US makes abrupt volte face on Iran

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/229431.html

The US has officially changed its policy regarding Iran’s nuclear energy program, saying it is now adamant in preventing Tehran from allegedly achieving the “capability” of building nuclear weapons rather than actually producing one.

“It’s absolutely clear that the president’s (Barack Obama’s) policy is to prevent Iran from having nuclear weapons capability,” Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told the US House Committee on Foreign Affairs on Wednesday, the Jerusalem Post reported.

On February 16, US Senator Joe Lieberman published a statement on his website, announcing that 32 senators - both Republicans and Democrats - had banded together to introduce a resolution urging action to prevent Iran from pushing “forward in its pursuit of a nuclear weapons capability.”

“By rejecting any policy that would rely on containment of a nuclear-weapons capable Iran, this bi-partisan resolution sends a clear message to Iran’s rulers that the United States will stop them from acquiring nuclear weapons capability,” the statement said.

Commenting on the shift in the US policy regarding Iran’s nuclear energy program, Robert Parry, an American award-winning investigative journalist and author, said the distinction between Iran’s alleged “pursuit of a nuclear weapon” and its alleged “pursuit of a nuclear weapons capability” is a subtle but “important” one.

“The distinction is important because a ‘capability’ can mean almost anything, since peaceful nuclear research also can be applicable to bomb building,” he noted.

“To deny Iran the ‘capability’ would almost surely require a war between the United States and Iran, a course that some neocons have been quietly desiring for at least the past decade,” Parry added.

The United States, Israel, and some of their allies accuse Iran of pursuing military objectives in its nuclear energy program and have used this pretext to impose international and unilateral sanctions on the Islamic Republic and to call for a military strike against Tehran.

Iran has repeatedly refuted the Western allegations, arguing that as a signatory to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and a member of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), it is entitled to develop and acquire nuclear technology for peaceful purposes.

US House panel passes bill to monitor Iran-Latin America ties

US Congress (file photo)

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/229514.html

The US House of Representatives’ Foreign Affairs subcommittee on terrorism has endorsed a bill obliging the State Department to brief the Congress on Iran's activities in Latin America.

The bill, titled "Countering Iran in the Western Hemisphere Act” and approved on Thursday, had been sponsored by representatives of Republican and Democratic parties.

According to the bill, Iran has increased the number of its embassies in Latin America from five in 2005 to 11 in 2012.

If the whole Congress approves the bill, the State Department would have to inform it of Iran's activities in Latin America within 180 days.

Iran has been seeking to expand relations with Latin American countries over the past few years, describing the endeavor as one of its major foreign policy strategies.

Major Latin American nations have also enhanced their diplomatic and trade ties with Iran in recent years while their relations with the United States have been downgraded amid popular demands for an end to dependence on Washington.

Iran’s rising popularity in Latin America has raised major concerns in Washington, which regards the region as its strategic backyard and traditional sphere of influence.

On January 6, the US warned Latin American states against expanding diplomatic and business ties with Iran, expressing concern over “Iran's outreach to the Western Hemisphere.”

Nasty surprises await warmongers in Persian Gulf

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/229255.html

The most important thing I've read these last few days is the excellent article 'Armageddon Approaches' written by Dr Lasha Darkmoon, a cautionary piece which points the reader towards some very scary background information.

For example, according to Russ Winter of The Wall Street Examiner, Iran’s Sunburn missiles, acquired from Russia and China over the last 10 years, have the capability of creating "a world of hurt" for the US Navy’s 5th Fleet.

"The Sunburn is perhaps the most lethal anti-ship missile in the world, designed to fly as low as 9 feet above ground/water at more than 1,500 miles per hour (mach 2+). The missile uses a violent pop-up maneuver for its terminal approach to throw off Phalanx and other US anti-missile defense systems. Given their low cost, they’re perfectly suited for close quarter naval conflict in the bathtub-like Persian Gulf.”

With its 90-mile range, the Sunburn can be fired from practically any platform, including a flat bed truck, and could hit a ship in the Strait in less than a minute.

Adding this warning, Mark Gaffney says, "The US Navy has never faced anything in combat as formidable as the Sunburn missile.”

He mentions the even more-advanced SS-NX-26 Yakhonts missiles, also Russian-made (speed: Mach 2.9; range: 180 miles) deployed by the Iranians along the Persian Gulf's northern shore.

“Every US ship will be exposed and vulnerable. When the Iranians spring the trap, the entire lake will become a killing field,”

“In the Gulf's shallow and confined waters evasive maneuvers will be difficult, at best, and escape impossible. Even if US planes control of the skies over the battlefield, the sailors caught in the net below will be hard-pressed to survive. The Gulf will run red with American blood."

As both writers point out, the Iranians will have mapped every firing angle along their Gulf coastline. And the rugged terrain will not make detection easy.

“Shooting fish in a barrel”, but who are the fish this time?

