Iran: US older sanctions lifted and fresh Imposed

Soon after the US lifted sanctions on Iran's nuclear programme, it imposed fresh sanctions on Iranian companies and individuals over a recent ballistic missile test.

BBC reports that the new sanctions prevent 11 entities and individuals linked to the missile programme from using the US banking system.

"Iran's ballistic missile programme poses a significant threat to regional and global security, and it will continue to be subject to international sanctions," said Adam J Szubin, US acting under-secretary for terrorism and financial intelligence.

Read details at BBC | Photo

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NAM nations back Iran's nuclear bid

The 120-nation Nonaligned Movement handed its host Iran a diplomatic victory on Friday, unanimously decreeing support for the disputed Iranian nuclear energy programme and criticizing the US-led attempt to isolate and punish Iran with unilateral economic sanctions.

But the group's communique, issued by Iranian state news media at the end of its annual meeting, omitted any mention of support for Syria, Iran's vital Middle East ally, which appeared to reflect a view among many members that the Syrian government's attempt to crush the uprising there was indefensible.

For Iran, the final result of the NAM's meeting, the biggest international gathering in Iran since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, amounted to the strongest expression of support for Iran's nuclear energy rights in its showdown with the West. The unanimous backing of the final document undercut the US argument that Iran was an isolated outlier nation.

Read more: Times of India

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J'lem warns against futile nuke talks with Iran

Analyst says Israeli strike on Iran would be difficult as long as international community negotiating with Tehran; location for P5+1 talks in April under consideration, Erdogan offers to host them again.

Negotiations between the world powers and Iran will succeed only if they lead to an immediate change in Iran’s behavior and a halt to its enrichment of uranium, an Israeli government official said Wednesday, commenting on prospects the talks will begin on April 13.

Read more: The Jerusalem Post

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US war simulation reveals hazards of Israeli strike against Iran

If Israel launches attacks against Iran to prevent it getting the bomb, the United States would likely be sucked into the ensuing war, write MARK MAZZETTI and THOM SHANKER in Washington.

A CLASSIFIED war simulation exercise held this month to assess the repercussions of an Israeli attack on Iran forecasts that the strike would lead to a wider regional war, which could draw in the United States and leave hundreds of Americans dead, according to US officials.

The officials said the so-called war game was not designed as a rehearsal for US military action and they emphasised that the exercise’s results were not the only possible outcome of a real-world conflict. But the game has raised fears among top US planners that it may be impossible to preclude US involvement in any escalating confrontation with Iran, the officials said.

Read more: Irish Times

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Iran will produce nuclear weapons if attacked: Russia

Russia warned Tuesday that Iran would have no option but to develop nuclear weapons if it came under attack from either the United States or Israel over its contested atomic programme.

“The CIA and other US officials admit they now have no information about the Iranian leadership taking the political decision to produce nuclear weapons,” Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told Moscow’s Kommersant FM radio.

“But I am almost certain that such a decision will surely be taken after (any) strikes on Iran,” Lavrov said.

Read more: Khaleej Times

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Obama warns of force against Iran

President Barack Obama says the US "will not hesitate" to use force to stop Iran obtaining nuclear weapons, but says diplomacy could still succeed.

Addressing an influential pro-Israel lobby group, Mr Obama also warned against "loose talk" of war in the dispute with Tehran.

Earlier, Israeli President Shimon Peres said Iran was "a danger to the world".

The US and its allies suspect Iran of trying to develop nuclear weapons, a claim Tehran denies.

Details: BBC News USA & Canada

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North Korea agrees to 'nuclear moratorium'

North Korea has agreed to suspend uranium enrichment, as well as nuclear and long-range missile tests, following talks with the US.

The US State Department said Pyongyang had also agreed to allow UN inspectors to monitor its reactor in Yongbyon to verify compliance with the measures.

In return, the US is finalising 240,000 tonnes of food aid for the North.

The move comes two months after Kim Jong-un came to power following the death of his father, Kim Jong-il.

