Iran to remove UN seals at atomic research sites

[Clara T]

Iran to remove UN seals at atomic research sites
Reuters, Tehran

Iran said yesterday it was preparing to remove UN seals at some nuclear research and development sites, despite strong Western opposition to its decision to resume atomic research halted over two years ago.

It would be the second time in five months that Iran, which insists its nuclear programme is peaceful, removed some seals put in place by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

European Union and US officials have said the move, which follows Iran's resumption of uranium processing at its Isfahan plant in August, will jeopardize efforts to find a diplomatic solution to Iran's atomic ambitions and could accelerate calls for its case to be sent to the UN Security Council.

"We will remove the seals and we have announced that we are ready to start research from tomorrow," Foreign Ministry spokesman Hamid Reza Asefi told a weekly news conference.
"It depends on the IAEA to announce its readiness as this will take place under the agency's supervision," he added.

http://www.thedailystar.net/2006/01/09/d601091308108.htm

[FloridaPat]

1. I read somewhere else the IAEA is going to remove the seals.

I think the WH leaker isn't getting the right info out.

[daleo]

2. It sounds like they are still cooperating with the IAEA

The source is a Bangladesh paper, by the way.

[gulfcoastliberal]

3. They're asking for Osirak pt. 2

I support Israel taking them out after this:

UN seals on N-facilities to be broken, says Iran

Daniel Howden in London
Jan. 8. — Iran was tonight preparing to remove United Nations seals at several nuclear research and development sites, despite warnings from nuclear watchdog Mohamed El Baradei that the international community was running out of patience with Teheran.
It would be the second time in five months that Iran, which insists its nuclear programme is peaceful, removed seals put in place by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). “We will remove the seals and we have announced that we are ready to start research from tomorrow,” foreign ministry spokesman Mr Hamid Reza Asefi said yesterday. “It depends on the IAEA to announce its readiness as this will take place under the agency’s supervision,” he added.

Mr El Baradei, head of the IAEA, disputed Teheran’s assertion that 90 per cent of issues related to the resumption of research had been solved. “I am running out of patience, the international community is running out patience, the credibility of the verification process is at stake and I’d like come March, which is my next report, to be able to clarify these issues,” he told Sky News. Iran has not publicly disclosed what activities it plans to resume tomorrow. Diplomats and analysts say atomic research and development could involve laboratory tests of uranium enrichment and the assembly of enrichment centrifuges. — The Independent

http://www.thestatesman.net/page.news.php?clid=8&theme=&usrsess=1&id=102231

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is insane. I hope that he will come to his senses and stop this insanity, or that those in charge of the military puts a peaceful end to his actions. We canot have this nuclear brinkmanship during this delicate time. Please Mr. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, stop this atomic madness.

[tkmorris]

4. Be careful what you wish for my friend

It might lead to more problems than it solves.

[oblivious]

5. The seals were a voluntary gesture from Iran.

It was a voluntary non-binding gesture. Iran has said that its nuclear program is peaceful and has invited the IAEA to supervise its research to guarantee this.

It suspended activities and invited the IAEA to seal the sites as a gesture of good faith while discussions were taking place, but Iran feels it has been given no reason to continue to suspend its research and it does not legally have to continue to do so as long as the research is for the peaceful use of nuclear energy.

It's not exactly Iran's fault Mr El Baradei does not have time to go there until March. If the IAEA want to be sure the research is for peaceful purposes, they they should go there now and supervise the activities.

Your suggestion that Iran should be "taken out" for acting according to international law doesn't seem altogether sane.

Iran tells IAEA atom research resumes January 9
http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=fundLaunches&storyID=2006-01-03T142302Z_01_SIB349724_RTRUKOC_0_US-NUCLEAR-IRAN-IAEA.xml

[Hardrada]

6. Some folks get the jitters too easily.

Traces of Neocon Koolaid mayhap gets in the water.

[HuffleClaw]

10. 'atomic madness'

geeze. yer sure buying into the scare stories. this is NOT about nukes. its an excuse, just like 'wmd' was a cheap excuse to go to war with iraq. iran oil bourse.

[george_maniakes]

7. nukes

I just saw the movie Testament for the first time. Reminded me of when i was young in the 80's and i thought i was going to die a painful nuclear death. On the one hand, i dont see why iranians shouldnt have the right to nuclear power as other nuclear power capable nations. On the other hand, the fear of someone like their current nutzoid president using that knowledge to build a nuclear weapons program. Any opinions on whether this is an honest program to provide energy for iranians and thats all? At a time like this, some good faith nuclear reductions by all nations holding nuclear weapons would be a nice gesture. I guess hoping for a nuclear weapon free world is hoping for too much, after all i guess some nations feel to hold nuclear weapons is to guarantee the survival of that nation forever, or at least exterminate your enemy if he wins the war. But maybe i could hope for a level of nuclear arms that doesnt guarantee the extermination of human civilization.

[Rex]

8. Welcome to DU! Nice first post.

When this Iranian leader fella said the Holocaust didn't happen, he might as well have put on a nazi uniform or klan hood. IMO, the guy is secretly building or wants to build several nukes for at least two reasons. First, we his enemy (thanks to Reagan's Great Satan legacy) are literally on the doorstep and a nuclear bomb would be easy to deliver to war torn Iraq. Second, nukes make the ultimate defensive weapon. Just ask Lil Kim. I think Bush enabled this guy (just like he does for all crazy warmongers) by being soft of North Korea. If Kimmy can have a bomb, then why not this guy? I think all this Iran/Israel stuff will eventually start WWIII. :(

[HuffleClaw]

9. good for them.

there is no reason, NONE, that justifies the us dictating to other nations what they can and cannot do. this scare talk about nukes serves ONLY to hide the real 'threat' to the us. iranian oil bourse.

funny how the us NEVER makes so much as a PEEP about israeli nukes. not a PEEP. or pakistan. or india. and they occasionally whine about north korea, but do NOTHING.