Britain recently announced the deployment of HMS Daring, a new Type 45 destroyer, to the Persian Gulf in order to send a significant message to the Iranians because of the firepower and world-beating technology carried by this warship. A Daily Telegraph report says she has been fitted with new technology that will give it the ability to "shoot down any missile in Iran's armory. The £1 billion destroyer also carries the world's most sophisticated naval radar, capable of tracking multiple incoming threats from missiles to fighter jets." Her 48 Sea Vipers can shoot down fighters as well as sea skimming missiles.

Apart from HMS Daring, Britain is believed to have at least 3 other vessels in the Persian Gulf, and more can be sent. Are they all equipped with the same world-beating technology?

Dr Darkmoon observes, "Both America and Israel are unfortunately just not ready to wage the type of warfare they prefer to wage and at which they so excel: shooting fish in a barrel. Unlike Iraq, which the warmonger neoconservatives told us would be a ‘cakewalk’ - easily conquered in six weeks - Iran is unlikely to offer its American and Israeli antagonists easy opportunities to indulge in their fish-in-a-barrel fantasies."

The spectacle of the world's schoolyard bully, the United States, flanked by hooligan helpmates Britain, France and Canada all menacing Iran is building up to a chilling climax. If what I'm reading is correct, British ships in the bathtub of the Persian Gulf will be among the fish in the barrel on this occasion, with Iran doing the shooting. Britain's chief hooligans, William Hague and David Cameron, could be courting disaster for the much-vaunted HMS Daring. Why are they getting us involved anyway? It's obviously not for Britain, whose best interests are served by making friends and doing business with Iran.

No, they suffer the same delusions as their erstwhile partner in crime, the disgraced former Defense Secretary Liam Fox and the many others in our Parliamentary establishment who have swallowed the daft idea that Israel's enemies are Britain's enemies. How much sense can you expect from people who are signed-up Friends of Israel - in Hague’s case since the tender age of 15?Diplomacy? What diplomacy?

As the whole world surely knows by now, the US-British track record in Iran doesn’t bear examination. And when they get on their high horse and spout about democracy everyone falls about laughing. Who overthrew Iran’s fledgling democracy in 1953? Who trashed Palestine’s democracy in 2006? Who keeps banging on about Israel being the “only democracy in the Middle East” when, actually, it’s a racist ethnocracy?

For over 30 years Britain has had no high-level diplomatic contact with Iran except for Jack Straw’s visits a decade ago. Hague won’t answer questions about the diplomatic efforts he has made, if any. In a fit of lunacy he shut down the embassy in Tehran last year and chucked the Iranians out of London, and he’s now straining at the bit to get our young men needlessly embroiled in what is essentially a nuke-bristling US/Israel quarrel with non-nuke Iran… the ulterior motive and ultimate prize being Iran’s oil.

The US hasn’t had a proper embassy in Tehran since 1979. But a few months ago it set up a virtual embassy with this sick making address to the Iranian people.

“We have created Virtual Embassy Tehran to offer you another perspective and another source of information, so you can make up your own minds about the US, our concerns about the Iranian government’s activities at home and abroad, and our serious efforts to achieve a resolution to those concerns,”

“This website is not a formal diplomatic mission, nor does it represent or describe a real US Embassy accredited to the Iranian Government. But, in the absence of direct contact, it can work as a bridge between the American and Iranian people.”

As President Obama said earlier this year and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton affirmed in her recent VOA and BBC appearances, “You - the young people of Iran - carry within you both the ancient greatness of Persian civilization, and the power to forge a country that is responsive to your aspirations. Your talent, your hopes, and your choices will shape the future of Iran, and help light the world. And though times may seem dark, I want you to know that I am with you,”

“It is in that spirit that we launch our Virtual US Embassy Tehran. It is our Mission to the Iranian people.”

Yeah, a US mission that’s accompanied by vicious sanctions imposed with the help of gullible friends like Britain and the EU and calculated to cripple Iran’s economy and make the lives of its young people hell. The consequences for us are damaging too.

Britain’s defense chief Philip Hammond, who replaced Fox after the scandal that exposed his 'special friend' Adam Werritty and behind-scenes plotting with Israel against Iran, has publicly warned Iran that any blockade of the Strait of Hormuz would be "illegal and unsuccessful".

But why escalate matters to the point where a blockade becomes likely? And why, asks Dr Darkmoon, do it for Israel anyway? "Cui bono? Iran has much more to offer America than Israel does,”

"Iran has oil in abundance, Israel has none. Iran does not hold America’s political class to ransom. Iran does not try to browbeat successive American administrations into putting Iranian interests before American ones. Iran’s dual citizens do not spy on America or sell American military secrets to Russia and China-there are no Iranian Rosenberg’s or Jonathan Pollards. Iran does not coerce Americans into fighting and dying for it in foreign wars. Iran does not expect $3 billion a year in handouts, and even more in loan guarantees that never get repaid,”

"Iran would be a far greater asset to America than Israel could ever be. Israel is a liability and a burden,”

"More fool America for cuddling up to a ‘friend’ who has stabbed it in the back in the past - the Lavon affair, the USS Liberty incident, the Jonathan Pollard betrayal - and is more than likely to stab it in the back again at some time in the foreseeable future,”

"Dump Israel. That’s my advice. Before Israel sets the world on fire, taking America with it."

