Iranian Alert -- June 28, 2004 [EST]-- IRAN LIVE THREAD -- "Americans for Regime Change in Iran"

Iran, European 'Big-3' to Hold Talks on Nukes

June 27, 2004
AFP
The Daily Star

Iran and the big-three European Union states are to hold new talks this week in the wake of Iran's decision to resume making parts for centifuges used to enrich uranium, officials said yesterday.

Foreign ministry spokesman Hamid Reza Asefi said the talks with Britain, France and Germany -- which last year brokered Iran's cooperation with the UN nuclear watchdog -- would take place "in the coming days".

"The Islamic republic will have discussions with the Europeans this week." top national security official and nuclear negotiator Hassan Rowhani was quoted as saying by the official news agency IRNA.

"We are ready for dialogue and we accept the invitation from the three Europeans," he was also quoted as saying by the student news agency ISNA.

Iranian television said the talks would begin on Tuesday at the experts level, and then move on to meetings at the ministerial level.

Details on the content or aim of the discussions were not given.

The United States and the European Union Saturday called on Iran to go back on its decision to resume the construction of centrifuges, announced by Tehran in retaliation to a critical resolution passed this month at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

A halt on centrifuge work had been one of several "confidence-building" measures Iran agreed to while the UN nuclear watchdog investigated allegations the country is seekign to develop nuclear weapons.

Meanwhile, Iran yesterday shrugged off yet more international criticism over its nuclear programme, refusing to back down on the construction of centrifuges for the highly sensitive process of enriching uranium.

"Nothing very important has happened," foreign ministry spokesman Hamid Reza Asefi told reporters, trying to play down fresh alarm over an atomic energy programme the United States sees as a cover for weapons development.

The United States and the European Union Saturday called on Iran to go back on its decision to resume the construction of centrifuges, announced by Tehran in retaliation to a critical resolution passed this month at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

But Asefi insisted that while Iran would go ahead with making centrifuges as of June 29, it was still sticking to its pledge to suspend enriching uranium.

http://www.thedailystar.net/2004/06/28/d406281304112.htm

Rowhani Tells MPs Iran Will Resume Centrifuge Production On June 29

Tehran Times Political Desk

TEHRAN (MNA) -- Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Hasan Rowhani announced here on Sunday that Iran will resume production of parts for nuclear industry centrifuges on June 29.

In a speech to the Majlis describing the current situation of Iran’s nuclear dossier, Rowhani said that Iran would continue to fully cooperate with the UN nuclear watchdog in order to prove the “strictly peaceful” nature of its nuclear program.

He also reaffirmed Tehran's commitment to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and the safeguards agreements.

"The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) can continue its inspections. We will also fully cooperate with the agency since we know that such cooperation will benefit the Islamic Republic," he told an open session of the parliament. The inspections will prove that “the Islamic Republic's activities are strictly peaceful,” Rowhani said, while expressing confidence that Iran's nuclear dossier “will inevitably be withdrawn from the (IAEA) Board of Governors agenda sooner or later.”

Earlier in the day, the SNSC secretary, who is Iran's main negotiator on nuclear issues, announced Iran's readiness to hold comprehensive negotiations with representatives of France, Germany, and Britain in Tehran this week.

However, Rowhani insisted that Iran would stick to its decision to resume the manufacture and assembly of centrifuge components, starting on June 29.

"We have announced to the three European countries that the Islamic Republic of Iran is ready to resume manufacture and assembly activities on June 29," he said.

Citing Iran's reasons for the decision, Rowhani said the three countries had failed to fulfill the commitments which they had made at a meeting in Brussels on February 23.

The official also rejected IAEA Director General Mohamed ElBaradei's allegations that some aspects of the Islamic Republic's nuclear program had been concealed.

"Mr. ElBaradei and the agency had found one contradiction (in Iran's report on its nuclear program), but they apologized for that and said they were mistaken," Rowhani said.

