Iran

Can Talks with Iran Lead to Obama's 'World without Nuclear Weapons'?

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 08:22:26 -0500

by Phyllis Bennis

In one key conflict area-Iran-President Barack Obama appears to be keeping, at least for the moment, his campaign commitment to engage rather than threaten, to use diplomacy rather than force.
As talks with Iran go forward, hope continues to rise for serious diplomacy that could, just maybe, lead us a few steps closer to the "world without nuclear weapons" that Obama has called for.

Mousavi Supporters Clash With Police in Tehran

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 09:30:18 -0500

TEHRAN - Police clashed with supporters of Iran's opposition leader Mirhossein Mousavi in Tehran on Wednesday when a rally marking the 30th anniversary of the storming of the U.S. embassy turned violent.

Reformist website Mowjcamp said police opened fire on protesters at Haft-e Tir square, but there was no independent confirmation of the report. "Some people were injured," Mowjcamp said, reporting other protests in the cities of Shiraz and Rasht.

Death to No One: 30 Years after the Iran Hostage Crisis

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 08:00:52 -0500

by Bitta Mostofi

Today marks the 30th year since the 444 day Iran Hostage Crisis began in 1979. On this day the media traditionally offers us images of Iranians burning American flags and effigies of Uncle Sam. We are reminded of the great chasm of mistrust and misunderstanding that has marked the last three decades of US-Iranian relations. But, in the past year both Americans and Iranians have asked for something new. Americans have elected a president that promises to pursue diplomacy and Iranians have given birth to a popular democratic movement.

Why Obama's Iran Policy Will Fail

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 11:05:18 -0400

by Dilip Hiro

While the tone of the Obama administration is different from that of its predecessor, and some of its foreign policies diverge from those of George W. Bush, at their core both administrations subscribe to the same doctrine: Whatever the White House perceives as a threat -- whether it be Iran, North Korea, or the proliferation of long-range missiles -- must be viewed as such by Moscow and Beijing.

In addition, by the evidence available, Barack Obama has not drawn the right conclusion from his predecessor's failed Iran policy.

NIE Reveals Qom Facility Followed 2007 Bush Threats

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 13:57:04 -0400

by Gareth Porter

WASHINGTON - The Barack Obama administration claims that construction of a second Iranian uranium enrichment facility at Qom began before Tehran's decision to withdraw from a previous agreement to inform the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in advance of such construction. But the November 2007 U.S. intelligence estimate on Iran's nuclear programme tells a different story.

The Iranian decision to withdraw from the earlier agreement with the IAEA was prompted, moreover, by the campaign of threats to Iran's nuclear facilities mounted by the George W.

Will Israel Ensure That History Repeats Itself?

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 09:14:27 -0400

by Jeff Gates

The lead-up to the first U.S.-Iran talks in three decades saw a replay of the same modus operandi that induced the U.S. and its allies to invade Iraq in March 2003. Then as now, the invasion of Iran is consistent with a regime change agenda for Greater Israel described in a 1996 strategy document prepared by Jewish-Americans for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Obama Trapped Behind Wall of Mideast Containment

Wed, 07 Oct 2009 10:29:27 -0400

by Ira Chernus

Damn the Iranians and full speed ahead. That was the U.S. policy in the Middle East. But the waters have proved treacherous, with torpedoes everywhere. Despite an initial hopeful sit-down with Iranian negotiators, this won't be the October the White House wanted on the foreign policy front. By now, Barack Obama was supposed to have announced -- with ruffles and flourishes -- the beginning of Middle East peace talks, leading to a final status agreement by 2012.

Leaked Iran Paper Based on Intel that Split IAEA

Tue, 06 Oct 2009 11:19:52 -0400

by Gareth Porter

WASHINGTON - Excerpts of the internal draft report by the staff of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) published online last week show that the report's claims about Iranian work on a nuclear weapon is based almost entirely on intelligence documents which have provoked a serious conflict within the agency.

Top Things You Think You Know About Iran That Are Not True

Thu, 01 Oct 2009 15:04:18 -0400

by Juan Cole

Thursday is a fateful day for the world, as the US, other members of the United Nations Security Council, and Germany meet in Geneva with Iran in a bid to resolve outstanding issues. Although Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad had earlier attempted to put the nuclear issue off the bargaining table, this rhetorical flourish was a mere opening gambit and nuclear issues will certainly dominate the talks.

It's Bomb, Bomb, Bomb Iran Time

Thu, 01 Oct 2009 09:07:38 -0400

by Pepe Escobar

The United States and Western "bomb, bomb, bomb Iran" crowd -- hysteria running at fever pitch ahead of Thursday's multilateral nuclear talks in Geneva -- could do worse than have a word with Brazilian President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva.