Head of UN nuclear watchdog says optimistic over Iran

NUKEWARS

Ahmadinejad says Iran 'guarantor' of regional security
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad hailed his country's armed forces as the "guarantor" of regional security, during a low-profile parade on Saturday marking Army Day in the Islamic republic. "Iran's armed forces are the guarantor of security in the region," Ahmadinejad in a televised speech during the parade, refraining from the confrontational tone that has marked previous Army Day addresses. "Today the Iranian nation, with its religious armed forces, is ready to have a wide role in world management and to establish security based on justice across the world," he added. Local media had said that 140 fighter jets and other aircraft would stage an aerial display on Saturday but the show was cancelled due to what the media said was bad weather and poor visibility. In previous years, Iran -- which has long been at odds with the international community over its disputed nuclear drive -- has used army day to display its military might including home-built missiles.

Israel says economic crisis may curb Iran nuclear drive
The head of Israel's military intelligence said on Monday that the economic crisis could curb the nuclear ambitions of arch-foe Iran. "The worsening economic crisis, high inflation, rising unemployment and a drop in oil prices could put the brakes on Iran's nuclear aspirations," General Amos Yadlin said at a cabinet meeting." But he stressed that Iran's long-term strategic goal remained to obtain a nuclear weapon. The Jewish state is a leading opponent of Iran's nuclear programme and considers Tehran its main enemy because of repeated calls by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad for Israel to be wiped off the map. New Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has warned that the threat posed by Iran constituted the biggest threat to Israel's existence since its creation 61 years ago. Israel itself is widely considered to be the Middle East's sole nuclear armed power but it has never confirmed or denied having an atomic arsenal and refuses to submit to international inspections. A British newspaper said on Saturday that Israel's military was preparing itself to launch major aerial attacks on Iranian nuclear sites if ordered to by the new government. Iran is OPEC's second largest crude producer and has been hit by the fall in oil prices, which are currently around 50 dollars a barrel compared with a peak in July last year of 147 dollars.

by Staff Writers
Beijing (AFP) April 21, 2009
The head of the United Nations atomic watchdog said Monday he was optimistic about efforts to end a stand-off over Iran's nuclear drive, following positive moves from Tehran and Washington.

"I am extremely pleased with the reversal in the policy of the United States from one of confrontation to one of dialogue and mutual respect," International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief Mohamed ElBaradei told reporters.

"I have been telling my Iranian colleagues that you must reciprocate and also put (out) your hand, and what we have been hearing from Iran is also quite different. There is a much more moderate tone.

"I am very optimistic of this totally new approach and I hope it will work."

However ElBaradei said Iran could take the initiative to further promote the apparent blossoming of goodwill by allowing IAEA inspectors to do more in Iran.

"They can... allow us to visit certain facilities that we want to visit, like the heavy water reactor. And they have to come up with their own ideas of how to build confidence," he said.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Monday welcomed the shift in US policy towards Tehran, describing it as "necessary" but added that he was awaiting "practical changes."

"We welcome this because in our opinion, change is necessary at the moment," he said in a press conference at a UN racism conference in Geneva.

"We are waiting for practical changes and we support a dialogue based on mutual respect and recognised principles of justice," he added.

After three decades of severed diplomatic ties, the Obama administration has called for dialogue with Tehran over its controversial nuclear drive, which Western powers fear could be a cover for efforts to build an atomic bomb.

Ahmadinejad said last week that Tehran would offer a new package to world powers for negotiations aimed at resolving the nuclear standoff, according to the official IRNA news agency.

However, in Geneva, Ahmadinejad later indicated that Iran would not budge from its demand for nuclear energy, as he condemned what he described as Iran's unjust treatment by Western countries for decades.

"The nuclear issue is one of those important issues, in our opinion it is a closed file," according to the English language interpretation of his remarks to the media.

"Iran is a signatory of the NPT (nuclear non-proliferation treaty) and a member of the IAEA and (we) expect to enjoy our rights within the framework of the agency," he added.