The question certainly needs to be asked, she says, "What hold does Israel have over America? Is America prepared to sustain immense damage to its vital interests on behalf of an unstable and insolent ally that remains, if numerous polls are to be believed, the world’s most hated nation?"

Ask it here too. What hold does Israel have over Britain? The only people impressed by Israel are MPs and ministers whom the pro-Israel lobby has 'groomed' and funded, the Jewish community (though by no means all of them) and a rabble of Christian Zionists; no-one else. And no one else wants to fight Israel's unjust wars or help America do Israel’s dirty work.

So if Hague, Hammond and Cameron love Israel so much let them and the regime’s other admirers don uniform and flak-jacket and go play battleships in the Persian Gulf’s “bathtub” themselves. Who in their right mind would volunteer to be that trio’s cannon fodder?

Stuart Littlewood, British Writer-Photographer

Putin puts words of caution against strike on Iran

Russia’s Prime Minister Vladimir Putin

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/228864.html

Russia’s Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has expressed concern over the growing threat of a military strike on Iran, saying such an attack will have catastrophic repercussions.

“Russia is alarmed by the growing threat of a military strike” against Iran, Putin wrote in article in the daily Moskovskiye Novosti newspaper on Monday.

“If this happens, the consequences will be truly catastrophic, their real scope impossible to imagine,” he added.

“We propose to recognize Iran’s right to develop a civilian nuclear program, including the right to enrich uranium” in exchange for placing the country’s nuclear activities under the supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the Russian premier further said.

Putin added that in this case, all unilateral and international sanctions imposed against Iran need to be lifted.

In 2011, Russia proposed a “step-by-step” approach that would enable Iran to adopt measures to address IAEA questions on Tehran's nuclear program.

According to the plan, Iran can revive negotiations to alleviate individual concerns of the IAEA about its nuclear activities and be rewarded along the way by a partial removal of sanctions.

The United States, Israel and some of their allies accuse Tehran of pursuing military objectives in its nuclear program, using the pretext to impose sanctions against Iran and threaten the country with a military attack.

Iran has denied the allegations and promised a crushing response to any military strike against the country, warning that any such measure could result in a war that would spread beyond the Middle East.

Price of Iran war will be disastrous for US: Brzezinksi

Zbigniew Brzezinksi

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/228584.html

Former US National Security Advisor Zbigniew Brzezinksi has warned Washington not to attack Iran and even prevent Israel from launching a military strike against the country.

"We don’t need to go to war. And we have to make that very clear to our Israeli friends," he said in an interview with CNN on Friday.

"We’re not going to go to war. They’re [Israelis] not going to go to war by flying over our airspace over Iraq. We’re not going to support them," Brzezinksi added.

The political analyst also pointed to the repercussions of such an attack for the United States and the Middle East in general.

"If they [Israelis] do it, they will be on their own. The consequences will be theirs, because the price we’ll all pay, based on a massive war, which the Iranians interpret as being done with our connivance, will be disastrous for us in Afghanistan, in Iraq, in the terms of oil, but also in the Middle East more generally," Brzezinksi explained.

The US and Israel have intensified the anti-Iran war rhetoric during the past weeks to put more pressure on Tehran to stop its peaceful nuclear energy program.

The war threats came after the Washington-backed sanctions against Iran failed to stop the country.

The US and Israel have repeatedly threatened Tehran with the "option" of a military strike, saying Iran's nuclear program may include a covert military aspect, a claim strongly rejected by Tehran.

Meanwhile, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has never found any evidence indicating that Tehran's civilian nuclear program has been diverted towards nuclear weapons production.

Iran sanctions will cause many problems for Italy: Monti

Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/228589.html

Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti says complying with the European Union sanctions against Iran will cause many problems for the country’s ailing economy.

Speaking to reporters in a joint press conference with the president of the European Parliament, Martin Shulz, in Rome, Monti noted that Italy is grappling with serious economic recession and crisis and cutting Iran oil imports will cause the country to suffer more than other EU members.

The Italian premier added that due to heavy dependence on energy, Italy feels the pinch of Iran oil sanctions more than other European countries, but Rome is unable to disobey certain decisions.

Meanwhile, the Italian official news agency, ANSA, published a report quoting energy experts as saying that sanctions against Iran are useless and will only harm Italian and other European companies.

Referring to high trade volume between Tehran and Rome, the report added that given the existing economic crisis in Europe, compliance with sanctions may be an end to the longstanding presence of Italian companies in Iran, which will be replaced with Turkish and Chinese companies.

ANSA further stated that complying with Iran sanctions will also cost Italians 30,000 jobs.

On January 23, EU Foreign Ministers met in Belgium to approve new sanctions against Iran aimed at banning member countries from importing Iranian crude oil and carrying out transactions with its central bank.

The EU has considered a period of six months before sanctions are fully enforced in order to allow member states to adapt to new conditions and find new sources of crude oil.

