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France’s President warns on possibility of pre-emptive military strike against Iran

Sarkozy says Iran nuclear bid could provoke preemptive military action, 31 August 2011,By AL ARABIYA AND AGENCIES ,PARIS French President Nicolas Sarkozy warned on Wednesday that Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile ambitions could provoke preemptive military action against it.

“Its military nuclear and ballistic ambitions constitute a growing threat that may lead to a preventive attack against Iranian sites that would provoke a major crisis that France wants to avoid at all costs,” he said.

 Sarkozy did not say which country might launch such a strike, but it has been reported that Israel – perhaps with US support – has considered bombing Iranian nuclear sites if it believes Tehran is close to building a weapon.

The French leader placed the blame for the crisis on Iran, which insists it has no intention of building a nuclear weapon, and is merely enriching nuclear fuel for medical research and a domestic atomic energy program…. http://english.alarabiya.net/articles/2011/08/31/164882.html

September 1, 2011 Posted by | Iran, politics international | Leave a comment

Envoy says that Iran showed U.N. all its nuclear sites

Iran shows U.N. official all nuclear sites: envoy, By Fredrik Dahl, VIENNA  Aug 23, 2011 (Reuters) – Iran allowed a senior U.N. nuclear inspector rare access to a facility for developing advanced uranium enrichment machines during a tour of all of the country’s main atomic sites, an Iranian envoy said on Tuesday. Continue reading →

August 29, 2011 Posted by | Iran, politics international | Leave a comment

Death sentence for man convicted of killing Iranian nuclear scientist

‘Mossad assassin handed death penalty’ PRESS TV 28 Aug 11, Iran’s judiciary spokesman says the man convicted of assassinating Iranian nuclear physicist Masoud Ali-Mohammadi in 2010 has been handed the death sentence.

“According to the verdict of the Islamic Revolution Court the death verdict of terrorist Majid Jamali Fashi, who assassinated martyr Masoud Ali-Mohammadi, has been announced,” IRNA quoted Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Ejei as saying on Sunday.  He said that Jamali Fashi has been found guilty of Moharebeh (waging war against god) and Fesad fel Arz (spread of corruption on earth).

The prosecution session of the defendant was held on Tuesday, August 23, 2011 in Branch 15 of Tehran’s Revolution Court during which the defendant confessed to having been funded and supported by Israeli agents in assassinating the Iranian professor.

Professor Ali-Mohammadi, a lecturer at Tehran University, was killed when an explosive-laden motorbike was detonated with a remote-controlled device near his home in the Qeytariyeh neighborhood of northern Tehran on January 12, 2010.

Upon comprehensive investigations, Iran’s Intelligence Ministry said it had dismantled an Israeli network comprising of Israeli-trained spies and terrorists, and arrested the main perpetrators in connection with the assassination of Ali-Mohammadi. …….

http://www.presstv.com/detail/196203.html

August 29, 2011 Posted by | Iran, Legal | Leave a comment

USA declares that Gaddafi’s nuclear materials are secure

U.S.: Gadhafi Chemical, Nuclear Materials Secure, ABC News 25 Aug 11,  — American officials said today that Moammar Gadhafi’s stock of chemical and nuclear materials are secure, amid fears they could fall into the wrong hands as the longtime leader’s regime falls.

“Our judgment is that they remain secure,” U.S. State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland told reporters. “We have no reason to believe that there is anything else of that nature anywhere else.”……

The State Department has already spent $3 million on contracts to help destroy weapons and mines inside parts of Libya that have been taken over by rebel forces. Gadhafi had promised in 2003 to dismantle its nuclear program as part of an agreement that eventually led the U.S. to take Libya off the list of states that sponsor terrorism in 2006.

After the agreement, the U.S. sent millions in aid to the Gadhafi regime “focused on bolstering Libya’s commitments to renouncing weapons of mass destruction,” according to State Department records….http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/us-gadhafi-nuclear-chemical-weapons-secure/story?id=14381560

August 26, 2011 Posted by | Libya, safety | Leave a comment

Risk of radioactive “dirty bomb” in Libya

Former UN nuclear expert warns of ‘dirty bomb’ Research centre has large quantities of radioisotopes and radioactive waste even after programme was abandoned, Gulf News, Reuters, August 25, 2011,Vienna: A research centre near Tripoli has stocks of nuclear material that could be used to make a “dirty bomb”, a former senior UN inspector said yesterday, warning of possible looting during turmoil in Libya.

Seeking to mend ties with the West, Libya’s Colonel Muammar Gaddafi agreed in 2003 to abandon efforts to acquire nuclear, chemical and biological weapons — a move that brought him in from the cold and helped end decades of Libyan isolation.

A six-month popular insurgency has now forced Gaddafi to abandon his stronghold in the Libyan capital but continued gunfire suggests the resistance fighters have not completely triumphed yet.

