Iran – Kicking It up a Notch and Says No to Pelosi

Being the attention whore that Iran has become, deputy head of the Atomic Energy Organization, Ahmad Fayazbakhsh announced:

“Iran is launching two international tenders for the construction of two nuclear power stations of between 1,000 and 1,600 megawatts capacity in Bushehr.”

They have already contacted Russian and European firms, but since Iran is under such tough UN sanctions it’s unclear whether they will get any decent offers. Personally, I don’t think they will have too much trouble in the bid department from Russian or EU firms:

“European goods make up 44% of the Iran’s total imports which last year amounted to more than $16 billion. During that time the EU imported over $10 billion in merchandise from Iran. In addition European invests billions of dollars in Iranian oil, gas, mining, automotive, transportation and communications companies.”

We’ll wait and see how this progresses. The EU had only milquetoast remarks regarding the “15 victims of a misunderstanding,” so let’s see where the Euro leads them.

In keeping with its role as a “good faith” negotiator, Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad-Ali Hosseini said the IAEA was looking to clarify “possible” ambiguities regarding Iranian “peaceful nukes”:

"The IAEA's inspectors are currently present at Iran's Natanz nuclear site. The inspectors will draw up their report on the latest developments in Iran's nuclear program and will present it to the agency's chief Mohammed ElBaradei."

Head of Majlis National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, Alaeddin Boroujerdi, yesterday said regarding possible talks with US Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi that it just wasn’t going to happen. So much for a peaceful conclusion then without the Nanc. This is due to the negative and bitter stance taken by the U.S. thus far in the Iranian quest for “peaceful nukes.” The U.S. has taken steps that run counter to the Vienna Convention with its torture and kidnapping of Iranian diplomats…..hmmmm……“practices of the US administration spoiled the situation” that would allow for talks.

Perhaps this is why Parnaz Azima, a reporter for Radio Farda – Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (Persian service), on a trip to Iran to visit a sick relative had her Iranian passport seized by Iranian authorities who “have failed to return it to her, it said. It was not clear what the reason was. The statement said Azima was once asked to cooperate with Iran's intelligence services, which she refused.”

Also, as President Mahmoud “Momo” Ahmadinejad urges Iranians to ramp up efforts to increase or improve and develop the national asset; which is “duty” other Middle Eastern nations are looking more and more interested in nuclear power…….hmmmmm…..:

“Two years ago, the leaders of Saudi Arabia told international atomic regulators that they could foresee no need for the kingdom to develop nuclear power. Today, they are scrambling to hire atomic contractors, buy nuclear hardware and build support for a regional system of reactors.”

“So, too, Turkey is preparing for its first atomic plant. And Egypt has announced plans to build one on its Mediterranean coast. In all, roughly a dozen states in the region have recently turned to the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna for help in starting their own nuclear programs. While interest in nuclear energy is rising globally, it is unusually strong in the Middle East.”

“The rules have changed,” King Abdullah II of Jordan recently told the Israeli newspaper Haaretz. “Everybody’s going for nuclear programs.”

“The Middle East states say they only want atomic power. Some probably do. But United States government and private analysts say they believe that the rush of activity is also intended to counter the threat of a nuclear Iran.”

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Iranian Diplomats Release from Iraq

Jalal Sharafi, an Iranian “diplomat,” was abducted on February 4^th of this year by men dressed in Iraqi military uniforms and has been released from Iraq.

When initially abducted, Iran held the U.S. responsible and demanded his release. The U.S. military was not aware of the event.

According to the NY Times:

“IRNA, a government news agency, provided no details in an English language report about the circumstances of his release, which Iran has been demanding along with the release of other Iranians still in detention in Iraq.”

In depth reporting from two IRNA articles are:

“Abducted Iranian diplomat released”

“alal Sharafi, Second Secretary of Iran's Embassy in Iraq, who was abducted in Baghdad on Feb 4, was released Tuesday. An informed source told IRNA today that Sharafi is to return to Tehran this afternoon.”

“Released Iranian diplomat returns to Tehran”

Jalal Sharafi, second secretary of Iran's Embassy in Iraq, who was abducted in Baghdad on February 4, arrived in Tehran's Mehrabad International Airport after being released on Tuesday. Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki and a number of the ministry's officials welcomed Sharafi at the airport.”

The release comes at a time when (victims of a misunderstanding) from NYT:

“heightened tensions between the Iranian government and Britain over the capture of 15 British sailors who are being held in Iran.”

New developments in the standoff:

“Prime Minister Tony Blair said in an interview on a Scottish radio station, Real Radio, that the next 48 hours would be “fairly critical” in resolving the dispute and that the release of the sailors could still be secured by diplomatic efforts.”

Also Islamic Republic of Iran President Mahmoud “Momo” Ahmadinejad has postponed his planned address to reporters until Wednesday; in depth from IRNA:

“President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's press conference, previously scheduled for Tuesday, has been postponed to Wednesday. The president will speak to domestic and foreign reporters in his first press conference in the new Iranian year, started March 21. He is to outline Iran's latest stance on different issues, regional and international developments in particular.”

The “outline” covering the latest stance, as well as regional and international developments should prove to be quite eye-opening in the just woke up sense.

Think we’ll hear anything new?

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