Obama's top Iran official resigns

John Limbert


Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=137070§ionid=3510203


Head of the US State Department's Iran desk, John Limbert, has resigned from his post due to disillusionment with the Obama administration's "outreach" to Tehran.

US President Barack Obama assigned the retired diplomat, who was one of the 52 Americans held captive in Tehran following the 1979 Revolution, to the Iran desk nine months ago.

"The Obama administration has been in office now for over a year and a half and I think everyone thought we would be in a better place with Iran," Limbert told NPR on Saturday -- one day after stepping down.

He added that few current US officials understand the Iranian culture and speak the language, describing three decades of hostility as "ghosts" impeding diplomatic dialogue.

Obama named Philo L. Dibble as Limbert's successor. Analysts have viewed the change as a shift in Washington's Iran policy.

The resignation comes amid a standoff over Iran's nuclear program over accusations that Tehran is pursuing a military nuclear program.

Iran rejects the allegation, arguing that as a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty it has the right to peaceful nuclear technology.

In line with measures adopted by the US, the European Union, Canada and Australia on Monday imposed unilateral sanctions against Iran's energy industry.

The new sanctions come one month after the UN Security Council approved a US-drafted sanctions resolution targeting the country's financial and military sectors.

Recent reports, however, suggest the US and Israel are preparing for an attack on the Islamic Republic.

The chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen told NBC on Sunday that the US military is prepared to attack Iran and stop it from building "weapons." Mullen, however, expressed concern about the possible repercussions of such a strike.

On Friday, a Jerusalem-based open intelligence source website reported that Israel is currently simulating attacks on Iran's nuclear facilities.

The military drills dubbed "Blue Sky 2010," are underway in Romania.

Iran responds to UNSC resolution

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=130963§ionid=351020101



Iran's Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) has issued a declaration in response to a recent UN Security Council resolution against the country.

"Contrary to all expectations, the resolution has focused on Iran's nuclear program, without so much as a word about the Israeli regime's criminal activities and its attack on the Freedom Flotilla convoy carrying humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip only 10 days ago," read a Friday declaration by SNSC.

"Also, the resolution brazenly ignores the 11 proposals put forward by Iran during Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference, which have been welcomed by world countries, "the declaration added.

"The council takes issue with the adoption of the resolution, particularly since it came despite constructive cooperation and the release of a new report by the International Atomic Energy Agency confirming the non-diversion of Iran's nuclear material for the 22nd consecutive time," it said.

According to the council, the resolution bases its foundations on "baseless accusations" and ignores positive steps taken by Iran, such as the Tehran declaration whereby the country agreed to send 1200 kg of its low-enriched uranium to Turkey in return for the 20-percent enriched fuel it requires for producing medical isotopes at the Tehran Research Reactor.

"This clearly shows that Washington's commitment to Israeli security will never allow UN Security Council to fulfill its obligations with regards to securing the safety and the rights of different nations," the statement noted.

The council said that UNSC interference in Tehran's nuclear case was "illegal" from the start as it defies the human rights article 39 and the IAEA.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran will respond fittingly to any attempt to violate the legal and legitimate rights of the Iranian nation," the statement added.

On June 9, Iran faced a fourth round of sanctions over its nuclear activity after 12 UNSC member states voted in favor of a US-proposed resolution for tighter economic and political measures against the country.

'US cannot garner support for Iran war'

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=129902§ionid=351020104



A former chief UN weapons inspector says the UN Security Council would never approve an attack on Iran, amid US efforts to punish the country for its nuclear work.

Hans Blix made the remarks in an interview with Austrian daily Der Standard published on Wednesday, as the UN Security Council voted to impose a fourth round of sanctions against Tehran.

"A military solution is unlikely. It is clear that the UN will not approve such an action," he said. "Under the UN Charter, there are two possibilities for military action: self-defense against an armed attack or an invasion authorized by the UN Security Council."

The former weapons inspector highlighted the fact it would be impossible for the US to evaluate the existence of low-enriched uranium -- which Iran is producing domestically to make medical isotopes and to fuel its under-construction nuclear power plants -- as an armed attack and compel the UN Security Council to authorize an offensive military strike against Tehran.

Asked on the likelihood of a US military unilateralism, Blix said the odds were very low as the US knew Iran was not unprepared and would dread a situation similar to the preemptive invasion of Iraq --the legality of which remains internationally contested.