EU decision followed imposition of similar sanctions by Washington on Iranian energy and financial sectors on the New Year’s Eve which seek to penalize other countries for buying Iran oil or dealing with the its central bank.

After approving new sanctions, EU foreign policy chief, Catherine Ashton, told reporters that the sanctions aim to persuade Tehran to suspend its peaceful nuclear activities and get back to negotiating table with P5+1 -- comprising US, UK, France, Russia, China, and Germany.

The United States, Israel and some of their allies accuse Tehran of pursuing military objectives in its nuclear program, using this pretext to impose sanctions against Iran and threaten the country with military attack.

Iran has refuted the allegations, arguing that as a committed signatory to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and member of IAEA, it has the right to use nuclear technology for peaceful use.

The IAEA has never found any evidence indicating that Tehran's civilian nuclear program has been diverted towards nuclear weapons production.

Obama blames rising gas prices on West’s tension with Iran

US President Barack Obama speaks on energy and the economy following a tour of the Industrial Assessment Center at the University of Miami, Florida, on February 23, 2012.

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/228343.html

US President Barack Obama has defended his energy policies, blaming rising gas prices on a mix of factors, mainly the Western rows over Iran’s nuclear program.

Obama hit back at Republican attacks on his energy policies and blamed tensions with Iran as the main reason behind rising gas prices.

“Just like last year, the biggest thing that's causing the price of oil to rise right now is instability in the Middle East -- this time in Iran,” Obama said Thursday in a visit to the University of Miami.

He also said that other factors including Wall Street speculations as well as hot demand from China, India and other emerging economies have also contributed to mounting gas prices.

"When uncertainty increases, speculative trading on Wall Street can drive up prices even more. So there are short-term factors at work here," Obama said.

"Over the long term, the biggest reason oil prices will rise is growing demand in countries like China, India, and Brazil," he added.

Republicans have made rising gas prices one of their main attack lines against Obama as there is less than nine months before the presidential election.

The US gasoline prices have jumped nearly 9 cents in the past week to an average of USD 3.61 a gallon and are expected to go even higher.

US crude prices have also jumped 9 percent this year, nearing USD 108 a barrel on Thursday, the highest level since May, 2011.

This comes after Iran’s Oil Ministry has announced that it had cut oil exports to British and French firms.

Iran also hinted at the possibility of a halt in oil exports to certain other European countries.

The move came in retaliation for a decision by EU foreign ministers on January 23 to stop oil imports from Iran, freeze the assets of the Central Bank of Iran (CBI) within EU states and ban selling diamonds, gold, and other precious metals to Tehran.

The United States, Israel and their European allies accuse Tehran of pursuing military objectives in its nuclear program and have used this pretext to push for international and unilateral sanctions against the Islamic Republic.

Iran has rejected the Western publicity that Tehran’s nuclear program may be diverted to military objectives and insisted that as a signatory to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and a member of the IAEA, it is entitled to pursue nuclear technology for its numerous civilian uses and benefits.

Oil prices in euro soar over Iran’s sales cut to EU

On February 19, Iran’s Oil Ministry announced it had cut oil exports to British and French firms

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/228341.html

In the wake of Iran’s decision to halt oil exports to some European countries, oil prices, valued in euros, have hit a record high, dealing a severe blow to the eurozone’s debt-ridden countries.

Brent oil jumped to 93.60 euros per barrel on Thursday, beating the 2008's pre-financial crisis price of 93.46 euros.

Europe plunged into financial crisis in early 2008. Insolvency now threatens heavily-indebted countries such as Greece, Portugal, Italy, Ireland and Spain.

In New York on Thursday, light sweet crude for delivery in April, rose 64 cents to more than USD 108 per barrel, while the North Sea Brent crude for April delivery gained 60 cents to over USD 124 in morning trade.

The hike in oil prices comes on the heels of a report by Press TV last week that Iran would cut its oil exports to six European Union states, if they fail to sign long-term deals with Tehran.

Later on Sunday, Iran’s Oil Ministry announced that it had cut oil exports to British and French firms in line with the decision to stop the crude sales to six European states.

The move comes as Iran’s Oil Minister Rostam Qasemi had earlier hinted at the possibility of Iran’s halting oil exports to certain European countries.

Meanwhile, the world's largest oil trader, Vitol, has warned that crude prices could spike above USD 150 per barrel if tensions with Iran escalate further.

EU foreign ministers agreed to ban oil imports from Iran on January 23 and to freeze the assets of the Iranian Central Bank across the EU in a bid to pressure Iran over its nuclear program.

Despite the widely publicized claims by the US, Israel and some of their European allies that Iran's nuclear program may include a military aspect, Tehran insists its nuclear work is civilian in nature.

Iran argues that as a signatory to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and a member of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), it has the right to develop and acquire nuclear technology for peaceful purposes.

The IAEA has conducted numerous inspections of Iran's nuclear facilities, but has never found any evidence indicating that Tehran's civilian nuclear program has been diverted towards nuclear weapons production.

Russia warns Israel: Attacking Iran catastrophic for Middle East

Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/228019.html

Russia has once again warned Israel of the “catastrophic consequences” of a military attack against Iran over the Islamic Republic’s nuclear program.