He stressed that Iran is prepared to enter long-term discussions with the three European countries, adding that their officials would be invited to Iran for this purpose in the current week.

Rowhani said that according to the NPT, the IAEA is tasked with helping Iran develop advanced nuclear technology.

He announced that Iran has access to uranium mines and the technology to produce UF6 and 3.5% enriched uranium.

All the centrifuges and nuclear centers have been constructed by Iranian specialists and no person or country has the right to take this capability away from Iran, he said.

Rowhani stressed that Iran would continue to cooperate with the European Union and the IAEA, adding that Iran’s nuclear dossier should be removed from the agenda of the IAEA as soon as possible.

The SNSC secretary also announced that Iran is ready for IAEA inspectors to pay another visit to the country.

http://www.tehrantimes.com/Description.asp?Da=6/28/2004&Cat=2&Num=013

Iran Will Not Buckle To Pressure: Intelligence Minister

TEHRAN (IRNA) -- Intelligence Minister Ali Yunesi said here Sunday that Iran has so far acted under the supervision of the UN nuclear watchdog and is to continue its cooperation with the IAEA, but it would not bow to force, he stressed.

Speaking to IRNA, Yunesi said that Iran was determined to get access to the nuclear technology for peaceful application, stressing that the country has never been after developing atomic bombs.

Noting that Iran has repeatedly and clearly announced its policy regarding its nuclear programs, Yunesi said that having access to nuclear technology for peaceful application was the indisputable right of Iran and that the country would never give up its right. As for Iraq, the minister said that Tehran supported restoration of peace and stability to that country and believed this would be achieved only if "the Iraqi people themselves administer their own country."

The U.S. is to bring to power a puppet regime in Iraq and it’s quite natural that the Iraqi people would resist it, Yunesi said.

Touching upon the question of the terrorist Mujahedin Khalq Organization (MKO), the minister said that they have come to the end of the line. However, Yunesi did not give further explanations in this regard.

http://www.tehrantimes.com/Description.asp?Da=6/28/2004&Cat=2&Num=006

ElBaradei urges Iran to reverse nuclear move

UNITED NATIONS: UN atomic energy agency chief Mohamed ElBaradei on Sunday urged Iran to abandon a decision to resume work towards uranium enrichment as a week-long conference on peaceful uses of nuclear power opened in Moscow.

“I hope that Iran will go back to a comprehensive suspension as they have committed to us before. I would hope that this is not a major reversal,” he told reporters after meeting Russian atomic energy agency chief Alexander Rumyantsev.

Tehran said on Sunday it would resume construction of centrifuges for uranium enrichment but continue to suspend enrichment itself, a key step in making what can be bomb-grade uranium.

Iran had said in a letter to ElBaradei, as well as Britain, France and Germany, last week that it would resume the “manufacturing of centrifuge components and assembly and testing of centrifuges as of June 29,” next Tuesday, according to a copy of the letter obtained by AFP.

Iran claims the so-called Euro-3 broke an agreement made in February to have the IAEA close in June its investigation of Iran’s nuclear programme, in return for the suspension of all enrichment-related activities.

ElBaradei is in Moscow to open an IAEA nuclear power conference commemorating a half-century since the Obninsk power reactor became the world’s first to produce electricity for a national grid.

It also marks the 50th anniversary of the UN General Assembly resolution calling for international cooperation in developing the peaceful uses for nuclear energy.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, who will meet ElBaradei on Monday, praised nuclear power an engine of economic growth in a message to the conference.

“Today, atomic energy is an expanding sector which actively promotes social and economic development in many states,” Putin said according to a statement released by the Kremlin.

Another theme at the conference will be nuclear terrorism.

The United States had at IAEA headquarters in Vienna in May unveiled a 450-million-dollar plan to try to prevent nuclear materials stored around the world from falling into the hands of terrorists who could use them to make a “dirty” bomb or even a full-fledged atomic device.