"Even the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, US Admiral Michael Mullen, has spoken out against it. He said that one must consider the consequences. And he said the situation was a bit like that in Iraq: you know what to do when you go in, but little about how one makes advances."

Noting West's lack of proof to back allegations against Iran's nuclear program, Blix stressed that the "hot" nuclear standoff could very well be resolved through diplomacy.

Iran -- a member of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) -- argues that is has the legal right to a civilian nuclear program.

The US and Israel, meanwhile, have kept "all options" on the table to prevent Iran from developing its program.

Veto-wielding UNSC members Russia and China, which joined the sanctions campaign despite earlier opposition, say the issue should be resolved through diplomacy and have warned against any military strike against the second oil producer in the world.

At IAEA, Iran slams Israel nukes

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=129932§ionid=351020202



While the US and the EU have refused to put Israel's nuclear program under the spotlight, Iran's ambassador to the IAEA says Israeli nukes pose a major threat to piece and stability across the world.

Iran's Ambassador to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Ali Asghar Soltanieh slammed Israel's nuclear weapons program on Thursday.

"Its (Israel) nuclear weapons capabilities shall undoubtedly increase the potential threat to peace and security of the Middle East and the world at large," he said.

Israel, which has not signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), is widely believed to be the only nuclear power in the Middle East, with around 200 warheads in its arsenal, but has maintained a policy of deliberate ambiguity about its capabilities.

Arab nations along with Russia have also censured Israel at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) board meeting, for preventing the Middle East from becoming a nuclear-free region.

Speaking on behalf of the Arab group, Sudan's Ambassador to the IAEA Mahmoud al-Amin told the closed-door session that Israel was a "nuclear danger."

Meanwhile, the US and the European Union expressed concern over the examination of Israel's case at the IAEA board.

"Singling out Israel for censure is in our view both counterproductive and inappropriate," Glyn Davies, the US ambassador to the IAEA, said

The IAEA meeting was held only a day after the UN Security Council (UNSC) imposed a fourth set of sanctions on Iran over its nuclear program.

The imposition of new sanctions is a "clear indication that others, particularly the United States, are following the path of confrontation, as if the [former US President George W.] Bush era is continuing, and that is very disappointing and the slogan of change has not translated into the action," Soltanieh told Press TV after the meeting.

The forth round of UNSC sanctions came after Iran, Turkey, and Brazil signed a declaration on May 17, according to which Iran would ship 1,200 kilograms of its low-enriched uranium to Turkey to be exchanged for 120 kilograms of 20 percent enriched nuclear fuel rods to power the Tehran research reactor, which produces radioisotopes for cancer treatment.

The nuclear declaration gives Iran a guarantee since the low-enriched uranium is to be stored in Turkey and would be returned if Iran does not receive the 20 percent enriched nuclear fuel within one year.

Despite the fact that Iran agreed to conduct the fuel swap in a third country -- a demand by the West that Iran had previously rejected due to guarantee concerns -- on June 9 the UNSC passed a resolution imposing new sanctions on Iran.

Tehran says it sees the declaration as a confidence-building measure that provides an opportunity for cooperation between Iran and the West.

Israel Shakes Down China

By: Marwan Bishara

Source: Al Jazeera
http://blogs.aljazeera.net/imperium/2010/06/10/israel-shakes-down-china



The New York Times revealed yesterday why the Chinese changed their mind about yet another UN Security Council resolution that imposes new sanctions against Iran.

The resolution passed with 12 votes in favour, two against and one abstention is the fourth of its kind.

Like the Brazilians and the Turks, the Chinese leaned towards diplomacy and doubted the efficacy of another round of sanctions.

Along with Russia, China opposed tougher sanctions that would hurt Iranians and push Tehran into a corner.

Analysts believe Beijing and Moscow came on board after direct intervention by Barack Obama, the US president, and a pledge to water down the resolution and possibly other concessions some of which might be kept secret for long.

The end result is UNSC resolution 1929 that focuses primarily on the nuclear domain, avoids targeting the Iranian society, and dispels use of force as a means for resolution.

But in a rather humiliating revelation, the Israelis tried on the day of the vote to set the record straight by speaking to the US "paper of the record" about their meeting with the Chinese.

