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brandy said...

18/01/2008 node: why nuke Iran? DEFENSELINK NEWSIRAQ

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The NukeIran blog

The 9/11 report

storyline
Exactly why
should we nuke 'em?

What about innocent
Iranian kids and such?

Taxpayer benefits

the facts
Iran’s Nuclear Ambitions

Iran president:
Terrorist, murderer

Iran: world's largest state sponsor of terror
The mullahs in Iran may soon have a hard decision to make. Their
secret nuclear program is close to having a few weapons ready for
them to use, but a young, homegrown progressive movement, inspired
by recent events in Iraq, may force them into a doomsday situation.

These old dinosaurs have sworn to destroy Israel. If they were to
come under attack from their own people, they have no flexibility or
ability to see things from others' points of view. They're stone-age
religious fanatics for crying out loud! If they are backed into a
corner by secular forces during a civil war, why shouldn't they lob
their nuclear weapons at Israel? They would get their 72 virgins if
all hell breaks loose. What would restrain them from letting loose
with all that they have?

We may have to let Israel take out their nuclear facilities with
their own nuclear strikes. What makes this situation more difficult
than the earlier strike by Israel is the fact that Iran's
present-day nuclear facilities are spread around the country and
many of them are in secret underground locations. Surgical strikes
may not be possible.

Big plans must be in the making at this moment by U.S., Israeli and
underground Iranian leaders. What is the solution?

source: redboy