Netanyahu tried to interfere in U.S. elections: Olmert

Source : http://en.mehrnews.com/detail/News/100903

TEHRAN, Dec. 2 (MNA) – Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert warned that Benjamin Netanyahu's aggressive quarrel with the Obama administration over the agreement with Iran signed in Geneva endangers Israel, and panned Netanyahu for "losing his head."Olmert accused Netanyahu of "declaring war on the United States" and of attempting to incite the Congress against U.S. President Barack Obama.Olmert spoke Sunday at a closed panel discussion on "the strategic implications of the interim agreement between the P5 + 1 and Iran," held at the Institute for National Security Studies at Tel Aviv University.Olmert said both his government and that of his predecessor Ariel Sharon wished to avoid public confrontation with the American administration over Iran. "At no stage did we want to do battle with Israel's number one ally and to incite the Congress against the president," he asserted.Olmert called Netanyahu's acts and statements unprecedented. "The danger and the potential damage from it are incomparably larger" than the value of the public debate with the United States, he said.When Netanyahu took office in 2009, he changed Israeli policy in favor of "declarations" and "threats," Olmert said.Olmert also said Netanyahu's Iran policy put an undue financial strain on Israel, criticizing the NIS 10 Billion spent on preparations for a possible attack on Iran. "This is money that was wasted," Olmert said. "If the State of Israel ever decided act on its threats this money will not change anything, but it has great significance as to the state's budget."Olmert rejected the claim that Netanyahu's threats led to the severe sanctions that brought about the compromise with Iran, and said that these started even before Netanyahu took office.He warned Netanyahu, without directly naming him, against a conflict with Obama, "the man whose support for the State of Israel, his good will, is possibly the most important basis for the country's strategic interest," and added that "we need to guard against anything that could possibly make it seem that we desire to fight with our greatest ally."Olmert also claimed that Netanyahu openly intervened against Obama in the U.S. presidential elections last year, a move he termed a "historic mistake."

Iran FM spokesman: talks with IAEA and P5+1 group moving into positive direction

Source :  Trend.Az

Azerbaijan, Baku, March 5 /Trend S.Isayev/

Iran's negotiations with IAEA and the P5+1 group move into positive direction, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said today at the press conference, Press TV reported live.

"The talks move into positive direction and the results have improved compared to the past meetings," Mehmanparast said. "Reciprocal measures should be taken to achieve desired results."

The spokesman underscored that Iran's nuclear rights for peaceful purposes must be recognized.

With regard to the nuclear talks between Iran and the P5+1 group in Kazakhstan, Mehmanparast said that the most important thing is that general understanding was reached, and optimistic atmosphere was created.

"During the negotiations there were some responses made to the proposals Iran made previously," Mehmanparast noted. "Other measures may be necessary to reach the final agreement."

He further said that the new approach by the P5+1 group made "the proposals worthy to be addressed and explored".

"This however is only the first step, as there will be more meetings after the negotiations in Kazakhstan," he added.

Mehmanparast also touched upon some countries and media outlets and how they presented the Iran- P5+1 group talks' outcome.

"It is surprising that some Western and regional countries, along with their media outlets adopt different approach, trying to actually tarnish the atmosphere and posotive results of the negotiations," Mehmanparast said.

On Monday, the head of the UN atomic agency called on Iran to allow immediate access to the Parchin military base where it suspects nuclear weapons research took place.

Yukiya Amano said that this should be granted "without further delay" and without waiting for stalled talks to conclude an agreement on investigating other alleged "weaponisation" activities.

"I request Iran once again to provide access to the Parchin site without further delay, whether or not agreement has been reached on the structured approach," Amano told the International Atomic Energy Agency board of governors meeting.

"Providing access to the Parchin site would be a positive step which would help to demonstrate Iran's willingness to engage with the Agency on the substance of our concerns," he said, according to the text of his remarks at the closed-door gathering.

Iran and P5+1 group have wrapped up the nuclear negotiations in Kazakhstan on Feb. 27 after two days of talks.

The sides agreed to hold expert level talks in Istanbul on 17-18 March, which will be followed by another Iran-P5+1 talks in Kazakhstan.

In 2012, representatives of P5+1 group and Iran held three rounds of talks in Istanbul (April 14), Baghdad (May 23-24) and Moscow (June18-19). None of these meetings resulted in breakthroughs on disputed nuclear issues.

Previously talks between the "Six Powers" and Iran were not conducted for over a year.

The U.S. and its Western allies suspect Iran of developing a nuclear weapon - something that Iran denies. The Islamic Republic has on numerous occasions stated that it does not seek to develop nuclear weapons, using nuclear energy for medical researches instead.

Despite the rules enshrined in the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) entitling every member state, including Iran, to the right of uranium enrichment, Tehran is now under four rounds of UN Security Council sanctions for turning down West's calls to give up its right of uranium enrichment.