Veiled threat

According to The New York Times, "In February, a high-level Israeli delegation travelled to Beijing to present classified evidence of Iran’s atomic ambitions.

Then they unveiled the ostensible purpose of their visit: to explain in sobering detail the economic impact to China from an Israeli strike on Iran — an attack Israel has suggested is all but inevitable should the international community fail to stop Iran from assembling a nuclear weapon.

“The Chinese didn’t seem too surprised by the evidence we showed them, but they really sat up in their chairs when we described what a pre-emptive attack would do to the region and on oil supplies they have come to depend on ...”

To add insult to injury, the Israeli official who chose to reveal this nugget asked the paper for anonymity so as not to upset his Chinese counterparts!

In fact, the Israelis do not want to hide their chutzpah.

The official who was permitted to speak to the press seems proud of Israel's audacity to shake down Beijing when the rest of the world is trying to gain China's favour as one of the of the world's two superpowers.

According to the US newspaper," ... the episode demonstrates how Israel — a small country with limited influence on China — has found ways to engage an emerging superpower whose geopolitical heft is increasingly vital to the Jewish state."

China depends on the Gulf region for half of its oil imports and has being trying to defuse tensions that could hamper its energy supplies.

Double game

When dealing with world superpowers, Israel has long played a double game whenever its relationship with the US permitted it.

In the 1990s it tried to help China out of its global isolation following the Tiananmen massacre. It even tried to lobby Washington for Chinese interests.

In fact, the Israelis have long boasted of lobbying the US, its White House, Congress and media in favour of countries of little importance to the US; have poor human rights record; or merely need US support.

After the Cold War, East European countries and former Soviet republics along with many other Asian countries were offered access to Washington in favour of normalisation of relations.

One wonders if boasting that its lobby has major influence in Washington doesn't indirectly fuel anti-Semitic claims of Jewish influence and control.

Eventually many tapped Israel and its US lobby for help in return of better relations with a country long considered an international pariah.

But when Israel tried to transfer US technology and sophisticated weapons to China worth billions of dollars a decade ago, Washington shot it down and Israel had no choice but to comply.

Proxy game?

Recently Israel has found it more and more difficult to lobby the Obama administration, whose new foreign policy philosophy favors dialogue with allies and nemesis alike, as underlined in its new National Security Strategy released last month.

And with both the US and China charting new ways of dealing with the Muslim world, based on more interaction, trade and normalization of relations, Israel feels increasingly left out in the cold.

The Netanyahu government's aggressive policies and settlement expansion in occupied Palestinian lands, following his predecessor's war on Lebanon and Gaza, is driving Israel further to isolation.

Paradoxically, the only regional issue that has kept Israel in the loop is the Iranian nuclear issue.

Its threat to use military force against Iran couldn't be ignored by those in the region or voting in the UN Security Council. The morning after UNSC passed Resolution 1929, Israel expressed displeasure at its weakness and demanded sanctions with more bite.

So I ask: Would Israel dare shake down China without a green light from Washington? Or, has the US used Israel as an attack dog against those unwilling to support more sanctions against Iran?

Or has the US done everything to pass a UNSC resolution to avoid a potential Israeli military strike against Iran...?

Iran's envoy: West threat to peace

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=129850§ionid=351020104


Iran's Ambassador to the Vatican Ali Akbar Nasseri says the biggest threat to world peace is perpetrated by Western powers that violate rights of smaller nations.

Referring to Western attempts in portraying Iran's nuclear program as a global threat, Nasseri emphasized that the real international threat is in fact brought by the unwillingness of global powers to respect the sovereignty of other nations.

Such threat is imposed by "their domineering behavior toward the legitimate interests of other nations," Nasseri was quoted by a Press TV correspondent as saying during a Sunday lecture in Rome.

The remarks come as the US-sponsored sanctions resolution against Iran was passed by 12 votes at the UN Security Council on Wednesday. Turkey, Brazil, and Lebanon did not vote for the effort.

"Iran hopes for a Middle East free of nuclear weapons and weapons of mass destruction," he said while reiterating Iran's slogan of "nuclear energy for all, nuclear weapons for no one."

The Iranian ambassador also talked about the current situation in the occupied Palestinian territory, noting that the basic rights of the Palestinian people are not respected while much is being done by Western powers in support of Israel.