Olli Heinonen, head of UN nuclear safeguards inspections worldwide until last year, pointed to substantial looting that took place at Iraq’s Tuwaitha atomic research facility near Baghdad after Saddam Hussain was toppled in 2003.

In Iraq, “most likely due to pure luck, the story did not end in a radiological disaster,” Heinonen said. In Libya, “nuclear security concerns still linger,” the former deputy director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said in an online commentary.http://gulfnews.com/news/region/libya/former-un-nuclear-expert-warns-of-dirty-bomb-1.856887

 

August 25, 2011 Posted by | Libya, safety | Leave a comment

Targeted killing of investigative journalists in Libya

Order: Kill non-mainstream reporters in Libya, What U.S. is hiding, , Human Rights Examiner, August 22, 2011,  Targeted Killings of non-mainstream reporters in Libya ordered: Attempts to bury truth

The Examiner learned in communications from human rights defenders and independent journalists throughout Monday that they were shaken with news of 1300 Libyans killed and 5000 wounded Saturday, plus, the U.S. allegedly ordered Targeted Killings of Voltaire Network reporters, Mahdi Darius Nazemroaya and Thierry Meyssan, non-mainstream reporters in Libya covering the NATO war, while other independent reporters there are being fired upon and one, Mohammed Nabbous was killed Saturday according to ABC News.  In an interview with journalist Don DeBar on KPFA radio, he reported most mainstream “news” about Libya has been untrue, as alternative news sites heavily report but are increasingly persecuted according to their recent reports.

Continue reading on Examiner.com Order: Kill non-mainstream reporters in Libya, What U.S. is hiding – National Human Rights | Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/human-rights-in-national/kill-non-mainstream-reporters-libya-ordered-trapped-hiding-shot?CID=examiner_alerts_article#ixzz1W5cmLRq

August 25, 2011 Posted by | Libya, secrets,lies and civil liberties | Leave a comment

Real or show trial? – guilty plea in assassination of Iran nuclear scientist

Man pleads guilty to assassinating Iranian nuclear scientist, Iran accused Majid Jamali-Fashi in suspected show trial of ‘Israeli sponsored’ murder of Masoud Ali-Mohammad, , guardian.co.uk,  23 August 2011 A man accused by Iran of carrying out an assassination “sponsored and designed by Israel” has pleaded guilty to the murder of an Iranian “nuclear scientist”. Continue reading →

August 25, 2011 Posted by | Iran, Legal | Leave a comment

What if the West has misjudged Ahmadinejad about nuclear weapons?

Christina Macpherson's websites & blogs

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has certainly come out with some powerful statements against Israel, and he has sounded very threatening.

Yet Ahmadinejad also comes out with some powerful statements against nuclear weapons., and arguing that Iran is not developing them and would never use them, especially as a “first strike”.

We need to remember that Ahmadinejad is a popular leader, trying to function in an Islamic State, – where supreme leader Ayatollah Khamenei and the Mullahs wield extraordinary power and influence. Ahmadinejad has to “keep them on side” – has to come out with fiery nationalistic statements.  But perhaps he really does believe that nuclear weapons are dangerous, immoral, and unnecessary.  Perhaps the world could do worse than Ahmadinejad for an Iranian leader. – Christina Macpherson

August 15, 2011 Posted by | Christina's notes, Iran | Leave a comment

Nuclear weapons an obsolete defense strategy, says Ahmadinejad

 

Ahmadinejad says nuclear weapons a thing of the past, Tehran Times, 15 Aug 11, TEHRAN – Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has said that the 21st century is about knowledge, while nukes are the means of the past and are not going to be a determining force in the world in future.
Ahmadinejad made the remarks during an interview with Russia Today (RT) on August 13. His comments were later translated into English by this television network.
Commenting on the dispute over Iran’s nuclear program, Ahmadinejad said, “We do not want nuclear weapons for a few reasons… This weapon is inhumane. Because of our faith, we are against it. Our religion says it is prohibited, and we are religious people.”
“Nuclear weapons have no capabilities today. If any country tries to build a nuclear bomb, in fact, they waste their money on resources and, secondly, they create a big danger to themselves,” he stated.
No country possessing nuclear weapons has benefited from it, Ahmadinejad said, adding, “The Americans have nuclear bombs and nuclear weapons. Could they win in Iraq or in Afghanistan? Could nuclear weapons help the Zionist regime win in Lebanon and Gaza? Could nuclear weapons help the former Soviet Union avoid collapse?”
He added, “Nuclear weapons are the means of the previous century. This century is the century of knowledge and thinking. It is the century of human beings. It is the century of culture and knowledge.”…
He also stated that Iran’s activities in the sphere of nuclear energy are closely monitored by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
“There hasn’t been any document against Iran in the agency. They just claim. It is a claim by the United States, but they have no evidence that Iran is diverting [to acquiring nuclear weapons],” Ahmadinejad said.  ….
http://www.tehrantimes.com/index.php/politics/1584-nuclear-weapons-not-a-determining-force-in-21st-century-ahmadinejad-to-rt

August 15, 2011 Posted by | Iran, weapons and war | Leave a comment

Third finding of radiation in shipment to Egypt, from Japan

Egypt authorities find another case of radiation in Japanese shipment, Almasyry Alyoum, 9 Aug 11,  — Egypt’s General Authority for Export and Import Control recently discovered radioactive cargo in two containers shipped from Japan to Ain Sokhna port, the Red Sea Ports Authority said.