He said nuclear energy should not be equated with nuclear weapons and dismissed "deceitful tactics" by Western powers to monopolise nuclear energy.

Under the provisions of the NPT, Iran is allowed to have a civilian nuclear programme for peaceful use, under certain conditions.

In 2008, Iran suggested setting up consortiums -- including one in Iran -- to enrich uranium and manufacture nuclear fuel.

That offer followed proposals by global powers offering economic incentives to help Iran's civilian nuclear programme in return for a halt to enrichment activities.

Uranium enrichment is a process which makes nuclear fuel as well as the core of an atom bomb, and the West fears Iran is secretly trying to build nuclear weapons -- a charge repeatedly denied by Tehran.

ElBaradei was speaking to reporters in Beijing at the start of a three-day conference organised by the IAEA that gathers energy ministers or other representatives from more than 60 countries to discuss nuclear power's future.

Share This Article With Planet Earth

del.icio.us Digg Reddit

YahooMyWeb Google Facebook

Related Links
Learn about nuclear weapons doctrine and defense at SpaceWar.com
Learn about missile defense at SpaceWar.com
All about missiles at SpaceWar.com
Learn about the Superpowers of the 21st Century at SpaceWar.com

Memory Foam Mattress Review

SPACE MEDIA NETWORK PROMOTIONS
Solar Energy Solutions
Tempur-Pedic Mattress Comparison ...

Newsletters :: SpaceDaily :: SpaceWar :: TerraDaily :: Energy Daily
XML Feeds :: Space News :: Earth News :: War News :: Solar Energy News

NUKEWARS

Israel's Barak urges Russia against Iran missile deal

Jerusalem (AFP) April 16, 2009
Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak on Thursday warned Russia's visiting deputy foreign minister against any sale of advanced surface-to-air missiles to Iran, a senior official said.

SUPERPOWERS Future Of NATO Will Be Determined In Afghanistan Part Six NATO Bloated And Weakened From Expansion Part Two Australia must boost military to deal with China rise: think tank The Future Of NATO Part Five	NUKEWARS Japan ex-minister urges nuclear weapon debate: report Head of UN nuclear watchdog says optimistic over Iran Low-Key Parade As Ahmadinejad Says Iran Guarantor Of Regional Security NKorea vows to build up nuclear deterrent, warns Seoul over PSI
MISSILE NEWS Japan products found on NKorea missile kit vessel: report USAF Awards Raytheon Contract For Laser-Guided Maverick Missile Raytheon Standard Missile-2 Destroys Target Indian tests cruise missile: official	MISSILE DEFENSE Kinetic Energy Interceptors Team Delivers Pathfinder Ground Test Missile Avionics Northrop Grumman Urges ABM Focus On Early Engagement And Flexibility Israel wants to buy US rocket intercept system BMD Debate Shifts Gears Part One
AEROSPACE Air China says yet to receive state aid despite request Virgin to report greenhouse gases to Climate Registry As revenue drops, Cathay asks staff to take leave China Eastern Airlines reports huge loss in 2008	UAV NEWS Boeing Demonstrates Command And Control Of ScanEagle From Wedgetail Raven UAS Achieves 30-Hour Persistent Surveillance Russia Defense Watch: UAVs from Israel Pakistan highlights 'gap' with US over drone attacks
IRAQ WARS Suicide bomber wounds 38 at Iraqi army base US must stay engaged in Iraq despite Afghanistan: analysts Commentary: Gulf war jitters US, Iraqi forces launch major operation in Kirkuk	MILTECH PDR Validates Maturity Of Future Combat Systems Common Controller Northrop Grumman Upgrades Ship Navigation Radars With Enhanced Naval Display Features Boeing Awarded US Navy Contract to Develop Free Electron Laser Land Rover Launches Versatile New Discovery Armoured

The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2007 - SpaceDaily.AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA Portal Reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by SpaceDaily on any Web page published or hosted by SpaceDaily. Privacy Statement