Iran's nuclear program a matter of serious concern - IAEA

[Ummon]

http://www.spacewar.com/2006/061030164004.9b5m6wqr.html

Iran's nuclear program 'a matter of serious concern' - IAEA chief

UNITED NATIONS, Oct 30 (AFP) Oct 30, 2006
The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on Monday said his organization was still unable to confirm the peaceful nature of Iran's nuclear program, calling it "a matter of serious concern."
Mohamed ElBaradei told the UN General Assembly that Iran's failure to heed demands for a halt to its uranium enrichment and adopt transparency measures on its nuclear program meant that the agency "continues to be unable to confirm the peaceful nature of Iran's nuclear program, which is a matter of serious concern".

He however expressed hope that Iran and its European and other partners would ultimately be able to begin talks "to achieve a comprehensive settlement that would ...supplement IAEA verification efforts in addressing international concerns about the peaceful nature of Iran's nuclear program, while on the other hand addressing Iran's security and other concerns."

ElBaradei was briefing the 192-member Assembly on the activities of his Vienna-based agency this year.

Iran vehemently rejects Western allegations that its nuclear program is aimed at developing nuclear weapons, saying the drive is solely aimed at generating electricity.

Despite current efforts by Western powers to slap Security Council sanctions on Tehran over its refusal to halt uranium enrichment, Iran has stepped up its research into the sensitive activity.

It has enriched uranium on a research level from a second cascade of 164 centrifuges at its nuclear plant in Natanz as well as from an already installed cascade of a similar size.

Turning to North Korea's first-ever nuclear test earlier this month, ElBaradei said it "reemphasizes the urgent need to establish a legally binding universal ban on nuclear testing through the early entry-into-force of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty."

The CTBT, which bans all nuclear explosions, cannot come into force until it is ratified by the required 44 states which had nuclear research or power facilities when it was adopted in 1996.

So far only 34 have done so. The United States, the world's leading nuclear power, North Korea, China, India, Pakistan and Israel are among the remaining 10 countries that have not ratified

ElBaradei also stressed the importance of finding a negotiated solution to the North Korean nuclear crisis, saying a resumption of stalled six-party talks -- the two Koreas, China, Japan, Russia and the United States -- "is indispensable and urgent."

"The IAEA stands ready to work with the DPRK (North Korea) - and with all others -- towards a solution that addresses the needs of the international community to ensure that all nuclear activities are exclusively for peaceful purposes, while addressing the security and other concerns of the DPRK," he added.

Thoughts?

[Rhah]

Dude, your gnomes must be working overtime today.....

Thoughts?

Well, first and foremost is that this is nothing new. Everyone is concerned about Iran's nuclear ambitions, but the fact is that nobody knows whether they are after nuclear weapons, so this changes nothing. Warmongers will use this statement as evidence to back up their arguments, probably by saying that even the IAEA agree's with them, and the rest of us peaceful types will just ignore it because it says nothing new.

[Ummon]

Dude, your gnomes must be working overtime today.....

Gnomes group hug:

When I have flu I lash at them with whips once or twice a hour.

Thoughts?

Well, first and foremost is that this is nothing new. Everyone is concerned about Iran's nuclear ambitions, but the fact is that nobody knows whether they are after nuclear weapons, so this changes nothing. Warmongers will use this statement as evidence to back up their arguments, probably by saying that even the IAEA agree's with them, and the rest of us peaceful types will just ignore it because it says nothing new.

Nothing new? It's a official statement by a UN agency, about something which was subject to extreme caution until now.

[leeho730]

I believe Iran is taking advantages of political turmoil and lack of military resources in US, in much the same way North Korea and Russia (in dealing with Georgia) did. Normally, US would step in and take the charge to limit the spread of WMD (that was the fundamental reason for planned invasion of NK in late 90's and invasion of Iraq in 2003), but US's commitment in Iraq and political turmoil must have caused Iran to see perceived weakness of US not only in regional politics but in global politics. Therefore, Iran is taking a bold step, believing that US would not be able to effectively oppose her atempt to acquire nuclear weapons. This is a serious threat to US in the reion because 1) Iran would be the first official owner of nuclear weapon in Islamic world; 2) Iran is seeking a domination in Islamic world and is indirectly opposing US-Israel coalition, and 3) Iran can influence petroleum politics. This is quite serious threat to Western nations, especially US, who have dominated the region since WWII.

It seems to me that Bush Administration's aggressive diplomatic policies are failing so far.

[sephodwyrm]

I think any country, with over 30 million people, would eventually come up with a nuclear program of their own. Its basically a matter of time before states gain the technology, industrial capacity and required brainpower to achieve nuclear capabilities and power production.

The PRC never complained when the ROC developed her own nuclear program, despite our obvious propagandas to retake the mainland and defeat the Communist bandits. Truth is, the PRC never really feared us...but I don't know why the US or the UN fear Iran so much. They haven't carried out a single invasion for the last 100 years...

[leeho730]

They haven't carried out a single invasion for the last 100 years...

Missed a bus.

[sephodwyrm]

If you're talking about the Iran-Iraq war, each side said that the opposition invaded first.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran-iraq_war

Face it, the US is a country metamorphosizing into a country of fear rather than liberalism. To quote someone, we have reached the information age in our techniques to kill each other, and our mentality is still within the stone age.

[Ummon]

Actually, he meant that they didn't invade because they could not do so, I suspect.

And as to the latter propaganda, as Machiavelli rightly put it: better be loved than feared, but if you cannot manage to be loved, being feared is an excellent way as well.

[leeho730]

No, I'm not talking about Iran-Iraq war.

Well, this situation basically boils down to turf protection.

[Holger Danske]

Enough of wussie political talks, drop those damn bombs and be done with it.

[sephodwyrm]

better be loved than feared, but if you cannot manage to be loved, being feared is an excellent way as well.

And people ask why other countries hate the US.

[Ummon]

And people ask why other countries hate the US.

Well, in truth, that applies to any governement, and not just the US.

Enough of wussie political talks, drop those damn bombs and be done with it.

After the Iraq debacle, not feasible.

[leeho730]

Well, in truth, that applies to any governement, and not just the US.

I hate PRC government.

Enough of wussie political talks, drop those damn bombs and be done with it.

Would be quite interesting to see what would happen afterwards...

[sephodwyrm]

I hate PRC government.

Same here. Its more like a love-hate relationship. They took the mainland from us, and forced us on an island, but never really made much of their deal to unify China proper, which is a shame. Internet security seems to be more important than providing rapid downloads for the Three Kingdoms MOD.

Maybe the ROC have to do the job in the end.
Btw, I'm ROC, and if you don't know what that means (a good chance), it means I'm Taiwanese.