Iran Nuclear Crisis Timelime

From iA wiki

May

May 30, 2007

• Iranian chief nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani rejects suspending uranium enrichment: "Suspension is not a solution to Iran's nuclear issue...Iran cannot accept suspension. We have no conditions and we are ready for constructive talks but we will not accept any preconditions. We are ready to remove concerns over Iran's atomic issue." Source: n.a. "Iran refuses to suspend nuclear program-Larijani." RIA Novosti. May 30, 2007. News Source.
• U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice says that the IAEA is not the right body to represent the international community in negotiations with Iran: "The IAEA is not an agency that is in negotiation with the Iranians. I just think it's appropriate for those six states to determine what the diplomatic course ought to be." Source: Anne Geagan. "Rice: World Should Not Soften on Iran." Guardian Unlimited. May 30, 2007. News Source.

May 28, 2007

• U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker and Iranian Ambassador to Iraq Hassan Kazemi-Qomi negotiate for four hours, primarily about security in Iraq. Source: Ross Corwin. "U.S. Tells Iran To Stop Backing Iraq Militias." Reuters. May 28, 2007. News Source. Note the biased title of this article. The title "Iran Tells U.S. to End Its Occupation" would have made as much sense in describing the meeting. For some reason reporter Corwin only got or used quotes from the American side.

May 26, 2007

• Sounding defensive, the Iranian intelligence agency issues statement broadcast on state-run television claiming that it roled up foreign spy networks and promised more information in the futurte: "These spy networks were operating under the guidance of the occupiers' intelligence services and with the support of some influential Iraqi groups and factions...The detailed news will be announced in the next few days." Source: n.a. "Iran Uncovers U.S. Spy Networks." Aljazeera.com. May 27, 2007. News Source.

May 24, 2007

• IAEA Director Mohamed ElBaradei predicts that Iran could produce a nuclear weapon in 3-8 years: ""I tend, based on our analysis, to agree with people like John Negroponte and the new director of the CIA, who are saying that even if Iran wanted to go for a nuclear weapon, it would not be before the end of this decade or sometime in the middle of the next decade. In other words three to eight years from now. Iran needs to suspend its enrichment activities as a confidence-building measure but the international community should do its utmost to engage Iran in comprehensive dialogue." Source: Mark John. "Iran Probably 3-8 Years Off Nuclear Bomb: IAEA." Reuters. May 24, 2007. News Source

May 23, 2007

• CBC reports conclusions from an IAEA report that Iran is preventing it from monitoring Iranian nuclear activities. The report reads: "Iran has not suspended its enrichment related activities. It should be noted that because the agency has not been receiving, for over a year, information that Iran used to provide, including under the Additional Protocol, the agency's level of knowledge of certain aspects of Iran's nuclear related activities has deteriorated." Source: n.a. "Iran Still Ignoring Warnings From UN, Nuclear Agency Says." CBC.ca May 23, 2007. News Report
• Gunboat diplomacy. Nine U.S. Navy warships, including the USS John C. Stennis, USS Nimitz, and the USS Bonhomme Richard enter the Persian Gulf in preparation for a "showing the flag" exercise that begins on May 24. U.S. navy spokesperson refuses to answer the question whether warships were equipped with nuclear arms. Source: Mohammed Abbas. "U.S. Navy Begins War Games On Iran's Doorstep." Reuters. May 24, 2007. News Source

May 22, 2007

• Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad visits Belarussian President Alexander Lukashenko and they pledge to act jointly to counter attempts to exert pressure by the OECD countries. Source: Andrei Makhovsky. "Iran, Belarus To Stand Together Against Critics." Reuters. May 22, 2007.

May 19, 2007

• At the World Economic Forum Mohammed J.A. Larijani, Director of Iran's Institute for Studies in Theoretical Physics and Mathematics, descibes the sanctions against Iran as "unjust, unfair and illegal" and comments: "The Western countries, with this prejudice they have, they are not going to give any reactor to any country in the area...The brothers in the Gulf should point to the Americans that the area does not have the capability or the ability to tolerate another military adventure." Source: n.a. "Iran seeks Arab support for nuclear program." Associated Press and International Herald Tribune. May 20, 2007. News Report

May 18, 2007

• Pakistani Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz thinks that states have a "right" to develop dangerous technology: "Negotiation is the only way to settle Iran's nuclear issue. Imposing force on Iran's nuclear dossier will bring disastrous consequences. Pakistan believes using nuclear energy peacefully is the right of all countries." Source: n.a. "Pakistan PM: Negotiation The Only Way To Settle Iran's Nuclear Issue." IRNA. May 18, 2007 News Source (Doesn't claiming that a state has rights make an idol of the nation-state?)

May 15, 2007

• David Albright, Director of the Institute for Science and International Security, estimates that Iran will not have enough enrtiched uranium for a single nuclear weapon until 2009 at the earliest: "Iran's been making slow but steady progress. We think Iran has been moving faster than (the U.S. government) has anticipated." Source: William J. Kole. "Iran Nuclear Progress 'Slow but Steady'." The Guardian. May 16, 2007. News Report

May 14, 2007

• More bluster from Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad who threatens "severe" retaliation against any U.S. attack: "They realize that if they make such a mistake the retaliation of Iran would be severe and they will repent. All people know they cannot strike us. Iran is capable of defending itself. It is a strong country." Source: Diala Saadeh. "Iran Vows "severe" Response If U.S. Attacks." Reuters. May 14, 2007. News Source
• While on a visit across the Persian Gulf to Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates), Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad called for U.S. troops to leave their bases in the Gulf and defended Iranian nuclear development: "The superpowers cannot prevent us from owning this. If they want to strike us militarily, I say their use of these practices will be gone forever. The Iranian people can protect themselves and retaliate." Source: Jim Krane. "Iranian Leader Works to End US-Gulf Ties." The Guardian. May 15, 2007.
• IAEA Inspectors find 1300 centrifuges running smoothly at the Natanz plant. IAEA Director Mohamed ElBaradei concludes: "We believe they pretty much have the knowledge about how to enrich. From now on, it is simply a question of perfecting that knowledge. People will not like to hear it, but that’s a fact." Source: David E. Sanger. "Inspectors Cite Big Gain by Iran on Nuclear Fuel." The New York Times. May 14, 2007. News Source

May 11, 2007

• U.S. Vice President Richard B. "Dick" Cheney taunts the Iranians rhetorically: "We'll stand with others to prevent Iran from gaining nuclear weapons and dominating this region." Source: n.a. "Cheney Vows Iran Will Not Get Nuclear Weapons." Breitbart. May 11, 2007. News Report. (Apparently only the Americans, British and Israelis are allowed to possess nuclear weapons and dominate the region.)

May 9, 2007

• Hossein Mousavian is released by Iranian authorities on a $225,000 bail. Government spokesperson Gholam Hossein Elham offered almost effectively no information when he stated that the arrest on April 30, "was not necessarily related to the nuclear issue." Source: Nasser Karimi. "Iran Releases Former Nuclear Negotiator." The Guardian. May 10, 2007. News Report
• Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mohammad-Ali Hosseini asserts that his country's nuclear program is completely peaceful and that there is no reason for concern: "The Islamic Republic of Iran's activities in peaceful use of nuclear energy has always been confirmed by the International Atomic Energy Agency and the international community and the Agency's reports testify that there is no room for concern over Iran's nuclear activities." Source: n.a. "Spokesman: Iran's Nuclear Program is Peaceful." IRNA. May 9. 2007 News Report. (Then why all the secrecy about the program?)

