Iranophobia in Israel. Interview with proofessor Haggai Ram

"Iranophobia in Israel started immediately hand-in-hand with the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Then, with time, it took different shapes. It was not a static phenomenon, but a historical phenomenon that reacted both to prophecies and events that took place outside the boundaries of the Jewish state. And at times it was a reaction to phenomena and circumstances that took place within the boundaries of the Jewish state<...>.

The tragic thing is that both Israel and the United States see eye to eye with respect to the threat that a nuclear Iran might pose to them. Just a few days ago we had the head if the Joint Chiefs of Staff visiting Israel, announcing unequivocally the United States would not permit Iran to obtain nuclear weapons and if that should happen the US will help Israel in its attempt to eliminate that eventuality. So the fact that both Israel and the United States see eye to eye on that is not a very welcoming idea."

See the whole interview on http://www.eastwest-review.com/article/iranophobia-interview-proofessor-haggai-ram

Uranium exchange agreement and a project of new sanctions against Iran

In the middle of May in Teheran a new summit of G-15 took place, the organization including 19 developing countries of Asia, Africa, and Latin America. During the talks foreign affairs ministers and leaders of Iran, Brazil, and Turkey have achieved a very important agreement concerning Iranian nuclear program. A following exchange alternative has been discussed: Iran is to receive fuel for Teheran research reactor in return for a half of Iranian supplies of low-enriched uranium. Despite that the USA has proposed the UN Security Council a project of resolution imposing new sanctions against the Islamic republic.

According to the statement signed on May 17, 2010by the USA, France, Russia, and the IAEA Iran is to deliver 1200 kilos of low-enriched uranium to Turkey. This uranium is to be kept by Turkey; however, it is to remain the property of Iran and may be supervised both by representatives of Iran and IAEA. After the low-enriched uranium is delivered to Turkey, it is to be exchanged for 120 kilos of nuclear fuel necessary for Teheran research reactor within one year.

After the document was signed, Turkey, Russia and China claimed that there was no more need in imposing sanctions against Iran. The Western community, however, reacted different. The USA are still drafting a resolution aiming at “further efforts in order to bring pressure on Iran”.
If new sanctions are to be adopted and come into force, it would lead to further confrontation and failure of the compromise found by Brazil, Turkey, and Iran. Thus, a new coil of this vicious circle will begin, putting off an efficient solution of Iranian question to uncertain future.

It is clear that the USA are afraid that Turkey and Brazil will get too much political credit, having once shown themselves the succeessful negotiators. But isn't it the time to put ambitions aside in order to heal this long-itching wound?
http://www.eastwest-review.com/article/uranium-exchange-agreement-and-project-new-sanctions-against-iran

Sanctions against Iran: did the USA manage to bring over Russia and China?

During the last several months Russia has truly made a step towards the West in the issue of Iranian nuclear problem, having admitted a possibility of introducing of new sanctions against the Islamic Republic. However, Russia did not agree to everything the USA proposed in order to “reload” or conclude a new Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty. The statements made by Medvedev and Obama after their last negotiations showed that opinions of the parties still differ seriously.

Yuriy Lamin notes that the present situation does not look very advantageous for the USA as China has finally decided to take part in the negotiations. It makes consensus on sanctions almost impossible.
http://www.eastwest-review.com/article/sanctions-against-iran-did-usa-manage-bring-over-russia-and-china

A big game around the pipeline Iran-Pakistan-India

Iran possesses large deposits of natural gas, for today confirmed deposits amount to more than 30 trillion cubic meters – the country holds the second place in the world, following the Russian Federation. For recent years production and consumption of natural gas were growing rapidly in Iran, but this country has very limited export capacity. Most of nearest neighbors of Iran, such as Arabic countries of Persian Gulf, Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan, have their own substantial supplies of hydrocarbon resources. Iran makes attempts to develop the export of liquefied gas, but for that foreign investments and technologies are needed. But due to USA pressing many large western companies have to refuse to cooperate with Iran or suspend cooperation. As a result, two still “free” ways of transporting gas with the help of pipelines are very important for Iran: to Turkey and through it probably to Europe; and to Pakistan, and through it to India or China. Iran already exports gas to Turkey through existing pipeline, but a new pipeline is needed to expand export to Turkey and Europe. However, in this case a new pipeline is to be built in the most mountainous regions of both Iran and Turkey, because the main deposits of gas are situated in the southern part of the country. Therefore, it is suggested that a pipeline through Pakistan may be more advantageous for Iran, taking into consideration the possibility of entering Indian and Chinese markets, which can provide export of Iranian gas for many decades to come. It is planned to take gas for this pipeline from the world’s largest shelf deposit “South Pars” in Persian Gulf; this deposits amounts to 14.2 trillion cubic meters, and production volume, according to some data, can amount up to 150 billion cubic meters of gas per year.

To read more go to http://www.eastwest-review.com/article/big-game-around-pipeline-iran-pakistan-india

Iranian policy in Afghanistan

Much is being talked about Iran. And Afghanistan never goes off the papers' headlines. But Did you hear anyone talking about the Iranians in Afghanistan?
Afghanistan has always been one of the priorities of Iranian foreign policy. It is connected both with the common border and with the fact that Afghanistan is a part of the ancient Iranian-speaking world and it has long-standing cultural, economic and political ties with Iran. It is difficult to imagine any serious problem resolving in modern Afghanistan without active participation of Iran, moreover it is necessary to mention that problems of the Afghans has already become problems of the Iranian people...
http://www.eastwest-review.com/article/iranian-policy-afghanistan