Expert: Iran can block up to one third of world oil exports in case of war

Source :   Trend.Az

In  case of an attempt to solve the Iranian problem by military force, the country can block up to a third of the world's oil exports, largely through striking tankers that come from Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries, professor at Kazakh National University of Defense Georgiy Dubovtsev believes.

He said it cannot be said that a strike on Iranian nuclear facilities will not bring costly ramifications. Everything that could be destroyed would be rebuilt within a few years.

"And no one is capable of occupying Iran, as the population of this country is unwaveringly patriotic. Everyone will resist foreign invasion. But the results of such military attacks can be disastrous not only for the Gulf region, but for the whole world. Attacking Iran would not only result in a large-scale military conflict, but would also destabilize the situation in the entire Middle East, "Dubovtsev told journalists.

He said in case of war, Iran will have more arguments in favor of possessing nuclear weapons and abolition of the IAEA control system.

"Secondly, the Iranian government has sufficient methods to influence the U.S. and Israel, such the termination of oil supplies, supporting anti-Israeli and anti-American forces in the region and organizing direct rebel attacks via Lebanon," he said.

Via its ballistic missiles, Iran could also strike a blow at the U.S. military bases in the southern Persian Gulf. Enforcement actions can provoke active measures for organization of the world oil crisis, and not only by suspension of oil exports from Iran, which will push up prices for "black gold." In addition, Tehran, speaking as a victim, can find allies amongst Muslim nations.

"It is still important to pursue the same goal for the P5+1 group: the Iranian nuclear program should be resolved only through peaceful means. And if the Iranian side presents a clear report in Almaty, the U.S. is ready for a diplomatic solution of the problem by discussing it at the multilateral level," the expert said.

IAEA to Israel: Iran nuclear row must be resolved peacefully

Source :  Maan News Agency

VIENNA (Reuters) -- The UN nuclear watchdog chief has underlined to Israel's president the need to resolve differences with Iran diplomatically, Yukiya Amano's office said on Friday, rather than war as Israeli leaders have mooted.

Israel, widely believed to be the only nuclear-armed state in the Middle East, has threatened possible military action if diplomacy and sanctions fail to prevent arch-adversary Iran from developing nuclear weapons. Iran says its uranium enrichment program is for peaceful energy purposes only.

Amano said in a meeting with Israeli President Shimon Peres at the World Economic Forum in Switzerland on Thursday that the International Atomic Energy Agency had intensified "dialogue" with Tehran, the IAEA said in a statement.

That was a reference to the IAEA's year-long push -- so far fruitless -- to negotiate a framework deal with Iran allowing the Vienna-based UN agency to resume a long-stalled investigation into suspected nuclear weapons research by Tehran.

Director-General Amano "made clear the Agency's commitment to dialogue, and the need to resolve issues with Iran by diplomatic means", the IAEA said in a statement.

Analysts say any brewing or actual military action against Iran will dim the chance of Iran opening up to IAEA investigators and spur Tehran to expel IAEA inspectors tasked with ensuring civilian safeguards on Iran's nuclear activity.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in an election victory speech on Wednesday, said preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear arms would be the next government's main challenge.

Iran, which denies Israel and Western accusations that it is seeking to develop the capability to make nuclear bombs, says it is Israel's assumed nuclear arsenal that poses a threat to peace and stability in the volatile Middle East.

Amano also "stressed the importance of a successful conference" on a Middle East free of nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction, the IAEA statement said.

Talks on banning nuclear weapons in the region had been due last year. But the United States - a co- sponsor of the planned conference - said in November the meeting would not occur and did not make clear when it would take place.

US and Israeli officials have said a nuclear arms-free zone in the Middle East could not be a reality until there was broad Arab-Israeli peace and Iran curbed its nuclear program.

Iran and Arab states have criticized the decision to put off the talks, with Tehran blaming Washington for what it called a "serious setback" to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

Ahmadinejad Wants Direct Talks with US on Iran Nuclear Issue

Source :  RIA Novosti

MOSCOW, November 9 (RIA Novosti) – Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said problems related to his country’s nuclear program must be discussed directly with the United States, IRNA news agency reported.

The United States, Israel and some of their allies accuse Iran of pursuing non-civilian objectives in its nuclear energy program. Iran rejects the allegations, arguing that it is entitled to develop and acquire nuclear technology for peaceful purposes.

“We believe in friendly relations between peoples and governments and Iran hails all relations based on justice and mutual respect,” Ahmadinejad said commenting on the possible talks with the United States.

Ahmadinejad reiterated that all nuclear facilities in Iran are always open for international monitors.

“Official representatives of other countries may inspect Iran’s nuclear facilities, since Iran is the only country, which opened doors of its nuclear facilities for world media,” the president said.

Speaking further about Tehran’s relations with Washington, Ahmadinejad said it is “necessary to launch investigation to determine who and why broke off relations with Iran 33 years ago.”

The United States and Iran have had no direct diplomatic relations since April 1980. Ties were cut by Washington some five months after radical Iranian students seized the U.S. Embassy in Tehran, taking 52 U.S. diplomats hostage for 444 days.