Iran: We'll allow UN officials to inspect new uranium enrichment plant

[Splurgenxs]

Iran: We'll allow UN officials to inspect new uranium enrichment plant

Iran will allow the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to inspect its new enrichment site in Natanz in central Iran, the Iranian envoy to the IAEA said Saturday.

Ali-Asqar Soltanieh told ISNA news agency that Iranian and IAEA experts met in Vienna and agreed on inspections of the new site, where Iran is pursuing the 20 percent uranium enrichment process.

The Iranian envoy said that the inspections will take place within the framework of the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), indicating that the IAEA would be obliged to coordinate the inspections in advance with Tehran.

Iran withdrew from the IAEA Additional Protocol, under which the IAEA could have made snap inspections, in 2005.

Soltanieh said that any changes in Iran's nuclear projects would be in coordination with the IAEA, adding that he hoped that the United Nations nuclear watchdog would reflect this new instance of cooperation in its next report.

Iran started the 20 percent uranium enrichment process in Natanz in February after a plan brokered in October by the IAEA - under which Iran would swap its low-enriched uranium (LEU) for fuel made in Russia and France for a medical reactor in Tehran - failed.

Tehran said that it would still be ready to accept the deal but only with the condition that the swap be made inside Iran. The IAEA and world powers have so far rejected the Iranian condition.

Although the uranium exchange deal would not have fully settled the dispute over Iran's controversial nuclear projects, it was regarded by both sides as a first step towards ending the seven-year deadlock.

The U.S. and its allies are pushing toward renewed sanctions against the Islamic state through a new UN Security Council resolution. They accuse Iran of not fully cooperating with the IAEA.

China and Russia, both strategic partners of Iran, have also reportedly changed their attitude towards new sanctions and may join the West in punitive measures.

Tehran has in response begun what it calls "active counter-diplomacy" with Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki due to visit Austria - currently a rotating member of the UN Security Council - on Sunday and hold talks with officials in Vienna about the nuclear dispute and probable sanctions.

The Iranian chief diplomat is reportedly due to visit other European capitals though no details have yet been disclosed about host countries.

Meanwhile, Iran's president on Saturday said proposed UN sanctions against the country's nuclear program lack legal validity.

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said during a visit to Uganda that he will not accept sanctions. He said sanctions would hurt the reputation of the U.S. and President Barack Obama.

Ahmadinejad arrived Friday in the East African nation to discuss Iran's nuclear program. Uganda is a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council and has not yet ruled out the possibility of voting for sanctions against Iran.

Iran has been under harsh criticism from Western nations for pressing ahead with uranium enrichment programs it says are to produce nuclear energy. The West fears the militant Islamic state could develop nuclear weapons

Iran's Revolutionary Guards dismissed as "ridiculous" on Saturday the U.S.-led drive to impose sanctions on the elite force, underlining Tehran's defiance in the face of Western pressure over its nuclear program.



Senior commander Yadollah Javani also said the Guards could easily replace foreign oil companies such as Shell and Total in domestic energy projects.

Iran's long-running dispute with the West over its atomic activities has made Western energy companies increasingly reluctant to invest in the world's fifth-largest oil exporter.

Analysts say the political and the economic influence of the Guards appears to have grown since hard-line Ahmadinejad, himself a former Guardsman, came to power in 2005.

The force played a key role in quelling street unrest that erupted after Ahmadinejad's disputed re-election last June.

"Imposing sanctions on the Revolutionary Guards is rather ridiculous because even with all the propaganda they couldn't reach their goal of imposing sanctions on the Islamic Republic," ILNA news agency quoted Javani as saying.

http://www.haaretz.com/news/iran-we-ll-allow-un-officials-to-inspect-new-uranium-enrichment-plant-1.284801

---------- Post added at 05:14 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:12 PM ----------

 

[yahya07]

Sounds like the first signs of capitulation to me.

 

[T90TankGuy]

actually is a good sign . get the world to see you are not a threat ,

 

[somebozo]

Inspection and certification by IAEA doesnt mean jack cr_p is US wants to invade..recall the Iraq saga and Saddam Hussien pleas to step down peacefully!

 

[Arian]

Iran has always welcomed IAEA to inspect Iranian nuclear facilities, that's part of our obligations under the NPT and as long as we're a member of the NPT we're morally obliged to let the inspectors come in Iran and inspect but we can quit the NPT any time we want because it's just a 'treaty'. Also we have enough excuses to quit it when we want because the other side (the west) has never cooperated in nuclear issues with Iran but as long as we're in the NPT, inspections are OK.
As Iran has not ratified the additional protocol as far as I know so they will do just formal and basic inspections, nothing more.

 

[Globenim]

The last time a country was found out actually not to be a threat according to further investigation, as it was frequently accused of by the U.S an its allies with hefty allegations and forged evidence, it was invaded by the U.S shortly after for the same mostly forged reasons.

So... while it wont really help against an invasion if there would ever be any seriously planed, it will at least make the victim the moral winner amongst the few more informed individuals if it did show cooperation and results actually where negative.

 

[SpArK]

Iran: India’s position at UN positive

Iran has said that it considers India’s position in the United nations (UN) with regard to its nuclear programme as one that is positive. It has also maintained that the country is not involved in any violation of the Nuclear non-proliferation Treaty (NPT).

These views were expressed here on Friday by visiting Iranian leader Ali Akbar Velayati, who is adviser, international affairs, to Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Speaking to reporters, Mr Velayati said, “Of course, India has also said that Iran should abide by its obligations to international treaties. We also agree with it. We consider this as a positive position.” As for the situation in Afghanistan, Iran would like a solution to be found within the region. Afghanistan, in fact, was one of the issues that was discussed when visiting Iranian leader Ali Akbar Velayati met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
“We have to look for a solution within the region. Iran believes that people of the region are also eager to find a solution to the Afghan problem,” said Mr Velayati. According to him, Iran, Pakistan and some Central Asian countries should help in arranging the reconciliation process among various Afghan groups. He also criticised the nuclear watchdog IAEA for suspecting any country of wrongdoing on nuclear issues on the basis of claims and warned at the same time that India too can fall victim to this.
“Is it logical if one member like the US can claim that there are some reports with them and they have received some CDs in which they have accused Iran of doing something outside the NPT? The same may happen to any country like India. Will the director general of the IAEA only follow the claims of the US?” he asked. Mr Velayati also maintained that there is no covert place where Iran indulges in some activity outside the permanent observation of the IAEA. Mr Velayati also accused the IAEA of always following the claims made by the US.

 

[Abii]

Sounds like the first signs of capitulation to me.

yahya opens his mouth again lmao
earth to yahya, the IAEA has visited Iran more than any other country in the past few decades.

 

[KS]

Iran and US should engage in back door negotiations and solve this problem peacefully. It will open a huge door to regional peace and stability.

 

[Mosamania]

Iran and US should engage in back door negotiations and solve this problem peacefully. It will open a huge door to regional peace and stability.

Iran will NEVER negotiate with evil America. God bless Iran they have shown the strength of their convictions to the world. All hail Iran the only true Islamic country left int he world.