Iran told the IAEA that it will not ship uranium abroad for enrichment. The US Congress approved a new regimen of sanctions for Iran. Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani claimed the US was involved in the terrorist attack that killed 40 people, including six Revolutionary Guards commanders.
President Ahmadinejad hinted at cooperation with the UN over a nuclear deal, saying “we welcome cooperation on nuclear fuel, power plants, and technology, and we are ready to cooperate.” Supreme Leader Khamenei stated that the Islamic Republic is resistant to foreign meddling. Turkey urged a diplomatic solution to Iran’s nuclear problem.
Tehran sought new amendments to the IAEA nuclear fuel deal. Behzad Soltani announced plans for Iran to seek nuclear fusion technology in the future. Iran and Venezuela announced plans to launch a joint oil company.
Remarks by President Ahmadinejad hint at Iran’s hardened stance towards the IAEA on the nuclear program. Pakistan released 11 Iranian detainees in an act of good faith. Tehran welcomed Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan to the country.
The IAEA has started inspections at the Qom nuclear site. An Iranian member of parliament warned the nation to beware of America’s efforts to “cheat” the Islamic Republic. Turkish President Erdogen said that the West is treating Iran “unfairly” in nuclear negotiations.
A senior Iranian member of parliament cast doubts on the uranium fuel arrangement. The interior minister will meet with officials in Pakistan to discuss the recent attacks by Jundallah.
Israel claimed it met with Iranian nuclear officials as part of the IAEA diplomacy effort. The IAEA said Iran and three world powers have until Friday to approve a nuclear agreement. Iran’s First Vice President, Mohammad-Reza Rahimi, said that new agreements had been reached to allow Chinese investment in Iran’s energy sector.
IAEA officials reported that Iran agreed on a draft agreement on shipping its uranium to Russia for enrichment. The UN Security council condemned last weekend’s suicide attack that killed six senior Revolutionary Guards commanders. The death toll in the attack has been raised to 57.
Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said that sporadic conflicts in eastern parts of the country are caused by foreign agents. Mottaki further stated that Iran will never abandon its “legal and obvious right to nuclear power.” Tehran is wary of the French presence at nuclear talks with the IAEA.
Tehran claimed US and British involvement in the suicide bombing of IRGC members by Baluchi rebels. The Iranian press urged Pakistan to crack down on Sunni rebels along the shared border. The ‘P5+1’ will meet with Iran today to further talks over sending Iranian uranium abroad for enrichment; Tehran claimed it will continue to enrich […]
The US intelligence community is considering revising the 2007 NIE. The US Congress passed a new Iran sanctions bill. Turkmenistan will run a natural gas pipeline to Iran by late December.
China’s premier hailed his nation’s cooperation with Iran. Russia’s premier said it is “too early” to speak of more sanctions. The US House passed legislation allowing state and local governments to divest from companies doing business in Iran.
The US called for Chinese support on curbing Iran’s nuclear program. The Russian foreign minister said that the threat of new sanctions on Iran will not work. A senior Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps commander said that the Iran is “invincible.”
President Ahmadinejad said he sees no obstacles to further nuclear talks with the P5+1. Secretary of State Clinton issued a warning to Iran during a diplomatic visit to Russia. Former President Khatami announced that protests to Iran’s presidential election last summer will not die.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps bought an $8 billion share in the state-run media. Muhammad-Reza Ali-Zamani received a death sentence for his role in the June 12 election demonstrations. An IRGC member said Iran would “blow up the heart of Israel” if attacked by “American or Zionist missiles.” Secretary of State Clinton will discuss Iran and […]
Tehran warned against potential gasoline sanctions and said the country can break any embargo. A reformist website reported that an Iranian protester received a death sentence. Tehran sees a US role in an Iranian nuclear researcher’s disappearance.
In my last post I addressed the issue of Turkish involvement in the bilateral negotiations between the UN’s P5+1 and the Islamic Republic of Iran. In order to get a fuller picture of the geopolitical implications of these talks, it would be wise to take a look at some important regional developments: Israel A recent […]
US lawmakers are ready to impose additional sanctions if Tehran does not cooperate. Secretary of Defense Gates hinted at the existence of more secret nuclear sites. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei warned Iranians not to believe enemies’ efforts to downplay last summer’s election result.
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei claimed that Iran’s military advancement is not a threat to foreign nations. Iran’s atomic energy chief announced a new generation of faster centrifuges for enriching uranium at the Qom site. Iran’s central bank claimed success in selling oil for currencies other than the US dollar and hinted at secret talks to […]
Tehran will allow the IAEA to inspect the Qom nuclear site on Oct. 25. US lawmakers are pushing for tougher sanctions following the IAEA’s newest report. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei issued a decree replacing top members of the Revolutionary Guard Corps.
Iran’s nuclear facility in the mountains near Qom. A new round of diplomatic concessions has come out of the negotiations yesterday between the United Nations’ five permanent members of the Security Council plus Germany (P5+1) and the Islamic Republic of Iran. The biggest news coming out of Geneva is that Iran has agreed to open […]
Tehran agreed to open the enrichment site in Qom to IAEA inspections and also agreed to send enriched uranium to Russia. Nuclear talks will continue throughout the month of October. The US threatened to increase sanctions if the agreement is not kept. General McChrystal said Iran is having a a positive influence in Afghanistan.
Tehran meets with the US and its allies for nuclear talks today in Geneva. President Ahmadinejad said regional cooperation will ensure Iran’s national security. The chief energy commissioner said Iran will not import gasoline from Venezuela.
President Ahmadinejad voiced his concern about the UN chief’s “biased” remarks on Tehran’s nuclear work and urged him to take the IAEA’s opinion into account. The IAEA reported that no radioactive material has been transferred to Iran’s new enrichment plant in Qom. The IAEA made plans to discuss a timetable for an inspection of the […]
Iran’s Foreign Ministry maintained that yesterday’s missile tests were part of routine, long-planned military exercises. Tehran urged global disarmament days before diplomatic talks. The US is aiming for additional sanctions if the Oct. 1 talks fail.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps tested the Shahab-3 and Sejil missiles in the third phase of a two-day exercise called The Great Prophet IV. The US will seek harsher economic sanctions against Iran. Iran’s attempts at power projection in Senegal, Venezuela, and Nicaragua are off to a shaky start.
Iranian officials admitted to building a second, secret enrichment facility. Western governments accused Iran of constructing the secret underground plant to manufacture nuclear fuel for weapons. Geneva will host the 5+1 talks on Iran’s nuclear program on Oct. 1.
President Ahmadinejad defended his legacy during his speech to the UN assembly. The UN said it would draft a nuclear safeguard plan before US-Iranian bilateral talks. Iran’s Assembly of Experts reiterated their support for Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei.
US lawmakers are holding off on passing new Iran sanctions until after the diplomatic summit. President Ahmadinejad plans on offering solutions to world crises in his UN speech. An Iranian army commander stressed the importance of bolstering Iran’s defensive power.
President Ahmadinejad warned against a military attack against Iran. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei blamed the western media for poisoning Iran’s Qods Day celebration. The US and Iran are headed into the Oct. 1 negotiations worlds apart.