May 7, 2007

• Diplomatic Conference on the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty in Vienna remains "stalled" by Iranian opoosition to language in the text.

May 5, 2007

• Fars News Agency reports that former Iranian chief nuclear negotiator Hossein Mousavian had been jailed on charges of espionage. Source: Frances Harrison "Iran's Nuclear Negotiator 'Spied'." BBC News. May 5, 2007. News Report

May 4, 2007

• Republican Presidential candidates former New York mayor Rudolph Giuliani and Senator John McCain engage in rhetorical out-bidding on Iran. Giuliani claimed that attacking Iran would be "very dangerous" but that allowing nuclear arms "in the hands of an irrational person" like Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad would be worse. McCain said that attacking Iran would be a last resort if it went nuclear but that "our intelligence tells us that this is a real threat to the state of Israel, to other states in the region." Source: Tony Czuczka. "Republican Hopefuls Blast Iran, Reject Iraq Pullout." Monsters and Critics. May 4m 2007. News Report (So why didn't McCain name the "other countries in the region?" No votes to be had from mentioning Arab countries? Or was it because Iran poses an even less plausible threat to them than it does to Israel?)

May 3, 2007

• More of the same nationalist rhetoric from Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad: "Today, Iranians are prepared to take a leap forward, but the enemies, ill-wishers and colonial powers are against the progress, development and welfare of our nation. Given the presence of colonial forces in Iran over the past 150 years and their continued antagonism and aggressions on our country after the victory of the Islamic Revolution, they have been targeting our independence. Given their failure to materialize their goals, they seek to prevent the progress of Iranian nation by launching psychological war. They presume that by imposing economic sanctions against Iran as well as misusing the United Nations, they can disrupt the progress of Iranian nation...Our enemies oppose what they call production of nuclear weapons and bombs, whereas, they themselves are producers and exporters of various types of such arms and use them against world nations. Today our nation is united and willing to hold talks based on reason and within the framework of law. Iranians are against aggression, bullying and extremism. However the enemies should be aware that the nation will not even give up an iota of its rights." Source: n.a. "President: Iran Never Gives Up Inalienable Right." IRNA. May 3, 2007.

May 1, 2007

• Former chief Iranian nuclear negotiator Hossein Mousavian, who served before Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was elected president of Iran, is arrested by 8 security officers (spy hunters?). Source: n.a. "Iran Nuclear Official 'Detained'." BBC. May 2, 2007. News Report
• Iranian diplomat (un-named in news reports for some reason) to the Vienna nuclear non-proliferation conference opposes text that would re-state need for treaty members to fully comply with the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT).
• U.S. State Department once again designates Iran as the world's leading state sponsor of terrorism. Also named among the designated ideological enemy states are Cuba, North Korea, Sudan and Syria. Once again NOT named is Pakistan, a sometimes close U.S. ally that the Indian government accuses of sponsoring terrorism in Indian Kashmir. See 2006 State Sponsors of Terrorism

April

April 27, 2007

• EU "Foreign Minister" Javier Solana urges the U.S. to engage Iran in direct negotiations concernign the latter's nuclear program and the Middle East. Source: Robert Weilaard. "Top EU Official Urges U.S.-Iran Talks." The Guardian. April 28. 2007.

April 26, 2007

• Iranian chief nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani comments after meeting with EU "Foreign Minister" Javier Solana and Turkish Foreign Minister Abdulla Gul: "In some areas we are approaching a united view. We are aiming to reach out for a common paradigm." Source: n.a. "Iranian Negotiator Reports Progress in Talks With EU About Enrichment." International Herald Tribune. April 26, 2007. News Report

April 24, 2007

• Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Seyed Mohammad Hossein Hosseini commented that EU "Foreign Minister" Javier Solana had set no preconditions for Iranian-EU negotiations on the Iranian uranium-enrichment program. Source: n.a. "No Condition for Iran-EU Nuclear Talks-Spokesman." IRNA. April 24, 2007. News Source

April 23, 2007

• Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad offers to deak directly with U.S. President George W. Bush: "Last year, I announced readiness for a televised debate over global issues with his excellency Mr. Bush. And now we announce that I am ready to negotiate with him about bilateral issues as well as regional and international issues." Source: Nasser Karimi. "Iran's Leader Proposes Talks With Bush." The Guardian. April 23, 2007.

April 22, 2007

• Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert sounds reasonable on Isreal Radio: "I believe the international efforts will achieve the goals. There is no need to get caught up in any apocalyptic prophecies that have no basis in reality. Iran is far from crossing the nuclear threshold ... Unfortunately, it is not as far as I would like it to be but it is also not as close as it proclaims to be." Source: Aron Heller. "Olmert: Iran's Nukes Can Be Stopped." The Guardian. April 22, 2007. News Report

April 20, 2007

• IRNA quotes President of the Iranian Atomic Energy Organization Gholamreza Aghazadeh as saying that Iranian enriched uranium fuel autonomy is years away: "Installation of centrifuges continues and each month inspectors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), when they come to Tehran, will see important changes. We have reached the industrial stage, but we need several years to create an industrial unit capable of producing fuel for our power stations. We must install 50,000 centrifuges to be able to provide the fuel for two nuclear stations." Source: n.a. "Iran Needs Several Years to Make Nuclear Fuel-Iran Atomic Energy Agency Head." Forbes.com. Aptil 20, 2007. News Report.
• Iranian Vice President Gholam Reza Aghazadeh urges that the West to help build nuclear power plants across Iran. Source: Ali Akbar Dareini. "Iran: West Should Build Nuclear Plants." Associated Press. April 21, 2007. News Report

April 19, 2007

• Triumph of the Resolve? In a meeting with U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and Isreali PM Ehud Olmert, Isreali Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni comments on will: "The free world is tested by the countries under threat from Iran, especially its Arab and Muslim neighbors. Every hesitation is interpreted as weakness and is liable to lead to an effort to appease Iran. Only the world's resolve can preserve the 'moderate camp.'" Source: n.a. "Gates Placates Israel on US's Planned Arms Sale to Saudis." The Jerusalem Post. April 19, 2007. News Report

April 18, 2007

• U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates holds discussions with Isreali Defense Minister Amir Peretz and offers positive comment about diplomacy: "We agreed it was important to deal with the Iranian nuclear problem through diplomacy, which appears to be working." Source: Yaakov Katz. "Gates: Diplomacy Toward Iran Effective." The Jerusalem Post. April 18, 2007, News Report.

April 16, 2007

• Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mohammad-Ali Hosseini remarks that Iran and Egypt were the first countries to advocate creating a nuclear weapons free Middle East. Source: n.a. "Spokesman: A Middle East free from nuclear weapons first proposed by Iran, Egypt." IRNA. April 16, 2007. News Report

April 15, 2007

• Baztab reports that Deputy Chief of the Iranian Atomic Energy Organization Ahmad Fayyazbakhsh announced that his governemnt would be takign bids for the purchase of two $1.7 billion nulcear plants. U.S. firms woulod be free to bid. Source: Ramin Mostaghim and Louise Roug. "Iran Aims to Build 2 Nuclear Plants." Los Angeles Times and Seattle Times. April 16, 2007. News Source

April 13, 2007

• Iranian Ambassador to Spain Davoud Salehi reiterates the claim that Iran has the "right" under the NPT to develop peaceful nuclear power. "Uranium enrichment is conducted in Iran just for peaceful objectives to generate electricity...As a signatory to the NPT, Iran has so far fulfilled all its commitments and duties. It, however, demands the rights stipulated in the treaty for it." Source: n.a. "Iran Stresses Its Nuclear Rights As An NPT Member, Says Envoy." IRNA. April 14, 2007. News Report (But is it cover for a nuclear weapons program as was the case in India and Pakistan?)