"The scenario of military action against Iran would be catastrophic for the region and possibly the whole system of international relations," Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov said on Wednesday.

“Therefore I hope Israel understands all these consequences ... and they should also consider the consequences of such action for themselves," the Russian official added.

Gatilov’s remarks came as Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Martin Dempsey said on Sunday that attacking Iran is “not prudent at this point” as it "would be destabilizing."

"I'm confident that they (Israel) understand our concerns that a strike at this time would be destabilizing and wouldn't achieve their long-term objectives," Dempsey added.

Israeli officials have recently ramped up their war rhetoric, threatening Iran with military strikes in case the US-engineered sanctions against the country fail to force Tehran into abandoning its civilian nuclear program.

The United States, Israel and some of their allies accuse Tehran of pursuing military objectives in its nuclear program, using this pretext to impose sanctions against Iran and threaten the country with military attack.

Iran has refuted the allegations, arguing that as a committed signatory to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and member of the International Atomic Energy Agency, it has the right to use nuclear technology for peaceful use.

The IAEA has never found any evidence indicating that Tehran's civilian nuclear program has been diverted towards nuclear weapons production.

UK MPs endorse warmongering policies

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/227943.html

British lawmakers have overwhelmingly rejected a motion at the House of Commons to rule out an invasion of Iran in line with their government’s warmongering policies.

The back-bench motion was initiated by Conservative MP John Baron and urged the British government to rule out the use of force against Iran.

In line with their government’s warmongering approach, members of parliament (MPs) voted down the motion with 285 ‘no’ votes, 6 ‘yeses’ and two abstentions.

The new sabre-rattling comes as the UK government is grappling with an economic crisis not seen since after the World War II with a ballooning budget deficit.

Earlier this month, a report questioned the UK’s capability to get involve in another adventurism like the one it carried out in Libya or elsewhere in Iraq and Afghanistan.

“Britain would struggle to conduct another invasion like the one carried out in Libya and still sustain its other military commitments because of the impact of sweeping defence cuts”, said the report.

The report came as the UK government was preparing the ground along with its warmonger allies to wage another war against Syria or Iran.

Furthermore, the report said that there is a multibillion-pound black hole in the government’s defence budget as stipulated by the shadow defence secretary.

Jim Murphy, Labour's shadow defence secretary, said the cuts had downgraded Britain's military flexibility.

Meanwhile, Stop the War convener Lindsey German lashed out at lawmakers and pledged an intensive campaign by activists to convince MPs to end their "shocking" refusal to learn from the slaughter they helped to unleash in Iraq and Afghanistan nearly 10 years ago.

German’s approach was endorsed by Newport Labour MP Paul Flynn, who said that he would continue to oppose a war against Iran "at every opportunity."

“It would not be the first time in history that the minority had been proved right”, he said, adding that the Commons debate had been an opportunity to "look into the abyss of the unimaginable hell of a war with Iran."

Israel irked by top US officials' opposition to Iran attack

US National Security Advisor Tom Donilon

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/227843.html

The Israeli regime has condemned recent remarks made by senior US officials critical of Tel Aviv’s threats of attacking Iran, claiming that they "served Iran's interests."

In a meeting with US National Security Advisor Tom Donilon, top Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Ehud Barak expressed their displeasure to the high-ranking American official.

According to a senior Israeli official, Netanyahu and Barak were bitterly irked by the interview given by Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Martin Dempsey on Sunday, during which he emphasized that attacking Iran is “not prudent at this point” as it "would be destabilizing," Ha’aretz reported on Tuesday.

"I'm confident that they (Israel) understand our concerns that a strike at this time would be destabilizing and wouldn't achieve their long-term objectives," Dempsey said.

"We made it clear to Donilon that all those statements and briefings only served the Iranians… The Iranians see there's controversy between the United States and Israel, and that the Americans object to a military act. That reduces the pressure on them,” the Israeli official said.

Israeli officials have recently ramped up their war rhetoric threatening Iran with military strikes in case the US-engineered sanctions against the country fail to force Tehran into abandoning its civilian nuclear program.

The United States, Israel and some of their allies accuse Tehran of pursuing military objectives in its nuclear program, using this pretext to impose sanctions against Iran and threaten the country with military attack.

However, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has never found any evidence indicating that Tehran's civilian nuclear program has been diverted towards nuclear weapons production.

EU oil flow conditional on payment guarantee, long-term deals: Iran

Tehran says it will cut oil exports to six European countries in reaction to EU oil ban on Iran.

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/227886.html

Foreign Ministry spokesman says Iran will only continue exporting oil to the European Union if the member states give a guarantee to pay the price and sign medium- and long-term oil purchase contracts.

After EU foreign ministers decided to ban the import of Iran's oil by member states in their January 23 meeting, Iran said it would cut oil exports to six European countries, including the Netherlands, Spain, Italy, France, Greece and Portugal.

The country officially announced on February 19 that it would sell no more oil to the British and French companies.