The US plan includes working with Russia “to repatriate all Russian-origin fresh HEU (highly enriched uranium) (nuclear) fuel by the end” of 2005, Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham had told the IAEA in May.

Russia has been under US pressure to halt construction of Iran’s Bushehr nuclear reactor until the IAEA is fully satisfied that Tehran is not hiding its potential nuclear weapons ambition, or using the project to develop an atomic bomb. Russia has vowed however to maintain the Bushehr project.

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_28-6-2004_pg4_17

Solution "in sight" on Iran's nuclear program: Rice

WASHINGTON (AFP) Jun 27, 2004

US National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice said Sunday that Iran was providing daily proof why it belonged in the "axis of evil" but a peaceful solution to the row over its nuclear program was still "within sight."

Rice told Fox News Sunday that Iran remains a "dangerous state" that was trying to develop the capacity to use nuclear power for military purposes and even make nuclear weapons.

"The Iranians every day demonstrate why the United States has been so hard on them and why the president put Iran into the axis of evil when he talked about Iraq, North Korea and Iran in 2002," she said.

The national security aide said Washington was working with its European allies and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to persuade Tehran to drop its nuclear weapons ambitions or face isolation.

The United States was also putting pressure on Russia to curb transfers of nuclear technology to Iran, she said, adding "we've been very clear that these rogue states that seek weapons of mass destruction are a danger."

"It's a very tough situation. But we believe that this is one that still has a diplomatic solution within sight," Rice said, speaking from Turkey ahead of a NATO summit. She did not elaborate.

The IAEA, the UN nuclear watchdog, rebuked Iran on June 18 for failing to come clean about its nuclear program but the Islamic Republic has shown little inclination for conciliation.

Tehran said Sunday it would resume construction of centrifuges for uranium enrichment while continuing to suspend enrichment itself. But a senior member of parliament said the assembly would push to resume the process.

Rice's remarks appeared part of a general US move to step up the rhetoric against Iran, which President George W. Bush famously lumped with Iraq and North Korea in an "axis of evil" in his State of the Union speech two years ago.

Earlier Sunday, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld delivered his own broadside at the Iranian government, accusing it of "not telling the truth about its role in nuclear development."

"Most recently, we have seen them resisting the UN processes that they have previously seemed to have agreed to, but obviously are not adhering to," Rumsfeld said in an interview with the BBC.

http://www.spacewar.com/2004/040627155341.qrjoxq9d.html

QUIETLY, U.S. PREPARES FOR ISRAEL STRIKE ON IRAN

Middle East Newsline ^ | May 07, 2004 | MENL
Posted on 06/27/2004 8:27:48 PM PDT by streetpreacher

WASHINGTON [MENL] -- The United States has been examining the prospect that Israel will attack Iranian nuclear facilities in an attempt to prevent the Islamic republic from completing an atomic bomb as early as this year.

U.S. analysts and government sources said the Bush administration has discussed the prospect of an Israeli air strike at several levels of government. They said the issue has been examined in terms of the diplomatic, military and security implications for the United States, particularly its military presence in Iraq and the Persian Gulf region.

The issue of Iran's nuclear weapons program was discussed by President George Bush and Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon during the latter's visit to the White House on April 14. The sources said the two men were alone during the brief discussion in an effort by the president to gauge a likely Israeli response to the completion of an Iranian nuclear bomb.

"It would be intolerable for the Middle East if they [Iran] get a nuclear weapon," Bush said after meeting Sharon.

NOTE: The above is not the full item.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1161411/posts

DoctorZin: Bizarre nonsense from the BBC...

Iranian woman 'gives birth to frog'

BBC
6.27.2004

An Iranian newspaper has reported the controversial story of a woman who claims to have given birth to a frog.
The Iranian daily Etemaad says the creature is believed to have grown from larva to an adult frog inside her body.

While it is unclear how this could have happened, the paper carries quotes from medical experts who say there are human characteristics to the animal.