April 12, 2007

• Speaking in Riyadh, IAEA Director Mohammed ElBaradei offered a more realistic assessemnt of the Iranian nuclear weapons potential: "Iran is still just at the beginning stages in setting up its Natanz enrichment facility. The talk of building a facility with 50,000 centrifuges is just at the beginning, and it is (currently) only in the hundreds...It has not been demonstrated until now that there are underground nuclear facilities in Iran working covertly, and Iran doesn't have the material that can be used to make a nuclear weapon." Source: Donna Abu-Nasr. "UN Nuke Chief: Iran's Program Limited." Associated Press. April 12, 2007. News Report

April 11, 2007

• U.S. State Department Undersecretary for Political Affairs R. Nicholas Burns asserts that war with Iran was neither "inevitable or desirable" and that Tehran was susceptible to international pressure. Source: Jay Lindsay. "Burns: Diplomacy Will Work With Iran, Over Time." Associated Press and Boston.com. April 11, 2007. News Report

April 10, 2007

• South Africa's Minister of Intelligence Ronnie Kasrils expressed his government's support for the Islamic Republic's legal right to advance its peaceful nuclear program. Source: n.a. "S.Africa Praises Iran Nuclear Program." Press TV. March 11, 2007. News Report

April 9, 2007

• Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad announces that Iran was now capable of enriching nuclear fuel "on an industrial scale." Source: Nazila Fathi & Christine Hauser. "Iran’s President Sees Progress in Nuclear Program." The New York Times. April 9, 2007. News Report
• White House National Security Council (NSC) spokesperson Gordon Johndroe states: ""We are very concerned about Iran's announcement that they entered an industrial stage of nuclear fuel production. Iran continues to defy the international community and further isolate itself by expanding its nuclear program, rather than suspending uranium enrichment." Source: n.a. "W.House 'Very Concerned' on Iran Nuclear Statement." Reuters. April 9, 2007. News Report

April 8, 2007

• Logic has different national perspectives? Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mohammad Ali Hosseini seems to think so: "The [uranium] enrichment suspension contradicts the provisions of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. We have repeatedly stated that a moratorium [on uranium enrichment] is not logical from Iran's viewpoint." Source: n.a. "Iran Will Continue Uranium Enrichment-Official." RIA Novosti. April 8, 2007. News Report (What a brilliant scientific advance the Iranians have made in determining that logic is not universal but varies parochially!)

April 7, 2007

• Iranian Ambassador to Britain Rasoul Movahedian demonstrates lack of subtlety in diplomacy: "Now it is up to the British government to proceed in a positive way. We will welcome in general any steps that could defuse tensions in the region." Source: Jill Lawless. "Iranian: U.K. Can Help Mend Relations." Associated Press & The Guardian. April 8, 2007. News Report.

April 6, 2007

• British and American news media scramble to assist British government public relations effort to undo any damage done by the confessions given by the 15 British military personnel now freed from Iranian custody. CNN refers to them as "detainees" and Fox News described them as having been "detained." Drawing too explicit a parallel to the POWs at Guantanamo Bay poses obvious rhetorical risks.
• Brent price reaches $70 a barrel because of rumors of a U.S. airstrike in Iran.

April 5, 2007

• Released 15 British miltiary prisoners of the Iranian government arrive in Britain. British Prime Minister Tony Blair insists that there was no negotiation for their release. Syrian officials that they play a role in the release. Source: n.a. "British Sailors and Marines Held Captive in Iran Arrive in London." Associated Press. April 5, 2007.
• British authorities announce that 4 British military personnel and their Kuwaiti interpreter have been killed in Basra, Iraq.
• British Conservative MP Bernard Jenkin, Defence Select Committee, complains that the focus on the the 15 British military personnel in Iranian custody divert attention from the Iranian nuclear program: "We have had a huge setback. We should have spent the last few weeks discussing the UN sanctions that were applied two weeks ago--funnily enough at the same time as these servicemen were captured." Source: n.a. "'No deal done with Iran'--Blair." BBC News. April 5, 2007. News Report
• U.S. State Department spokesperson Sean McCormack states that U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is open to negotiations with Iran at the ministerial: "We will not exclude any particular diplomatic interaction. There was one at the envoys level...and the same would hold true for the secretary." Source: n.a. "Rice Open to Bilateral Talks With Iran at Iraq Neighbors Meeting." Reuters. April 5, 2007.

April 4, 2007

• Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad announces that 15 British military prisoners will be released the following day. Ahmadinejad postures as a benign leader for the television cameras. Most news sources in the U.S. stop referring to them as "hostages" and begin referring to them as "captives."

April 3, 2007

• During a televised press conference U.S. Pres. George W. Bush claims that the Iranian nuclear issue is the "cornerstone" of U.S. policy towards Iran. By implication control over the flow of oil from the Persian Gulf and the U.S. quagmire in next door Shi'a majority Iraq are not as important.
• British Prime Minister Tony Blair comments on the British military prisoners held by the Iranian government: "The next 48 hours will be fairly critical." British tabloids hysterical with war fever. Consider the title of the news report in this Source: n.a. "Blair: We've 48 Hours to Save Sailors." This Island London. April 3, 2007. News Report

April 2, 2007

• ABC News reports an intelligence estimate that Iran could produce a nuclear warhead by 2009. Brian Ross and Christopher Isham. "Exclusive: Iran Nuclear Bomb Could Be Possible by 2009." ABC News. April 2, 2007. The report is pooh-poohed as patently bogus by Sean-Paul Kelley. Note that the claim later disappears. Will Brian Ross and Christopher Isham retract it?
• Iranian state radio reports that all 15 of Iran's British miltiary prisoners held captive by Iran have confessed to illegally entering Iranian waters. Source: Naser Karimi. "Iranian radio Reports "Positive Changes." Associated Press. April 2, 2007. News Report

April 1, 2007

• RIA Novosti quotes Russian official asserting that, "Russian intelligence has information that the US Armed Forces stationed in the Persian Gulf have nearly completed preparations for a missile strike against Iranian territory." Source: n.a. "US Ready to Strike Iran on Good Friday'." Jerusalem Post. April 1, 2007. Jerusalem Post Article
• Israeli Military Intelligence Chief Maj. Gen. Amos Yadlin claims that Iran, Syria and Hizbullah are preparing for a possible military confrontation with the United States this summer: "Their preparation is defensive ahead of war … They fear a war initiated by the Americans because they understand that there might be an attack against Iran over the summer, but not by Israel." Source: Ronny Sofer. "IDF intelligence: Iran, Hizbullah Preparing for Possible US Strike." YNet.News.com. April 1, 2007. News Report (This isn't even creative.)

March

March 31, 2007

• Q: Would Bush miss a chance to posture as tough guy? A: Not if it would change the subject in Washington. "Iran must give back the hostages," demands domestically embattled U.S. Pres. George W. Bush. "They're innocent, they did nothing wrong, and they were summarily plucked out of waters." Source: Deb Reichmann. "Bush Calls for Iran to Free U.K. Sailors." Associated Press. March 31, 2007. News Report
• Gordon Prather argues that Any Casus Belli Will Do for a U.S. attack on Iran.