Speaking in his weekly briefing on Tuesday, Ramin Mehmanparast said although Iran intends to continue oil trade with the EU states, it now requires those countries to provide guarantee for the payment of the oil price.

“They [EU members] must also sign medium- or long-term contracts covering periods of three to five years [for importing Iran oil] and ban our country's oil customers from unilaterally canceling their contracts,” he added.

The official added that these conditions will guarantee 3-5-year oil cooperation between Iran and Europe and ensure both sides’ interests.

Mehmanparast stated that the EU’s decision to ban Iran oil imports has been illogical and against the mutual interests of Iran and the European Union.

“It seems that the European countries have been forced to make this option [banning Iran oil imports] under political pressures from the US and the Zionist regime [of Israel], but this pressure will actually affect the European people and companies, putting them in dire conditions,” he said.

The spokesman said the approach taken by the UK and France toward Iran has been more hostile than that of other EU members and this is why Iran has started with London and Paris when cutting oil imports to Europe.

“They must know that our country is in a position which must be talked to and treated on equal standing and through mutual respect, and they must forget about their past empires and exploiting other countries,” he said.

Iran threatens to cut oil flow to other EU states

Iran says it will cut oil exports to more EU countries if they continue their hostile policies.

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/227657.html

After halting oil flow to Britain and France, Iran threatens to stop oil sales to other European Union member states if the EU continues its hostile policies.

Iran’s Deputy Oil Minister Ahmad Qalebani on Monday hinted at the possibility of a halt in oil exports to Spain, the Netherlands, Greece, Germany, Italy and Portugal.

“Undoubtedly if the hostile actions of certain European countries continue, oil exports to these countries will be stopped," said Qalebani, who is also the managing director of the National Iranian Oil Company.

On Sunday, Iran’s Oil Ministry announced that it has cut oil exports to British and French firms.

The move came in retaliation for a decision by the European Union to stop oil imports from Iran as of July 2012 in line with sanctions imposed against the country's oil industry.

On Monday, oil prices hit a nine-month high in Asian trade following Iran’s oil cut announcement, the highest levels since May 5, 2011.

Crude for March delivery is up about two dollars to more than 105 dollars a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Brent crude has gained about the same amount going above 121 dollars a barrel.

Iran’s deputy oil minister also said on Monday that oil prices would reach 150 dollars per barrel in the future.

The US and its Western allies are putting more pressure on Iran by imposing sanctions as they accuse Tehran of pursuing military objectives in its nuclear program.

Refuting the allegations, Tehran says it is entitled to the peaceful use of nuclear technology as a member of the International Atomic Energy Agency that has been subjected to snap inspections which have never yielded evidence indicating diversion in the country’s nuclear work.

India importing Iran oil, slap in face for US: Ex-US Official

Nicholas Burns, US Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs from 2005 to 2008

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/227672.html

A former US official says India’s decision to continue importing Iranian crude despite the recent Western sanctions on the Islamic Republic is “a slap” in the face for the United States.

“The Indian government’s ill-advised statement last week that it will continue to purchase oil from Iran is a major setback for the US attempt to isolate the Iranian government over the nuclear issue,” Nicholas Burns, former US Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs, wrote in an op-ed in current-affairs magazine The Diplomat today.

"India's decision to walk out of step with the international community on Iran isn't just a slap in the face for the US - it raises questions about its ability to lead," Burns added.

The Economic Times reported last week that during his latest visit to the US, Indian Foreign Secretary Ranjan Mathai reiterated New Delhi’s decision to go on with Iran oil imports while also stressing cordial relations between the two countries.

The report added that India's determination to continue buying Iranian oil, despite Western oil and financial sanctions has greatly concerned officials in Washington at a time when the forward momentum in the US-India relationship has already slowed.

"This is bitterly disappointing news for those of us who have championed a close relationship with India. And, it represents a real setback in the attempt by the last three American Presidents to establish a close and strategic partnership with successive Indian governments," Burns said.

India purchases around USD 12 billion worth of Iranian crude every year, about 12 percent of its consumption. In January, Iranian crude exports to India rose to 550,000 barrels a day, up 37.5 percent from December 2011.

On New Year’s Eve, the United States imposed new sanctions against Iran aimed at preventing other countries from importing Iranian oil and conducting transactions with its central bank.

European Union foreign ministers also approved sanctions against Iran’s oil and financial sectors on January 23, including a ban on Iranian oil imports, a freeze on the assets of the country’s central bank within EU states, and a ban on selling grains, diamonds, gold, and other precious metals to Tehran.

The United States, Israel and some of their allies accuse Tehran of pursuing military objectives in its nuclear program and have used this pretext to push for four rounds of UN sanctions and a series of unilateral sanctions against the Islamic Republic.

Iran has refuted the allegations, arguing that as a committed signatory to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and member of the International Atomic Energy Agency, it has the right to use nuclear technology for peaceful use.

