The United Kingdom is set to call on Arab governments today to denounce the prospect of Iran acquiring nuclear weapons, Agence France-Presse reported (see GSN, Nov. 21).
The United Kingdom, the United States and other Western nations suspect that Iran could tap its growing uranium enrichment facilities to help build a nuclear bomb, but Tehran insists its nuclear program is only aimed at producing civilian energy.
"A nuclear-armed Iran would be a decisive blow against those seeking to promote pragmatic and peaceful solutions to the region's problems," says a speech to be delivered by British Foreign Secretary David Miliband. "The consequent nuclear arms race would be very dangerous. The acquisition of a nuclear weapon would strengthen Tehran's regional position, injecting its attempts to stoke up division and promote instability with much greater confidence."
There is "much that the Arab countries could do to counter Tehran's claims that their quest for greater influence and their nuclear program enjoys tacit support throughout the region" the speech says while recommending steps such as offering benefits to Iran for halting disputed nuclear activities while "clamping down on smuggling or tightening up export controls on goods which could support the development of nuclear weapons" (Agence France-Presse I/Spacewar.com, Nov. 23).
Iran criticized the remarks, accusing the United Kingdom of allying itself too closely with Israel.
"We have recently seen comments by Miliband about Iran being a threat in the region. There is no doubt about his strong ties with Zionists," Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hassan Qashqavi told reporters. "All countries consider the Zionist regime as a threat and not Iran, which has not threatened any countries in the past centuries" (Agence France-Presse II/Spacewar.com, Nov. 24).
Meanwhile, Iran and Syria have complained that the International Atomic Energy Agency is not taking adequate steps to prevent insiders from speaking to the news media about agency investigations, United Press International reported Saturday.
Iran's Press TV quoted a diplomatic source saying that the Iranian and Syrian envoys to the U.N. nuclear watchdog have filed grievances with agency chief Mohamed ElBaradei (United Press International, Nov. 22).
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert traveled to Washington yesterday to discuss Iran's nuclear program and other issues with U.S. President George W. Bush, AFP reported.
No major initiatives are likely to emerge from today's talks, which would primarily focus on reviewing the state of the nuclear impasse, according to a high-level U.S. official.
Olmert is also expected to meet with other officials including Vice President Dick Cheney, and possibly with staffers for President-elect Barack Obama. The prime minister hopes to win U.S. assurances on Iran from the current administration before Obama takes office in January, according to officials (Agence France-Presse III/Spacewar.com, Nov. 23).
Top Israeli defense officials called Iran their nation's top security threat in a report the country's cabinet members are expected to receive next month.
The report urges Jerusalem to plan for a possible unilateral strike on Iran and also to "work discreetly on contingency plans to deal with a nuclear Iran," according to Haaretz.
The report, part of an annual review by the Israeli national security council, added that neighboring Middle Eastern states threatened Israel with a potential to fire rockets and long-range missiles.
"Israel faces these threats almost alone," the report states. "It is imperative to mobilize the international community and obtain regional cooperation. The new American administration is an opportunity to do this" (Agence France-Presse IV/Google News, Nov. 23).
Iran's Revolutionary Guard today announced it has busted infiltrators who attempted to spy on the country's nuclear program and other activities for Israel.
"The intelligence bureau of the Revolutionary Guards Corps has recently discovered a spy network linked with the Israeli Mossad," Guards chief Gen. Mohammad Ali Jafari said on Iranian state radio. "This network sought to gather important information from the Guards' military section, the country's nuclear centers and some security officials. ... Very good information as well as equipment that this network were supplied with have been discovered and people will be informed of the evidence in the near future."
Jafari did not specify how many people were arrested or the time and location of the bust (Agence France-Presse V/Google News, Nov. 24).
Elsewhere, the Iranian Atomic Energy Organization said that a display would open at Tehran University today to show off the country's nuclear accomplishments, the Xinhua News Agency reported (Xinhua News Agency, Nov. 24).