March 30, 2007

• British Prime Minister Tony Blair comments on Iranian state television's broadcast of a second confession by a British military prisoner: "I really don't know why the Iranian regime keep doing this. All it does is enhances people's sense of disgust. It doesn't fool anyone." Source: Robin Stringer & Caroline Alexander. "Iran Airs Briton's `Confession', Wants `Guarantee' (Update2)." Bloomberg. March 30, 2007. News Report
• Jingoism seizes Iranians. Muslim cleric tells the devout during Friday prayers that, "Britain is an aggressor and Iran has confronted it." An estimated 60,000 football (soccer) fans chant "Death to Britain" at a match in Tehran and 700 people at rally near Tehran University chant at "We condemn the British invasion!" Source: Nasser Karimi. "Second Captive Briton Apologizes to Iran." The Washington Post. March 30, 2007.
• CNN News follows the lead of Fox News in describing the 15 British miltiary prisoners of the Iranian government as "hostages."
• Iranian Ambassador to Russia Gholam-Reza Ansari tells Russian television Vesti-24 that the 15 British military prisoners in Iranian custody, "will be tried if there is enough evidence of guilt." Source: Naser Karimi. "Iranian Official: Sailors May Be Tried." Associated Press. March 31, 2007.

March 29, 2007

• Iran demands apology from Britain for what it described as an incursion into Iranian waters by the British Navy. Iranian spokesgeneral General Alireza Afshar states: "The logical solution...is for the British authorities to accept the reality, present their apologies to the great Iranian people." Source: n.a. "Britain Takes Iran to UN, Woman Sailor Remains Captive." Agence France Presse. March 29, 2007.
• European Union "Foreign Minister" Javier Solana uses appropriately toned diplomatic language in speaking before the European Parliament about the Iranian nuclear crisis: "There is no alternative, ladies and gentlemen, to negotiations and we must resume negotiations as soon as possible." Source: James G. Neuberger. "EU Presses for Iran Nuclear Talks, Condemns Arrests (Update5)." March 29, 2007.
• The UN Security Council recommended that release its 15 British miltiary prisoners and stated that the members wanted, "an early resolution to this problem." Source: Janine Zacharia & Paul Tighe. "Iran Should Free U.K. Sailors, Security Council Says (Update2)." Bloomberg. March 30, 2007.
• John Stewart of the Comedy Channel's Daily Show refers to the 15 British military prisoners held by the Iranian government as "hostages." 11:00 ET. (Not that the Daily Show writers have ever been 'picky' about the words used by others.)

March 28, 2007

• Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki insists on his country's "rights" to nculear power development: "Iran's nuclear activities are fully clear and transparent and we will continue our activities until restoration of our nation's legitimate rights." n.a. "Mottaki: Iran Not To Relinquish Nuclear Rights." IRNA. March 28, 2007.
• Iranian cabinet orders the Iranian Atomic Energy Organization (IAEO) to adopt new rule that renouces a subsidiary undertaking under the Non-Proliferation Treaty. Iran will no longer report new facility projects 6 months before initiation but will instead report them when they begin. Source: n.a. "IAEO Assigned to Drop Subsidiary Undertakings to NPT." IRNA. March 28, 2007. News Report
• On The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer, CNN Pentagon correspondent Barbara Starr refers to the British sailors and marines in Iranian custody as "hostages." 5:05 ET.

March 26, 2007

• EU "Foreign Minister" Javier Solana annoucnes that he will resume negotiations with Iran over the nuclear program. Source: n.a. "Europe To Resume Nuke Talks With Iran." 'CBS News & Associated Press. March 26, 2007.
• In a joint statement Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Hu Jintao urge the Iranian government to "search for a comprehensive, long-term and mutually acceptable solution to the Iranian nuclear problem." Source: n.a. "Russia, China Urge Iran to Heed U.N." Guardian. March 26, 2007. News Report
• Iran resumes payments to Russia for the Bushehr nuclear facility. Source: n.a. "Tehran 'Begins Nuclear Payments'." BBC News'. March 26, 2007.

March 25, 2007

• UN Security Council passes UN Resolution imposing additional sanctions on Iran. In defending the desision the U.S. Ambassador to the UN Alejandro Wolff describes the creation of the UN itself and suggests that the Holocaust was an event somehow seperate and distinct from the other bloodshed of the Second World War. Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki appears at the meeting instead of Iranian Pres. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and excoriates the decision. Source: n.a. "FM: Iran's Nuclear Program Is Completely Peaceful." IRNA. March 25, 2007.
• British Prime Minister Tony Blair describes the continuing detention of 15 British naval personel arrested by Iranian naval forces on March 23 as ""serious, unjustified and wrong". Source: Mark Tran & Mark Oliver. "Q&A: the Seized British Sailors." The Guardian. March 28, 2005.

March 24, 2007

• Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh expresses his governemnt's disapproval of any Security Council punitive action against Iran. Source: n.a. "India PM Calls for Return of Iran's Case to IAEA." IranMania. March 24, 2007. India acquired nuclear weapons under the cover of an official non-military nuclear power program, in the much the same manner that Isreal did and Iran is now attempting to do.
• U.S. Ambassador to the UN Alejandro Wolff stated that Iran could easily end the sanctions to be imposed today by the UN Security Council by ending uranium enrichment "It is suspension for suspension. It is not a high bar for Iran to meet." Source: Evelyn Leopold. "U.N. Council Ready to Tighten Sanctions on Iran." Reuters & Washington Post. March 24, 2007.
• Captured British Marines "confess" to being in Iranian waters when they were taken into custody by Iranian military, a claim possibly supported by the Iraqi military commander of the area, Gen. Hakim Jassim: "We were informed by Iraqi fishermen after they had returned from sea that there were British gunboats in an area that is out of Iraqi control. We don't know why they were there," he told AP Television News. Source: Ali Akbar Dareini. Iran: U.K. Troops Admit To Illegal Entry." Associated Press & Houston Chronicle. March 24, 2007. News Report
• ABC Evening News describes Iran as a "renegade" nation. Renegade was the term the U.S. government often used to label Native American rebels who fled reservations for the freedom they enjoyed before subjugation.

March 23, 2007

• Daniel Wendell, Bern, Switzerland U.S. Embassy spokesperson Daniel Wendell announces that the Iranian passports for visa applications for Iranian Pres. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and other Iranian officials had been handed over. Source: n.a. "U.S.: Ahmadinejad Visa en Route to Iran." Associated Press. March 23, 2007.
• Iranian Pres. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad cancels his appearance before the UN Security Counil. Source: Evelyn Leopold. "U.N. Council Ready to Tighten Sanctions on Iran." Reuters & Washington Post. March 24, 2007.
• Iranian naval forces arrest 15 British Royal Navy sailors and marines on boats near the mouth of the Shatt al-Arab waterway. British Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett demands explanation for Iranian arrest of 15 British personnel: "We have asked for a full explanation on what has happened and we are leaving them in no doubt that we want the immediate and safe return of our personnel and their equipment." Source: n.a. "Britain Demands Explanation for Iran's Detention of Sailors and Marines." Associated Press & International Herald Tribune. March 23, 2007.