Japanese Showa Shell to buy Iran crude despite oil ban

Iran is the fourth-largest crude supplier to Japan. Iranian crude accounted for 8.8 percent of Japan's total imports in 2011

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/227688.html

Japan's Showa Shell Sekiyu KK, which runs the fifth biggest refinery in the country, has announced that it will continue to import crude from Iran despite Western sanctions against the Iranian oil sector.

The company, which is a Royal-Dutch Shell affiliate, said on Monday that Iran's recent halt of oil sales to French and British companies, including the oil major Shell, will have no impact on its Iranian crude imports.

On February 19, Iranian Oil Ministry announced cutting oil exports to British and French firms in line with the decision to end crude exports to six European states including the Netherlands, Spain, Italy, France, Greece and Portugal.

Meanwhile, an unnamed official at Showa Shell told Reuters that the firm and Shell are separate companies and have signed different contracts with Iran for importing the country’s crude.

The company had already announced on February 14 that it would continue to import about 100,000 barrels per day of Iranian crude oil despite mounting pressure from the United States to cut Iran oil imports.

"(Iran) is an important source of crude for Japan as well as our company, and we will wait for the government's guidance on the matter," Showa Shell Sekiyu KK president Jun Arai added.

The announcement came as US sanctions on Iran over its peaceful nuclear program aim to make it difficult for refiners around the world, including in Japan, to buy Iranian crude or pay Tehran for its oil.

On December 31, 2011, Washington imposed new sanctions on Iran to penalize other countries for importing the country’s oil. The European Union also imposed similar sanctions on January 23 to ban Iran's oil imports by member states.

Iran is the fourth-biggest crude supplier to Japan and the Iranian crude accounted for 8.8 percent of Japan's total imports in 2011.

The US, Israel and their European allies accuse Iran of diversion in its peaceful nuclear program and have used this as an excuse to pass four rounds of international sanctions against the country at the UN Security Council.

Refuting the claims, Tehran insists that as a member to the International Atomic Energy Agency and the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), it is fully entitled to peaceful applications of the nuclear energy.

US Gen. Dempsey: Iran rational actor, not after nukes

Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff General Martin Dempsey

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/227606.html

A top US military official has described Iran as a rational actor in the international arena, stating that the Islamic Republic is not after producing nuclear weapons.

Speaking in a nationally televised interview with the CNN’s “Fareed Zakaria GPS” show on Sunday, Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff General Martin Dempsey said, “We are of the opinion that Iran is a rational actor.”

Dempsey pointed out that US officials aren't convinced Iran has decided to build atomic armaments.

“We also know, or we believe we know that Iran has not decided to make a nuclear weapon,” General Dempsey said.

Elsewhere in his remarks, the top US general also described any Israeli attack on Iran as “destabilizing.”

“It’s not prudent at this point to decide to attack Iran,” General Dempsey said, adding that the US government is confident the Israelis “understand our concerns.”

The remarks come as Israeli officials have ramped up their war rhetoric over the past few weeks, threatening Iran with military strikes in case the US-led Western sanctions against the country fail to force Tehran to halt its civilian nuclear program.

Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said on February 9 that, “Israel has a large selection of ways, when the world of international sanctions fails to persuade Iran to halt its nuclear program.”

There is growing worry in Israel, however, about the grave consequences of any Israeli attack against the Iranian nation.

“The whole region will go up in flames. Thousands of rockets will fall on Israel. In the initial days, hundreds of them will fall on Tel Aviv. Then we'll be in a war that goes on for months. The economy will crash. Tel Aviv will become a frontier town,” reported leading Israeli daily Ha’aretz on February 11, quoting a senior opposition member of the regime.

Despite the widely publicized claims by the US, Israel and some of their European allies that Iran's nuclear program may include a military aspect, Iran insists on its civilian nature, arguing that as a signatory to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and a member of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), it has the right to develop and acquire nuclear technology for peaceful purposes.

The IAEA has conducted numerous inspections of Iran's nuclear facilities but has never found any evidence indicating that Tehran's civilian nuclear program has been diverted towards nuclear weapons production.

This is while the Israeli regime is widely known to possess between 200 and 400 nuclear warheads. Furthermore, Tel Aviv refuses to allow its nuclear facilities to come under international regulatory inspectors and rejects any international nuclear regulatory agreements.

No more oil for Britain: Iran

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/227559.html

Britain faces the danger of fuel chaos as it will be deprived of the Iranian oil after the Islamic Republic announced plans to put an end to its oil exports to Britain and France.

As Iran’s Ministry of Oil has confirmed that Iran will stop its oil exports to Britain and France, the fuel price in Britain is expected to rise to record levels.

The news comes as oil prices hit a six-month high with the price of Brent crude reaching USD 120 a week after Iran warned about halting oil exports to the European Union states.

Furthermore, less than one week after the EU countries announcing an upcoming embargo on Iran’s oil exports by July 2012, the average price of petrol across Britain rose to 134.03p per liter (from 133.89p) with the price of diesel rising to 142.32p per liter (from 142.21p).

The Coryton refinery on the Thames suspended its supplies as its insolvent owner Petroplus filed for bankruptcy.

The Daily Mail reported “queues at the pumps and soaring prices” as the newspaper warned that Britain’s “petrol pumps began to run dry.”