It has been speculated that the woman, who has not been named, unknowingly picked up the larva while she was swimming in a dirty pool.

The woman, from the south-eastern city of Iranshahr, is a mother of two children.

The "so-called frog", as the newspaper puts it, has yet to undergo precise genetic and anatomic tests.

But it quotes clinical biology expert Dr Aminifard as saying: "The similarities are in appearance, the shape of the fingers and the size and shape of the tongue."

Medical history recounts stories of people who believed they had frogs - or even lizards or snakes - living and growing in their bodies.

One of the most famous was the 17th Century case of Catharina Geisslerin, known as "the toad-vomiting woman" of Germany.

When she died in 1662 doctors are said to have performed an autopsy, but found no evidence animals had ever lived inside her body.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3844441.stm

Revolutionary Guard chiefs get into position to take over Iran

Sunday Times
6.27.2004
Ramita Navai, Tehran

SINCE its formation by conservative clerics as an elite unit to fight the foreign and internal enemies of the 1979 Islamic Revolution, Iran’s hardline Revolutionary Guard has been the country’s most powerful armed force.
The corps — barred by Ayatollah Khomeini, the spiritual leader of the revolution, from straying into politics — may now have its eyes on the presidency. Mohammed Khatami’s second term expires next May.

Ali Larijani, a former Guard commander and former head of state media, is widely believed to be considering running for president. Two other former Guard chiefs have also been tipped as possible candidates.

“A glance at a number of key positions shows this group is increasingly gaining power,” Sharq, a leading reformist newspaper, warned recently.

Indications of the Guard’s political ambitions came in a week in which it flexed its muscles with the arrest and detention of the eight British servicemen who strayed from southern Iraq into the Iranian part of the Shatt al-Arab waterway that divides the two countries.

Although the men were released on Thursday after three days in captivity, their detention — during which they were paraded blindfolded on state television — appeared to be a sign of the Guard’s power.

The Guard has been gaining influence in recent months. Scores of former members were elected to parliament last February in a controversial landslide for conservative candidates after thousands of reformists were barred by the hardline Guardian Council.

A parallel organisation to the military, the Guard takes its orders directly from Ayatollah Khamenei, the Supreme Leader.

“A Revolutionary Guard president will mean all three branches of government totally under the command of the Supreme Leader without reservation or question,” said Ebrahim Yazdi, who founded the Guard while deputy prime minister under Khomeini. “The aim is to have co-operation and hegemony between three branches. It’s a way to get rid of reform.”

The influence of the Guard is also reflected in Iran’s increasingly assertive stance towards attempts by the International Atomic Energy Agency to investigate the country’s nuclear programme.

Washington, which accuses Tehran of trying to build a nuclear bomb, believes the Guard is in charge of that programme and of efforts to make chemical and biological weapons.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/newspaper/0,,2763-1159840,00.html

U.S. Occupation Forces Release Iranian Diplomat In Baghdad

Tehran Times - Politics Section
Jun 28, 2004

TEHRAN - U.S. occupation forces released on Sunday morning the second highest-ranking diplomat of the Iranian embassy to Baghdad after a 20-hour detention.

According to reports the Iranian diplomat was accompanied by two other diplomats and a driver; the diplomats were returning to Baghdad from the Khosravi border.

The high-ranking Iranian diplomat began his mission in Iraq three months ago; The Iraqi foreign ministry has authorized the diplomat to stay in Iraq for a one-year term.

Following this measure that seems to be in response to the detention of eight British soldiers by Iranian naval units, Iran will probably summon the Swiss ambassador to the foreign ministry who cares about the U.S. interests section in Iran.

Certain Arab media claimed on Sunday that the coalition forces in Iraq have detained an Iranian security official in the Iran-Iraq border.

Iranian foreign ministry officials have not yet confirmed the report.

http://www.daneshjoo.org/generalnews/article/publish/article_6828.shtml

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