March 21, 2007

• Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov comments that his government "will not support excessive sanctions against Iran" and added that the draft U.S. Security Council resolution on sanctions had been softened at Moscow's behest. Source: Vladimir Isachenkov. "Russia Nixes 'Excessive' Iran Sanctions." Associated Press. March 21, 2007. News Report
• Defiance in a Persian new year speech Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei: "Until today, what we have done has been in accordance with international regulations. But if they take illegal actions, we too can take illegal actions and will do so...If they want to treat us with threats and enforcement of coercion and violence, undoubtedly they must know that the Iranian nation and authorities will use all their capacities to strike enemies that attack." Source: Edith M. Lederer. "6 World Powers Seek New Iran Sanctions." The Guardian. March 22, 2007. News Report

March 20, 2007

• This neo-con still wants a war with Iran. Speaking to the conservative Hudson Institute former unconfirmed U.S. Ambassador to the UN John Bolton is ready to give war a chance: "I believe that ultimately the only real prospect of getting Iran to give up nuclear weapons is to change the regime." (How?) "By the force of the Iranian people themselves. But if the alternative is a nuclear Iran, as unpleasant as the use of military force would be, I think the prospect of a nuclear Iran is worse." Source: n.a. "Bolton: Iran Won't Give Up Nuke Ambition." March 21, 2007. Associated Press & CBS News. News Report

March 19, 2007

• Iran prevents IAEA inspectors from visiting an underground bunker at the Natanz facility. n.a. "Iran Stops Inspectors Visiting Nuclear Site: Diplomats." Agence France Presse. March 19, 2007. News Report

March 18, 2007

• U.S. and Isreali military conduct Juniper Cobra joint exericise to practice intercepting entirely ballistic missiles attacking Isreal. U.S. Embassy spokesperson Stewart Tuttle explained that, "It is a computer simulation exercise designed to test the interoperability of the air defense system. The air defense can protect you against whatever happens to be on the warhead." Source: Aron Heller. "Israel, U.S. Test Missile Defense." The Guardian. March 18, 2007. News Report

March 17, 2007

• Commander-in-chief of the regular Iranian Army Maj. Gen. Ataollah Salehi warns against any "stupid move" by the United States or other Western powers. Source: n.a. "Iran Army Vows to Defend Nuclear Program." Reuters & The New York Times. March 17, 2007. News Report

March 16, 2007

• Iranian IAEA representative Ali Asghar Soltanieh points up the obvious hypocrisy of the British decision to renew its Trident nuclear missile submarinbe fleet while demanding that Iran end its uranium enrichment program: "Britain does not have the right to question others when they're not complying with their obligations (under the NPT). It is very unfortunate that the UK, which is always calling for non-proliferation...not only has not given up the weapons but has taken a serious step towards further development of nuclear weapons." Source: Sophie Walker. "British Nuclear Plans 'Serious Setback'-Iran Envoy." San Deigo Union Leader. March 16, 2007.
• The northern border is safe(r) but the western and northeastern borders are dicey. New Turkmenistan President Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov voiced support for the Iran's "right" to develop peaceful nuclear power. Source: n.a. "Turkmen President Supports Iran's Peaceful Nuclear Program." IRNA. March 16, 2006.

March 15, 2007

• Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad attempts some new fiery rhetoric: "Using the Security Council as an instrument, the enemies of Iran want to prevent the progress of the Iranian nation. But the Security Council today has no legitimacy among world nations...Today, the Iranian nation fully possesses the nuclear fuel cycle. If all of you gather and also invite your ancestors from hell, you will not be able to stop the Iranian nation." Source: n.a. "Ahmadinejad Says New U.N. Sanctions 'Illegitimate,' Won't Undermine Iran's Nuclear Technology." Associated Press & The International Herlad Tribune. March 15, 2007. News Report (The phrase "ancestors from hell" sounds religious but decidedly un-Abrahamic. Are such oaths kosher in Shiism?)
• IAEA supremeo Mohamed ElBaradei discusses nucvlear proliferation in Iran and North Korea with Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Cui Tiankai. Source: n.a. "IAEA Chief Exchanges Views With China on Korean Peninsula, Iran Nuclear Issues." People's Daily On-Line. March 15, 2007.
• Jon Stewart of Comedy Central's The Daily Show mocks Iranian complaints that the film 300 is anti-Iranian. Seems that popular culture has never been used to encourage a war fever. Read the Iranian concern explained.
• Reuters reports a skeletal Iranian crisis timeline.

March 14, 2007

• Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki pierces the taboo surrounding references to Isreali nuclear proliferation, saying that Isreali nukes pose "a uniquely grave threat to regional and international peace and security and requires to be seriously dealt with by the international community taking practical measures" and that it, "is surprising that while no practical step is taken to contain the real source of nuclear danger in the Middle East, my country is under tremendous pressure to renounce its inalienable right for peaceful use of nuclear energy." Source: n.a. "Iran: Israel, US Threaten Middle East." Fars Mews Agency. March 14, 2007. News Report
• U.N. Security Council President for March, South African Ambassador Dumisani Kumalo, states that Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has not officially asked for a meeting: "For us it will only become an issue when we receive a letter from him and he (Iran's U.N. envoy, Mohammad Javad Zarif) had not yet received instructions to write a letter that I would then present to the other members for consideration of what to do." Source: Michelle Nichols. "U.N. Council Says No Request From Iran For Briefing." Reuters. March 14, 2007. News Report

March 13, 2007

• Can a country that can not pay its bills be a major threat? ZAO Atomstroyexport construction supervisor for the Iranian Bushehr nuclear facility Vladimir Pavlov warns that building will halt unless Iran makes the requisite payments: "We can wait no longer for a decision from the Iranian side." Atomstroyexport spokesperson Irina Yesipova commented, "We continue to work, but how quickly and how successfully is unclear. At present, we can't pay for the equipment that Bushehr needs to become operational." Source: Yuriy Humber. "Russia Threatens to Stop Work on Iran Nuclear Reactor (Update2)." Bloomberg. March 13, 2007. News Report

March 12, 2007

• Democratic Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi caves to pressure from Blue Dog Democrats and the Israeli lobby by stripping a provision from a spending bill that would have required President George W. Bush to seek Congressional approval before ordering armed force against Iran. Seemingly incapable of stopping an on-going disastrous war, the Democratic Congressional leadership appears unable to prevent a disastrous widening of the war.
• Israeli righist Likud leader Benjamin Netanyahu tells journalists that "There need to be financial sanctions that will hurt Iran. What we are doing against the Hamas government in the Palestinian Authority needs to be done to Iranian president Ahmadinejad." Source: Gil Ronen. "Netanyahu Lobbying US for Iran Disinvestment." Arutz Sheva. March 13, 2007. News Report

March 11, 2007

• Iranian Majlis Speaker Gholam Ali Haddad-Adel points of the hypocrisy of ignoring Israeli nuclear weapons and expresses sentiment that, "We hope there would be some wise individuals in the US administration to prevent eruption of a new crisis in the region." Source: n.a. "Speaker Criticizes US Hostile Policies on Iran Nuclear Program." IRNA. March 11, 2007. News Report
• On Meet the Press, neo-conservative U.S. Ambasador to Iraq Zalmay Khalilzad offers upbeat assessment of his encounter with Iranian diplomats at the multilateral meeting in Baghdad about the future of Iraq. He denies that the second Bush administration has flip-flopped on its original insistence that it would not negotiate with Iran until there is a verifiable halt to the Iranian uranium enrichment program. But then neo-cons are factual relativists.
• Arch-conservative Washington Times columnist Arnaud de Borchgrave reports a "not for attribution" leak from within the delegation of Jordanian King Abdullah claiming that the Jordanian monarch had frightened Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad with descriptions of a much more extensive U.S. bombing campaign against Iran. Ahmadinejad reportedly left the meeting "a much chastened and worried man." Source: Arnaud de Borchgrave. "War Clouds' Silver Linings." The Washington Times. March 11, 2007. Column. (When they are not wallowing in fear, conservatives indulge in wishful thinking.)