This is the third radioactive shipment Egypt has discovered over the past month.

The radioactive material was found aboard ships carrying electric and mechanical instruments. A letter from Egypt’s atomic energy authorities confirmed the cargo had above-regulation radiation levels….http://www.almasryalyoum.com/en/node/485146

August 12, 2011 Posted by | Egypt, safety | Leave a comment

Israel tried to drag USA into a war with Iran

How Iran defeated Obama. By Patrick Seale, The Diplomat 5 Aug 11“……..What is less well understood is that Obama was also defeated in another major area of foreign policy – relations with Iran. When he came to office he vowed to ‘engage’ with the Islamic Republic, but this admirable objective was soon supplanted by a policy of threats, sanctions and intimidation aimed at isolating Iran, subverting its economy and overthrowing its regime.

Israel and its friends led the campaign against Iran, demonizing it as a threat to all mankind, and forcing the United States to follow suit. Israel has repeatedly, and very publicly, threatened to strike at Iran’s nuclear facilities, and has done its best to drag the United States into war against it, in much the same way as pro-Israeli neo-conservatives at the Pentagon were alleged to have manipulated intelligence to push the United States into war against Iraq in 2003, with catastrophic consequences.

Why did they do it? Because they feared that, having survived the eight-year Iran-Iraq war, Saddam Hussein’s Iraq might just possibly pose a threat to Israel. It had to be destroyed. Tony Blair, Britain’s prime minister at the time, was foolish enough to tag along. The war totally discredited him…..”http://globalpublicsquare.blogs.cnn.com/2011/08/05/how-iran-defeated-obama/

August 7, 2011 Posted by | Israel, politics international, USA | Leave a comment

Fears of al-Qa’ida finding refuge in a nuclearized Iran

al-Qa’ida may logically seek to achieve an untouchable strategic sanctuary within a nuclearized Iran.

Might al-Zawahiri’s al-Qa’ida come to view future nuclear power Iran as THE perfect sanctuary?, TIME,  by  , August 1, 2011 As al-Qa’ida leaders the world over signal their intent to stay the course — challenging assumptions that the integrity of their network has been perhaps irreversibly jeopardized by the death of bin Laden — national security managers must remain focused on denying its core leaders a safe base of operations.

Meanwhile, due to growing ties between al-Qa’ida’s regional network and defense officials in Iran, the strategic dimension of the West’s counter-terrorism efforts is likely to grow significantly in the years ahead. Continue reading →

August 2, 2011 Posted by | Iran, safety | Leave a comment

USA to sell nukes to Saudi Arabia, despite its weapons ambitions?

The White House’s decision is already facing opposition from members of Congress who worry about sharing nuclear technologies with countries in today’s increasingly unstable Middle East. The concerns were further fueled by recent comments made by a senior member of the Saudi royal family that their country would seek to develop nuclear weapons if Iran did.

U.S., Saudis to Discuss Nuclear Agreement, WSJ, JULY 29, 2011,By JAY SOLOMON,WASHINGTON—The Obama administration plans to resume talks with Saudi Arabia about nuclear cooperation, according to senior U.S. officials, in a move aimed at boxing in Iran and keeping an eye on Riyadh’s strategic ambitions. Continue reading →

July 30, 2011 Posted by | politics international, Saudi Arabia | Leave a comment

Assassination of Iranian nuclear scientist

Iranian nuclear scientist shot dead, Google News, By Mohammad Davari (AFP) – 24 July 11, TEHRAN — A nuclear scientist was shot dead on Saturday by unknown assailants on a motorcycle, the latest expert with links to Iran’s controversial atomic programme to be targeted, local media reported. Continue reading →

July 24, 2011 Posted by | Iran, safety | Leave a comment

Increasing nuclear collaboration by North Korea and Iran?

North Korea and Iran increase collaboration on nuclear missile, report claims, Telegraph UK, 22 July 11 North Korea and Iran are jointly working on weapons programmes designed to build a long-range missile capable of carrying a nuclear warhead, a leading British security think tank has said. Continue reading →

July 22, 2011 Posted by | Iran, North Korea, politics international | Leave a comment

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