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Iran Says Ready to Discuss Industrial Enrichment
Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said today that his country is open to talks on its plans for large-scale uranium enrichment, the Associated Press reported (see GSN, April 3). “For industrial-scale production of nuclear fuel, which is the next stage (of enrichment), we are ready for negotiations,” Mottaki said. Tehran also today confirmed that it has tested a second radar-avoiding missile. Some experts, however, suggested that the technology might be Russian and also questioned its effectiveness. A Russian lawmaker today criticized Iran’s recent missile tests, Russian news agencies reported. The tests “are counterproductive and do not create the necessary atmosphere of trust at the consultations and negotiations around the Iranian nuclear program,” said Konstantin Kosachev, the head of the parliamentary foreign affairs committee, according to ITAR-Tass. “It is clear that Iran is demonstrating its muscle in order to forestall any discussions of a possible operation using force against Iran,” RIA Novosti quoted him as saying. “I would welcome more flexibility from Tehran in connection with the well-known Russian proposal on joint uranium enrichment, and not place bets on the demonstration of some new types of weapons,” he added (Associated Press/Ha’aretz Daily, April 4). A U.S. State Department spokesman yesterday expressed concern about Iran’s missile tests, Agence France-Presse reported. “The fact that in three days you’ve had the test of a missile, as well as the reported test of a torpedo of new capability, demonstrates a weaponization program by Iran that does nothing to reassure Iran’s neighbors or the international community,” said deputy spokesman Adam Ereli. “It certainly is of concern” (Agence France-Presse I/The Australian, April 3). International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors are scheduled to arrive in Iran next week for a regular inspection, IRNA reported yesterday. Iran’s ambassador to the agency, Ali Asghar Soltanieh, told IRNA the inspectors are scheduled to visit Natanz and other facilities. “Despite the March (U.N. Security Council) resolution, the Islamic Republic of Iran has not suspended its cooperation with the agency and the IAEA inspectors have paid regular visits to the country,” Soltanieh said. “There will be no halt with regards to Iran’s carrying out its undertakings towards the IAEA,” he said (IRNA/BBC Monitoring, April 3). Meanwhile, Russia launched an Iranian microsatellite in October and plans to launch another in the next few weeks, the New York Times reported today. Some Western experts have said the move marks a new stage in Iran’s effort to master a range of sophisticated technologies that could ultimately support its nuclear program. “It may appear tempting to dismiss Iranian efforts” as relatively crude, said John Sheldon, a British analyst at the Center for Defense and International Security Studies. “But Iran has already demonstrated a persistence and patience that would indicate it is prepared to play a long game in order to achieve its ambitions.” A credible nuclear arsenal, Western analysts said, includes the ability to launch a missile accurately, similar to the way a rocket launches a satellite. Iran has indicated its intention to eventually launch satellites on its own, the Times reported. “The real issue is that they have a very large booster under development,” said Anthony Cordesman, a military analyst at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. U.S. officials have not yet protested Iran’s space program or discouraged Russia from providing assistance, according to the Times. However, a senior U.S. official said Washington was “taking another look” at asking Moscow to end the assistance as leverage in the nuclear standoff. China, India, Italy and North Korea have also assisted Iran with its space and rocket programs, the Times reported. Iran first purchased Russian Scud missiles and then learned how to manufacture its own variation, the Shahab 1. By 1991, the missile’s range had been extended to about 300 miles in the Shahab 2 version. A Shahab 3 was eventually made using a North Korean prototype. Charles Vick, a GlobalSecurity.org expert on Iran’s missile program, said one strategy for preparing long-range missiles — able to put satellites into space or reach other continents — was to stack all three versions, producing a tall missile with two stages and a range of nearly 2,000 miles (Broad/Sanger, New York Times, April 4). A top Russian military official said yesterday that all nuclear weapons located in Ukraine during the break-up of the Soviet Union were transferred to Russia, Interfax news agency reported. Some Ukrainian officials had alleged that 250 nuclear warheads were missing and allegedly sold to Iran. “I don’t comment on statements of this kind, which have no real grounds. At least the Russian General Staff is not in possession of information to the effect that Ukraine sold or handed over 250 nuclear warheads, let alone to Iran,” said the chief of Russia’s General Staff, Yuriy Baluyevskiy. German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier yesterday held talks in Washington with U.S. officials on the Iranian nuclear standoff, AFP reported. White House spokesman Scott McClellan said President George W. Bush discussed the issue by telephone with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who is scheduled to visit Washington next month. Steinmeier and U.S. national security adviser Stephen Hadley discussed Iran, the U.S.-Indian nuclear deal and other issues, said German Foreign Ministry spokesman Martin Jaeger. Steinmeier and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice are today expected to address the possibility of direct talks between Tehran and Washington regarding Iraq, according to AFP (Agence France-Presse II, April 3). Elsewhere, former U.N. chief weapons inspector Hans Blix said yesterday that Iran is a least five years away from developing a nuclear weapon, AP reported. Blix dismissed the possibility of a U.S. invasion of the country. “But there is a chance that the U.S. will use bombs or missiles against several sites in Iran,” he was quoted by the Norwegian news agency NTB as saying. “Then, the reactions would be strong, and would contribute to increased terrorism.” Blix said there is still time for a negotiated settlement. “We have time on our side in this case. Iran can’t have a bomb ready in the next five years,” he said (Associated Press/Yahoo!News, April 3).
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