Recent news about Iran stopping its oil exports to British and French companies have resulted in serious implications for the British government as soaring prices and petrol shortage would be felt soon.

Iran cuts oil exports to British, French firms

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/227486.html

Iran’s Oil Ministry announces it has cut oil exports to British and French firms in line with the decision to end crude exports to six European states.

The move comes as Iranian Oil Minister Rostam Qasemi had earlier hinted at the possibility of Iran’s halting oil exports to certain European countries.

Iranian Oil Ministry Spokesman Alireza Nikzad-Rahbar said Sunday that Iran has no problem in exporting and selling crude oil to its customers.

“We have our own oil customers and replacements for these [British and French] companies have already been chosen and we will sell the crude oil to new customers instead of the British and French companies,” Nikzad-Rahbar pointed out.

European Union foreign ministers agreed to ban oil imports from Iran on January 23 and to freeze the assets of the Iranian Central Bank across the EU in a bid to pressure Iran over its nuclear program.

The sanctions will become fully effective on July 1, 2012, to give EU member states enough time to adjust to the new conditions and find alternative crude oil supplies.

Despite the widely publicized claims by the US, Israel and some of their European allies that Iran's nuclear program may include a military aspect, Tehran insists its nuclear work is civilian in nature.

Iran argues that as a signatory to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and a member of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), it has the right to develop and acquire nuclear technology for peaceful purposes.

The IAEA has conducted numerous inspections of Iran's nuclear facilities but has never found any evidence indicating that Tehran's civilian nuclear program has been diverted towards nuclear weapons production.

Latin American nations looking for Iran ties, playing with fire

Senator Marco Rubio warns Latin American states that deepening relations with Iran was playing with fire

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/227524.html

US senators have warned the Latin American nations against the deepening financial and military ties with Iran, stressing that the relations with Iran is like “playing with fire.”

According to the Inter-American Security Watch, Iran's relations with Latin America, especially with Venezuela’s Hugo Chavez, were the subject of heated discussions at the US Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on February 16.

“Countries in this [Western] hemisphere that, for political and financial gain, have courted Iran's overtures proceed at their own risk: the risk of sanctions from the United States,” Democratic Senator Robert Menendez told the session.

Republican Senator Marco Rubio echoed Mendez also warned in this regard by saying that “the leaders of these [Latin American] countries are playing with fire.”

Addressing the committee meeting, researcher Douglas Farah claimed that Iran was trying to develop ties with Latin America to use the region for attacking US interests and to reduce the impact of international sanctions on its economy.

“Of particular concern is Iran’s quest for raw nuclear materials and what US National Intelligence Director James Clapper recently described as Iran’s increasing willingness to mount attacks on US soil,” he added.

Former US ambassador to the Organization of American States Roger Noriega said that Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and his Iranian counterpart, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, “are conspiring to wage an asymmetrical struggle against US security [from Latin America].”

On Saturday February 11, US State Department Acting Assistant Secretary for Western Hemisphere Affairs Roberta Jacobson said Iran's growing clout in Latin America has greatly concerned Washington as they believe the Iranian influence is “not positive” for that region.

Iran has been seeking to expand relations with the Latin American countries over the past few years, describing the endeavor as one of its major foreign policy strategies.

The country’s rising popularity in Latin America has raised major concerns in the United States, which regards the region as its strategic backyard and traditional sphere of influence.

Leaders of the Latin American nations have enhanced diplomatic and trade ties with Iran in recent years while their relations with the United States have been downgraded amid popular demands for an end to dependence on Washington.

On January 6, the US warned the Latin American states against expanding diplomatic and business ties with Iran, expressing concern over “Iran's outreach to the Western Hemisphere.”

Oil prices jump after Iran says is cutting cut flow to EU

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/226827.html

The price of oil in global markets hits a six-month high of nearly USD 120 a barrel as Iran says is cutting oil exports to six European countries.

On Wednesday Iran warned six European states, including the Netherlands, Spain, Italy, France, Greece and Portugal, that it is cutting oil exports unless long term deals are made and payments by EU states are guaranteed.

Brent crude was up USD 1.83 reaching USD119.18 a barrel on Wednesday, the highest price since August 1. This is while US crude climbed by USD1.28 to reach USD102.02.

After on January 23 EU announced plans to impose a ban on purchasing oil from Iran, Iranian Oil Minister Rostam Qasemi said on February 8 that Tehran has decided to halt crude exports to some European states.

EU sanctions will take effect on July 1, 2012, to give the bloc’s member states enough time to adjust to new conditions and find alternative crude oil supplies.

On February 8, 200 Iranian lawmakers signed a statement expressing full support for the Oil Ministry's decision and urged the government to find new markets for Iran's crude.

The United States, Israel, and some of their allies accuse Iran of pursuing military objectives in its nuclear program and have used this pretext to impose international and unilateral sanctions on the Islamic Republic.

Iran, however, maintains that, as a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and a member of the International Atomic Energy Agency, it has every right to develop and acquire nuclear technology for peaceful purposes.