March 10, 2007

• U.S. and Iranian envoys barely encounter one another at the meeting in Baghdad on the future of Iraq. Yet it was a meeting and thus a flip-flop in the U.S. policy that it would not negotiate with Iran until there is a verifiable halt to the Iranian urananium enrishment program. The decision to invade Iraq and subsequent blunder after blunder in the occupation of Iraq effectively traps the second Bush adminsitration into diplomatic exchange with the Iran government. Mariam Karouny. "U.S., Iran Trade Barbed Words at Baghdad Talks." Reuters. March 10, 2007.

March 9, 2007

• Mere coincidence or the Perfect Moment to Encourage Anti-Persian Sentiment in Popular Culture? 300 opens in the United States.

March 8, 2007

• International Atomic Energy Agency Board votes to deprive Iran of 22 technical aid projects, none of which directly apply to the Iranian uranium enrichment program.
• Iranian IAEA Chief Delegate Ali Ashgar Soltanieh responds the latest, largely symbolic decision taken by the IAEA against Iran: "None of these projects are related to enrichment. The enrichment program will continue as planned." Source: George Jahn. "Iran Shrugs Off U.N. Pressure Over Nukes." March 8, 2007. News Report

March 7, 2007

• Iranian Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) chief Gholamreza Aghazadeh comments that Iran can go it alone: "Today, the West says it is ready to give the best nuclear power plant and technology to Iran, if it suspends enrichment but we should not be hopeful of such promises. The West's extensive efforts to suspend activities at Natanz facility shows significance of Iran's nuclear program. Iran currently assumed satisfactory status in terms of peaceful nuclear technology. But their negative approach will not succeed with respect to Iran's national determination to have nuclear energy for peaceful purposes...Iran achieved nuclear technology by itself. We currently have thousands of experts in this field. We have an intellectual power to reconstruct nuclear facilities with more security, if faced with problems." Source: n.a. "Iran Should Not Be Hopeful of West Promises: Aqazadeh." IRNA. March 7, 2007.

March 5, 2007

• Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki accused the American and Iraqi governments of responsibility for the Jan. 11, 2007 arrest of 4 Iranian diplomats in Erbil and the Feb. 4, 2007 kidnapping in Baghdad of an Iranian state-owned bank officer: "The US is responsible for abduction of the officials and the Iraqi government is responsible for their release as well." The 5 are still being held. Source: n.a. "Iran advises IAEA Board of Governors to defend findings on Iran." IRNA. March 4, 2007.

March 4, 2007

• In a speech before the American Conservative Union wingnut columnist Ann Coulter accuses liberals of disloyalty, alleging that they want Iran to acquire nuclear power but not the United States. That comment drew less attention than her accusation that Democratic U.S. Presidential candiate John Edwards was gay.

March 2, 2007

• Doubts emerge about U.S. intelligence on North Korea and Iran. Source: George Jahn. "Analysis: U.S. Intel on Nukes in Doubt." The Guardian. March 2, 2007. News Report

March 1, 2007

• Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad fans the embers of war with fatuous rhetorical overkill: "There is no place in the world that suffers from divisions and wars unless America or the Zionists' fingerprints are seen there." Source: n.a. "Ahmadinejad: U.S., Israel Cause Problems." Associated Press & CBS News. March 1, 2007.

February

February 27, 2007

• Second Bush administration flip-flops on negotiating with Iran. Speaking to a Congressional hearing on Iraq, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice announces the U.S. will negotiate with Iran, resumably even without a verifiable suspension of uranium enrichment: "I would like to take one moment to talk about our diplomatic offensive. I would note that the Iraqi government has invited all of its neighbors, including Syria and Iran, to attend both of these regional meetings," Rice said. "We hope that all governments will seize this opportunity to improve their relations with Iraq and to work for peace and stability in the region." Source: Guy Raz. "Iraq Meeting May Lead to U.S.-Iran Talks." NPR. February 28, 2007.

February 26, 2007

• Intransigence tricked up as diplomacy. U.S. State Department spokesperson Sean McCormack states that the U.S. is willing to join negotiations between the European powers and Iran if Iran suspends its uranium enrichment activity: "Should they choose not to proceed down that pathway, then there will be consequences. And those consequences will be diplomatic isolation from the rest of the world." Source: Helene Cooper. "Diplomats to Begin Drafting New U.N. Sanctions on Iran." The New York Times. February 26, 2007.
• Chinese Foreign Ministry spokespperson Qin Gang urges diplomacy: ""All the parties agreed to follow negotiations and peaceful means to resolve this issue. Our position has been consistent in that we advocate the solution of the Iran nuclear issue through diplomatic negotiations and peaceful means." Source: n.a. "China Says Talks Only Way to Resolve Iran Nuclear Issue." International Herald Tribune. February 26, 2007.

February 24, 2007

• U.S. Vice President Richard "Dick" Cheney, the last powerful neo-conservative in the second Bush administration, makes vaguely bellicose comments about Iranian rhetoric and nuclear proliferation while in Sydney, Australia: "They have made some fairly inflammatory statements. They appear to be pursuing the development of nuclear weapons. We are deeply concerned and have made it very clear we're deeply concerned about Iran's activities." Source: Caren Bohan. "Cheney Warns of Iran's Nuclear Ambition." ABC News. February 24, 2007. (From the Iranian perspective, the second Bush administration's rhetoric is also inflammatory and unlike Iran the U.S. actually posseses nuclear weapons.)
• The Daily Telegraph reports that the Israeli government had opened negotiations with the U.S. for a flight corridor over U.S. occupied Iraq to bomb Iran. Israel's Deputy Defense Minister Ephraim Sneh denied the report told, describing it as "baseless." Source: David Stringer. "Report: Israel Wants To Fly Over Iraq." Associated Press & Boston Glode. February 24, 2007. News Report

Februray 23, 2007

• Tehran says No Pasaran. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad rejects compromise: "If we show weakness in front of the enemy the expectations will increase but if we stand against them, because of this resistance, they will retreat." Source: Edmund Blar. "Iran Vows No Weakness Over Nuclear Program." Reuters. February 23, 2007.
• Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing and Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki speak about the Iranian nuclear crisis by telephone. China Daily News Report

February 22, 2007

• British Prime Minister Tony Blair reiterates claim that no attack against Iran is planned: "You can't absolutely predict every set of circumstances that comes about, but sitting here now and talking to you I can tell you that Iran is not Iraq...There is, as far as I know, no planning going on to make an attack on Iran and people are pursuing a diplomatic and political solution for a very good reason ... that it is the only solution that anyone can think of as viable and sensible." Source: n.a. "Blair Says No Plan For Iran Strike." Reuters. February 22, 2007. News Report (Note the deployment of propaganistic reification in the news article: "the West fears." Abstractions cannot have emotions.)

February 21, 2007

• U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki Moon makes comments endorsing negotiations to end the Iranian Nuclear Crisis: "Solutions can only be found through talks and dialogue. This is the basic principle in conflict situations. I regret very much that we have not found the proper solution to the Iran conflict. The issue is now in the hands of the UN Security Council...During last month's meeting with the Iranian foreign minister, I have urgently requested him to convince the international community that Iran is in fact interested in the peaceful use of atomic energy." Source: n.a. "Only Diplomatic Means Can Resolve Iranian Nuclear Conflict: UN Chief." IRNA. February 21, 2007. News Report
• More nationalist/nuclearist defiance. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad comments: "We...will continue our work to reach our right [to nuclear technology] in the shortest possible time...Obtaining this technology is very important for our country's development and honour. It is worth it to stop other activities for 10 years and focus only on the nuclear issue." Source: n.a. "Iran 'Swiftly Seeks Nuclear Goal'." BBC News. February 21, 2007. News Report
• Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert demands tougher sanctions against Iran: "Today is the last day that was designated by the international community and by the UN Security Council. Therefore the international community will have to think of additional measures." Source: n.a. Olmert Calls For Tougher Iran Sanctions." Associated Press. February 21, 2007. ('Therefore'?)
• NYU Professor demands the U.S. threaten war, or maybe almost-war. Prof. Alon Ben-Meir writes: "What is needed now is a clearly articulated warning that sets the stage for what is to come. Unlike the situation in Iraq before the invasion, Iran's actions speak for themselves: Tehran openly pursues a nuclear program, nakedly supports terrorism, and poses a clear and present danger to the United States and its allies. The American public and Congress are supportive of the President's moves, a fact that will not be lost on Tehran." Source: Alon Ben-Meir. "Ending Iran's Defiance Requires Real Action." St. Louis Jewish Light. February 21, 2007. Commentary. (Why the professorial pussy-footing? Why not come out and simply demand airstrikes?)
• Anocratic politics evident in Tehran as 136 Iranian MPs send letter to Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad objecting to closing down Baztab, a popular conservative news website that had published articles critical of the president. Source: n.a. " Iran MPs Protest Ban On Conservative Website." Agence France Presse. February 21, 2007.

February 20, 2007

• Denials from U.S. President George W. Bush and U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates notwithstanding, the U.S. miltiary has well developed target lists for an attack on Iran. The two triggers for such air strikes are 1) intelligence that Iran is developing a nuclear weapon and 2) an event in Iraq with high U.S. casualties. Source: n.a. "US 'Iran Attack Plans' Revealed." BBC News. February 20, 2007.
• More common sense foreign policy from John Edwards: "It's a huge strategic mistake not to be dealing directly with Iran...What we should be doing with Iran, both on the Iraq issue and the nuclear issue, is being much smarter than we're being now. We have tools available to us to engage them." Source: n.a. "U.S. Presidential Candidate Urges Direct Talks With Iran." Associated Press & Turkish Weekly. February 20, 2007.

February 19, 2007

• Embarrassment for Tehran. Russian nuclear ageny Rosatom announces that will suspend work on Iran's Bushehr nuclear reactor because Iran is behind in its payments. The official explanation is that the Iranian bank responsible for payment had switched from using dollars to euros. Source: Guy Falconbridge. "Russia Delays Work On Iran Nuclear Plant." Reuters. February 19, 2007.

February 17, 2007

• Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei comments endorses the importance of nuclear energy for Iran's future: "Oil and gas resources will not last forever and if a country does not consider this fact it will turn to a dependent country for energy in the future...The only reason behind powers objection towards our peaceful nuclear program is because they want to control the world's energy future." Source: n.a. "Ayatollah Khamenei: Nuclear Energy is a Future Determining Matter For Iran." ISNA. February 17, 2007.
• Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney attempts to win attention with rhetorical out-bidding in an interview with George Stephanopoulos: "Well it's a nation where people participate in suicide bombing and that kind of a suggestion, I think it was former President Rafsanjani who talked about Israel being a one-bomb nation, meaning they could not survive one bomb, but they, Iran, could survive one bomb. It's like, 'Are you kidding? Are you suggesting that you'd be willing to take a bomb in order to eliminate another people?' This is a nation where the genocidal inclination is really frightening and having a nation of this nature develop nuclear weaponry is unacceptable to this country and to the Middle East." Columnist Gary Leupp describes Romney's comments as "gibberish".
• Iranian grand strategy described. According to Talal Atrissi, aMiddle Eastern specialist based in Lebanon, the Iranian interests and strategy are clear: "Iran’s policy in Iraq works to prevent the U.S. from feeling safe and secure. It works to prevent the formation of a pro-American Iraqi government, in favor of at least an Iraqi government that does not feel enmity toward Iran...The Iranian historic, religious, economic ties with Iraq make Iran keen on preventing the U.S. being the sole authority in Iraq. They feel a duty to preserve these ties, and to protect their national security, which is threatened by the U.S. presence in Iraq." Source: Michael Slackman. "Iran’s Chance: U.S. Troubles in Iraq Create Opening for Regional Shift." The New York Times. February 18, 2007.

February 16, 2007

• U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates reiterates claim that the U.S. does not intend to attack Iran.
• Japan imposed trade sanctions on Iran, freezing some assets to help pressure Iran on the nuclear proliferation issue. Source: Hiroko Nakata. "Cabinet OKs Ban on Funds Said Linked to Nuclear Iran." The Japan Times. February 17, 2007.

February 14, 2007

• Flushing out the quarry? Conflicting claims isued about ther whereabouts of radical Shia Islamist leader Moqtada al-Sadr. U.S. miltiary asserts that he is in Iran while his aides in Iraq insist he is still in country. al-Sadr is one of several Shia Islamists expected to dominate the Iranian client Iraqi state after the U.S. military packs up and goes home, however his relationship to Iran is tenuous and conflicted. Source: n.a. "Aides Deny Claims Sadr Has Fled Iraq." Guardian. February 14, 2007.

February 13, 2007

• Announcement of a tentative deal ending North Korean nuclear proliferation in six party talks in Beijing.
• Righist University of Tennessee law professor Glen Reynolds who writes the Instapundit blog recommends political murder: "We should be responding quietly, killing radical mullahs and Iranian atomic scientists, supporting the simmering insurgencies within Iran, putting the mullahs' expat business interests out of business, etc. Basically, stepping on the Iranians' toes hard enough to make them reconsider their not-so-covert war against us in Iraq. And we should have been doing this since the summer 2003. But as far as I can tell, we've done nothing along these lines." Columnist Paul Campos described Reynolds as the the "Right's Ward Churchill".

February 12, 2007

• U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates describes Pakistan as a "strong ally" of the U.S. against the Taliban. What about those other Islamist terrorists operating in Kashmir? Pakistani nuclear proliferation? Heroin manufacture and smuggling?

Fabruary 11, 2007

• In Munich, drawing a parallel to Russian President Vladimir Putin, U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates describes himself as fellow "old spy": "I have, like your second speaker yesterday, a starkly different background - a career in the spy business. And, I guess, old spies have a habit of blunt speaking."