Details: BBC News Asia-Pacific

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Iran has expanded nuclear work - claims UN agency

Iran has sharply stepped up its controversial uranium enrichment drive, the UN nuclear agency said yesterday in a report that will further inflame Israeli fears the Islamic Republic is pushing ahead with atomic bomb plans.

"The Agency continues to have serious concerns regarding possible military dimensions to Iran's nuclear program," the International Atomic Energy Agency said in a quarterly report about Iran issued to member states.

Iran's increase of work that can have both civilian and military purposes underlines that it has no intention of backing down in a long-running dispute with the West that has sparked fears of war. IAEA's findings, which added to concerns that Iran's tensions with the West would escalate.

Read details: Today Online

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Iran not to yield to pressures over nuke issue

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Saturday that Iran has always beenready for the talks over its nuclear issue, but it will not yield to Western pressures to quit its rights.

Ahmadinejad made the remarks addressing a large crowd of people gathered at Tehran's Azadi (liberty) Square on the occasion of the 33rd anniversary of the Islamic republic.

"We have always been ready for (nuclear) talks within the framework of justice and respect. I clearly announce that if you (Westerners) talk in the language of coercion and disrespect (with Iranians), the Iranian nation will never surrender to you" over its nuclear rights."

"The only way you need to observe is to respect the rights of Iranian nation and to come to the negotiation table," said Ahmadinejad.

Read more: China Daily

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First nuclear fuel rod tested in Iran

[ via Tehran Times ] 1 Jan

Scientists and researchers at the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran have successfully tested the first domestically produced nuclear fuel rod containing natural uranium, Iranian news agencies reported on Sunday. 

According to the reports, the first nuclear fuel rod was loaded into the core of the Tehran research reactor as part of an experiment to test its performance in operation. 

 

Now Iran should convert fuel rods into fuel plates to power the Tehran research reactor, which produces radioisotopes for cancer treatment. 

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Iran threatens blockage of Oil Route in Persian Gulf if Sanctions Widen

[ via Yahoo News ] 28 Dec

Strait of Hormuz (Map: World Atlas)

Iran threatened on Tuesday to stop the flow of oil through the Strait of Hormuz if foreign sanctions were imposed on its crude exports over its nuclear ambitions, a move that could trigger military conflict with economies dependent on Gulf oil.

Western tensions with Iran have increased since a November 8 report by the U.N. nuclear watchdog saying Tehran appears to have worked on designing an atomic bomb and may still be pursuing research to that end. Iran strongly denies this and says it is developing nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.

Iran's warning on Tuesday came three weeks after EU foreign ministers decided to tighten sanctions over the U.N. watchdog report and laid out plans for a possible embargo of oil from the world's No. 5 crude exporter.

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Iran invites UN nuclear agency to visit

[ via The Star ] 20 Dec

Iran has invited the U.N. nuclear watchdog to visit for talks, an Iranian envoy told Reuters on Tuesday, suggesting Tehran would be prepared to address concerns about its atomic ambitions.

Ambassador Ali Asghar Soltanieh said Iran earlier this month sent a letter to U.N. nuclear agency chief Yukiya Amano, who last month issued a report which pointed to military links to Tehran's nuclear programme, a charge it denies.

Read  The Star  for more

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Liam Fox: Russians will use Olympics to flood Britain with spies

[ Mail Online ] 4 Dec

Liam Fox (Photo PA)

Liam Fox, The former British Defence Secretary last night has alleged that Russia may want to use the next year’s London Olympics as cover  to flood Britain with spies.

Fox warned that Britain was powerless to prevent some "very unsavoury individuals" entering the country under the guise of protecting Russia’s athletics team. 

Fox even went to the extent of challenging the holding of the Olympics and wasting money on the event, which he claims could have been a better value of money if invested in Britian's Trident nuclear programme.

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Fresh sanctions for Iran over nuclear programme

Full Story: BBC Middle East 21 Nov

USA, UK and Canada have imposed a number of fresh sanctions on Iran over its disputed nuclear programme.

The UK says it is cutting all ties with Iranian banks, while Canada is banning exports for the petrochemical, oil and gas industries. As for USA, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton spoke of a "significant ratcheting-up of pressure" on Iran.

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