February 10-11, 2007

• Iranian government celebrates Ten Day Dawn ceremonies at which it will "announce the achievement and establishment of peaceful nuclear technology and the due power of the country." Source: n.a. "Spokesman: Iran to Celebrate Nuclear Victory in February." Xinhua. December 18, 2006. News Article

February 10, 2007

• The Guardian reports the U.S. planning for a war against Iran are well developed and the decision to launch the war is being pushed by a "war party" of neo-conservatives at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI) and the Hudson Institute together with Vice President Richard "Dick" Cheney and the as yet unindicted members of his staff. According to former U.S. Air Force officer Colonel Sam Gardiner, recent comments by DCIA Robert Gates that the U.S. was not planning war were merely badly chosen words: "Gates said there is no planning for war. We know this is not true. He possibly meant there is no plan for an immediate strike. It was sloppy wording. All the moves being made over the last few weeks are consistent with what you would do if you were going to do an air strike. We have to throw away the notion the US could not do it because it is too tied up in Iraq. It is an air operation." Source: Ewen MacAskill. "Target Iran: US Able To Strike in the Spring." The Guardian. February 10, 2007.
• EU "foreign minister" Javier Solana speaks tepid words about meetings with Iranian chief nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani: ""We believe the Iranian nuclear dossier is resolvable by negotiation...We've had constructive talks with Mr. Solana in the past and we believe that had we continued, we could have come to a positive conclusion." Source: Mark John. "Iran Says Talks Could End Nuclear Row." Reuters. February 10, 2007. News Article
• In Munich, Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks bluntly about the dangers of American unilateralism: ""We are witnessing an almost uncontained hyper use of force in international relations ... the United States has overstepped its national borders in every way...The legitimate use of force can only be done by the United Nations, which cannot be replaced by EU or NATO...The unilateral illegal action has not resolved any problem." Source: Slobodan Lekic. "Putin Accuses U.S. of Sparking Arms Race." Associated Press & Boston.com. February 10, 2007. News Article

February 9, 2007

• IAEA annouces that it has suspended 22 of 55 technical aid programs with Iran. Source: William Broad. "World Atomic Agency Suspends 22 Programs of Aid to Iran." International Herald Tribune. February 9, 2007.

February 7, 2007

• Iranian miltiary successfully tests newly delivered Russian built TOR-M1 surface to air missile system. Russia delivered 29 of the untis in January. Source: Farhad Pouladi. "Iran Test-Fires Russian Air Defence Missiles." Agence France Press. February 7, 2007.

February 6, 2007

• Iranian government accuses U.S. of responsibility for the kipnaping of one of its diplomats in Baghdad: "The Islamic Republic of Iran strongly condemns this aggressive act, which is in violation of international law...Iran holds American forces in Iraq responsible for the safety and life of the Iranian diplomat." The U.S. denies involvement, an assertion made less plasuible by recent revelations about Bush's Commissar Order. Source: n.a. "Iran Accuses US Over Seized Diplomat." The Guardian. February 6, 2007. News Report
• British Prime Minister Tony Blair denies there are plans to attack Iran and then projects the strategy of the Iranian government: "Their strategy is to create the maximum trouble for us and for the region and I think that is a miscalculation because in the end they are going to find that they assemble a very large coalition against them...Nobody's talking about military intervention in respect of Iran but people are increasingly alarmed and concerned at the strategy that they appear to be pursing." Source: n.a. "'Nobody Planning' Attack on Iran." BBC News. February 6, 2007.
• This war can still be saved! In a speech to the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert comments: "I think there is a way to stop the Iranians from moving forward on their nuclear program without violent actions...They are not as close to the threshold as they pretend to be, and therefore there is still time to fight in a responsible, comprehensive and powerful manner." Sources: n.a. "Olmert Says Still Time to Curb Iran Nuclear Plans." Reuters. February 6, 2007; n.a. "Olmert Upbeat On Iran Solution." JTA Daily Briefing. February 6, 2007. News Report

February 5, 2007

• Coalition of British groups including Oxford Research Group, the Foreign Policy Centre and Oxfam issues 'Time to talk' report warning against military attack on Iran and urges negotiations. Source: Julian Borger. "Attacking Iran Would be Disastrous, Warns Coalition of Opinion Led by Retired Officers." The Guadian. February 5, 2007. News Report

February 4, 2007

• On Meet the Press U.S. Senator and Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards speaks common sense about the U.S. relationship with Iran:

"Now, what would strengthen him (Mahmoud Ahmadinejad)? A military strike by America against Iran would strengthen him. They would rally around this guy. On top of that, we would see retaliation. It’d be hard for them to get to us, except through terrorists, but they—we got 100,000-plus American men and women right next door, and there—a lot of us believe that there’s an infrastructure for retaliation if that were to happen. What—what’s much smarter for us to do, certainly now, for the time being—no American president should ever take any option off the table—but what’s smarter for us to do now is to continue to tap into this growing isolation between this radical leader and his own people...And what should be done, in my judgment, is we ought—we ought to work with our friends in Europe. You know, actually, the banking institutions in Europe have been pretty good about being tough on Iranian banks. The governments have been less good. But we ought to put an offer of both sticks and carrots on the table. We ought to make it clear that there are things that America and the Europeans are willing to do—it’d be great if we could get the Russians and the Chinese to participate—but certainly the Europeans, they have economic leverage with Iran. And those things include making the nuclear fuel available to them, controlling the cycle—this has been offered before—but combining that with a set of economic incentives that will be very attractive to the people in, in Iran who’re already feeling an isolation from this president. And then on the stick side say, ‘But there will be consequences if you don’t give up your nuclear program. And the consequences are the economic decline that you’re seeing within your own country will be accelerated, and it will be accelerated because the bank—the banks in Europe and the European governments will not continue to do economic business with Iran." Source: Transcript of interview with Sen. John Edwards. Meet the Press with Tom Russert. February 4, 2007. Text

• In their News Analysis in The New York Times William J. Broad and Peter E. Sanger cast doubt on the Iranian uranium enrichment achievement: "What the Iranians are not talking about, experts with access to the atomic agency’s information say, is that their experimental effort to make centrifuges work has struggled to achieve even limited success and appears to have been put on the back burner so the country’s leaders can declare that they are moving to the next stage." Source: William J. Broad and Peter E. Sanger. "Iranian Boast Is Put to Test." The New York Times. February 4, 2007.

February 2, 2007

• U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates denies that the U.S. is planning a war with Iran: "Nobody is planning, we are not planning for a war with Iran." (Does that mean the war is already as planned as it can get?) He also stated that evidence of Iranian covert involvement in the humiliating raid in Kabala is unclear: "The information I've seen is ambiguous." Source: Lolita Balbor. "Gates Says U.S. Not Planning Iran War." The Guardian. February 3, 2007.
• Iranian governmnt is reportedly "working feverishly" to contrcut undergound bunker for its uranium enrichmeent facility at Natanz. Source: n.a. "Iran 'Working Feverishly' On Nuclear Bunker: UN Atomic Agency." CBC.CA February 2, 2007. News Report

February 1, 2007

• French President Jacques Chirac dares to speak common sense about Iranian nuclear proliferation by describing it as "not very dangerous," but then retreats in the face of withering international and domestic criticism. His office issues a statement sayingthat : "France, along with the international community, cannot accept the prospect of an Iran equipped with a nuclear weapon...The Iranian nuclear program is opaque and therefore dangerous for the region." Source: n.a. "French Leader Backtracks On Iran: In Reversal, Chirac Now Says Iran Having Nuclear Weapons Is Unacceptable." BCS News. February 1, 2007. News Report
• If she has to promise a major war to win the presidency, she is willing. Speaking to an audience of 1,700 at the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, U.S. Senator and Democratic Party presidential frontrunner Hillary Rodham Clinton says: "U.S. policy must be clear and unequivocal: We cannot, we should not, we must not permit Iran to build or acquire nuclear weapons...In dealing with this threat ... no option can be taken off the table." Source: Samantha Gross. "Sen. Clinton: