Iran VP Under Investigation

By Nader Uskowi

Iran’s presidential office today came in defense of Ahmadinejad’s embattled First Vice President Mohammad Reza Rahimi. Iran’s judiciary had announced last week that it had begun an investigation into the corruption allegations against Rahimi who has denied the charges and has said that he intends to remain Ahmadinejad’s principle deputy throughout his term in office.

The judiciary is run by Sadeq Larijani, the brother of Ali Larijani, the influential speaker of Majlis. Any serious investigation and eventual trial of Rahimi could make the growing infighting within the Islamic Republic’s political establishment very ugly.

The judiciary’s announcement on Rahimi’s investigation came days after Ahmadinejad unceremoniously dumped his foreign minister Manouchehr Mottaki while he was on a foreign mission. Mottaki is thought to be close to Larijani brothers.

On Sunday, former foreign minister Mottaki was praised in a statement by 260 parliament members — all but 30 — in a direct slap against Ahmadinejad.

Mottaki’s Statement on His Dismissal

Iran’s former foreign minister Manouchehr Mottaki has publicly rebutted President Ahmadinejad’s claim that the foreign minister was aware of his pending dismissal while on a foreign mission. In a statement published online, Mottaki calls Ahmadinejad’s move to dismiss him while on a foreign mission “un-Islamic, contrary to all political and diplomatic norms, and insulting.”

“The president knew that the foreign minister’s mission to two African countries began on Sunday 12 December and was to end on Wednesday 15 December when he was scheduled to return to Tehran. I heard the news of my dismissal on Monday 13 December from the Senegalese officials during an official visit with them. Once again I deny [Ahmadinejad’s] assertion that I was aware of my dismissal, of the timing of my dismissal, and most ridiculous of all of the date of my ‘farewell’ ceremony,” Mottaki said in his statement. “They should stop such despicable behavior which is not worthy of our Islamic regime and its great leaders, and not in tune with Iranian manners, norms and culture.”

Growing Criticism of Mottaki’s Dismissal

The Iranian President Ahmadinejad’s dismissal of former foreign minister Manuchehr Mottaki while Mottaki was on an official visit to a foreign capital has brought a wave of criticism against Ahmadinejad, especially on the right and among Ahmadinejad’s normally reliable supporters. Ahmadinejad’s ability in making sound judgments and his tolerance of opposition even among his closest circle of advisors have come under scrutiny. Hossein Shariatmadari, the influential editor of the conservative daily Kayhan, best sums up such reactions to Mottaki’s dismissal.

The dismissal of Mr. Mottaki while on a foreign mission would bring suspicion on the part of the public and the foreigners what seriously urgent issue was at work that did not allow Dr. Ahmadinejad to even wait for 24 hours for his foreign minister’s return to make the decision public. [Ahmadinejad] even saw it critical to contact the press to break the news of the dismissal.

What happened in recent days that the respected president could not wait for few hours to dismiss his foreign minister?

Few months ago, Ahmadinejad appointed his “special envoys” for different parts of the world, like Esfandiar Rahim Mashaie to be his envoy in Middle East. Mottaki objected to these appointments, considering them parallel work with the ministry of foreign affairs, and after the intervention by the supreme leader Ahmadinejad backed off and changed the titles to “advisor.” But three days ago, Mashaie was sent to Jordan to carry a message by Ahmadinejad. Perhaps Mottaki objected to this and was dismissed while on a foreign mission. Ahmadinejad could have waited a bit for God forbid not giving the impression that he cannot take criticism even from his own foreign minister.

Salehi Named Acting Foreign Minister

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad today changed his foreign minister, appointing Ali Akbar Salehi, the head of Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI), as the acting foreign minister.

The incumbent foreign minister, Manouchehr Mottaki, was on official visit to Senegal, and in an unprecedented move was fired while visiting a foreign capital.

Egypt Cancels Mottaki’s Visit

Iranian Foreign Minister Manuchehr Mottaki

The Egyptian government today cancelled a scheduled visit to Cairo by Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki. The move was made after Mottaki harshly criticized the US-sponsored peace talks between the Palestinian and Israeli leaders underway in Washington, calling the Palestinian leader a “traitor.” Mottaki was to attend a meeting of non-aligned nations in Cairo.

The Egyptian President Hosni Mobarak, as well as the King of Jordan, is in Washington to support the peace talks. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas met with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to start the latest peace talks between the two nations.

EU Sanctions to Start; Iran to Restart Talks

The Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said today Iran is ready to re-start immediately talks with the Western powers over a nuclear fuel swap agreement. He made this remarks at the sideline of a meeting with his Turkish and Brazilian counterparts in Istanbul.

Meanwhile, the EU will start its tough new sanctions against the Iranian oil and gas industry on Monday. The EU foreign affairs chief Catherine Ashton will also seek to revive talks with Iran over the nuclear program. The two-track approach is to convince Iran to stop further uranium enrichment and to ship most of its current inventory abroad.

In Washington, former CIA director General Michael Haden said today in an interview on CNN that the sanctions have not succeeded in stopping Iran from pursuing capabilities right below the nuclear weapon, and that he now believes military action against Iran "may not be the worst of possible outcomes," [CNN, “The State of Union”, 25 July]. While in office, Hayden had played down the “kinetic option.”

Iranian solutions to the Afghanistan situation

Iran's Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki has called for a regional solution to the situation in Afghanistan stating that western forces were only adding insecurity and the increased trafficking of opium:

"The solution to Afghanistan should not be sought in military confrontation and any action in Afghanistan should be based on realities."

-- Mottaki

In a speech he outlined five solutions to the conflict in question:

(i) The Afghan Constitution is the greatest achievement of the country and hence needs to set the criterion for any measures to be taken in the country. Besides that, the process of government formation and the reinforcement of civil institutions should be supported by the international community.

(ii) The presence and increase of foreign forces will not help the situation in Afghanistan. Afghan people and government need to be trusted and a timetable for the withdrawal of foreign forces should be set as well.

(iii) A double standard policy on fighting terrorism has to be avoided.

(iv) Security and development are two inseparable factors; hence the reconstruction of Afghanistan and its infrastructures should become the focus of more attention. In doing so, Iran continues to contribute to the reconstruction of Afghanistan and welcomes other countries' participation as well.

(v) Regional cooperation needs to be supported as the proper approach to the issue. Iran for its part continues to hold regional meetings on Afghanistan and expects other non-regional countries to support the move. Iran believes that increased regional cooperation in transportation, energy and other sectors will contribute to development in Afghanistan.

[Source: PressTV 20/07/2010]

IAEA Chief: No New Iran Proposal

IAEA chief Yukiya Amano said today that Iran's foreign minister, Manouchehr Mottaki, made no new proposals to him on a possible nuclear fuel deal during a meeting on the sidelines of the Munich Security Forum.

"There was not a new proposal. We exchanged views," Amano said.

Since IAEA proposed the compromise at Vienna talks last October, Iranian leaders have simultaneously accepted and rejected the deal. The latest round started on Tuesday when the Iranian president said on national TV that Iran was ready to swap its low-enriched uranium for nuclear fuel, the centerpiece of IAEA proposal. On Friday night Iran’s foreign minister said the two sides are reaching a final agreement. Today, Iran’s powerful Majlis speaker, Ali Larijani, said Iran would not send its enriched uranium abroad, calling the proposed agreement a "political swindle" [Mehr News Agency, 6 February].

IAEA chief is now telling us that Mottaki did not give the agency any new proposal to clinch the agreement. US and European officials had earlier voiced doubt that Iran was ready to accept the IAEA proposal.

UPDATE (Sunday 7 February): President Ahmadinejad ordered Iran's Atomic Energy Organization to start production of 20% enriched uranium.

West Skeptical on Nuclear Deal with Iran

US and European officials today voiced doubt that a deal with Iran on swapping its low-enriched uranium is close. On Friday, Iran’s foreign minister told Munich Security Conference that prospect for clinching such deal was good.

US Secretary of Defense Robert Gates said in Ankara on Saturday that he did not have a sense the two sides were close to an agreement.

“If they are prepared to take up the original proposal of the P-5 plus one of delivering 12,000 kilograms of their low enriched uranium all at once to an agreed party, I think there would be a response to that.

“But the reality is they have done nothing to reassure the international community they are prepared… to stop their progress towards a nuclear weapon, and therefore I think various nations need to think about whether the time has come for a different tack,” Gates added.

German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle also said at Munich Conference that Iran had so far failed to dispel Western skepticism that it was prepared to make meaningful concessions over its nuclear program.

"Our hand is still reaching out towards them. But so far it's reaching out into nothingness… And I've seen nothing since yesterday that makes me want to change that view," Westerwelle said.

Mottaki To Munich

The Iranian Foreign Ministry just announced that Manouchehr Mottaki, Iran’s Foreign Minister, would attend Munich Security Conference tonight. He will hold a “night owl” debate on Iran’s nuclear program with Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt late Friday night.

The surprising last-minute decision by Iran to send Mottaki to Munich came just days after Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad signaled Iran’s readiness to accept the IAEA proposed settlement of the Iranian nuclear program.

At the three-day annual conference in Munich, top world politicians will discuss security issues in Europe, the Middle East and elsewhere. Iranian senior officials had in the past attended the conference, but this year the Iranian foreign minister did not register to attend until hours before leaving Iran.

Iran Rejects Resignation of Its Diplomat in Norway

Iranian foreign minister Manouchehr Mottaki said on Monday that he has not accepted the resignation of Mohammad Reza Heydari, Iran’s consul in Norway. Heydari resigned on 7 January in protest at Tehran’s violent suppression of opposition demonstrations during Ashura (27 December).

Mottaki demanded Heydari’s return to Tehran. The Iranian embassy in Oslo and the Iranian foreign ministry in Tehran had until now denied that one of their diplomats had resigned in protest.

Heydari said on Monday in Oslo that he would not return to Iran for fear of repercussions.

"Returning to Tehran would be putting my life and my family's at risk," he said. The diplomat, a married father of two whose family lives with him in Norway, has been stationed in Oslo for just over two years.

"I have worked with Mr. Mottaki and have respect for him. But my message to him is clear: he has to look around him and become aware of what is happening. He has to resign and fight alongside his people, not against his people," Heydari added.

No Nuclear Deal- Mottaki

Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki

During the Interview with ISNA: "Definitely Not!"

Tehran. 18 November. ISNA Photo

Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki announced during an interview with ISNA today that Teheran would “definitely” not agree to send its low-enriched uranium (LEU) abroad for further processing [ISNA, 18 November].

“Definitely, Iran will not send its 3.5 percent enriched fuel out, it means that we think the simultaneous fuel swap is considerable inside Iran,” Mottaki told ISNA.

The foreign minister did not elaborate how the fuel swap inside Iran works. But he was clear that no LEU would be shipped out. On Iran’s formal response to IAEA nuclear deal, Mottaki said the agency has been notified of Iran’s position.

“The proposal was studied in Tehran and we notified the IAEA of our response.”

No enriched uranium exchange: Iran's MP

Member of Parliament Alaeddin Boroujerdi

A senior Iranian parliamentarian says Iran will not exchange its domestically manufactured low-enriched uranium with the West to resupply the Tehran research reactor (TRR).

The Chief of Iran’s Parliament National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, Alaeddin Boroujerdi, told the Iranian Students News Agency (ISNA) on Saturday: “giving the 3.5 percent enriched uranium to receive 20 percent enriched fuel for Tehran’s research reactor, whether gradually or all at once, is called off.”

Boroujerdi went on to say that Iran and nuclear fuel supplier countries must find an alternative way to provide Tehran’s research reactor with fuel. “Presently, Mr. Soltanieh is in talks to find an approach for the issue.”

In addition, responding to remarks made by some Western officials that a response to the IAEA brokered deal as it now stands is required in two days time, Boroujerdi responded that the West cannot impose a deadline on Iran.

On Friday Iran said it is preparing to give more details on its response to the international proposals for supplying nuclear fuel and expects more negotiations.

Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said Tehran would give the additional details to the IAEA following the initial response it gave on October 29.

"We have some more details which we have to give to the International Atomic Energy Agency," state television quoted Mottaki on its website as saying.

"We have three options -- enrich the fuel ourselves, buy it directly or exchange our uranium for fuel," he said.

"They (the IAEA and the major powers) have to choose from these options. Given the need of Iran to have the fuel, my view is that they will accept another round of discussions."

Charlie Rose - Manouchehr Mottaki

Manouchehr Mottaki, Foreign Minister of Iran, discusses Iran and US relations with Charlie Rose.

Iran, Saudi FM's Meet in Cairo

Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki flew to Cairo today to meet with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal. The meeting took place at the VIP lounge at Cairo airport. Reuters reports that the situation in Lebanon and Gaza were the main topics of discussion.

Prince Faisal later held talks in the same VIP lounge with US Assistant Secretary of State David Welch who had flown from Amman on a visit to Egypt.

Hossini vs. Mottaki

Iran’s Foreign Ministry Spokesman Mohammad Ali Hosseini needed to go before the reporters to reject his own minister’s assertion on Iran’s share of the Caspian Sea resources. On Sunday, Iran’s Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki had said that “Iran's exploitation of the Caspian Sea has never been higher than 11.3 percent.” Hossini said not so fast. In his press conference on Monday, Hosseini emphasized that Iran's share of the Caspian Sea resources will be “around 20 percent.” He added, “Tehran has always made efforts to reach the quota and will not forgo its right.”

Mottaki, talking to reporters on the sidelines of a ceremony to mark Eid Ghadir, has put Kazakhstan's share of the Caspian Sea at 24%, Russia’s and Turkmenistan at less than 20% and Iran’s at 11.3% (IRNA, 30 December).

In 1921, the Iranian government had signed an accord with the Russian revolutionary government headed by Lenin dividing the resources of the sea equally between the two countries. The collapse of the Soviet Union and its replacement on Caspian shores with four independent states of Russia, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, and Turkmenistan created a new situation. Many Iran analysts believe that the accord signed in 1921 is still legally valid and binding. It is the 50% share of the former Soviet Union that needs to be redistributed among the four new republics. The current government in Iran, however, has not backed the claim and seems ready to accept a 20% share based on “principle of justice.”

Mottaki is suggesting a percentage for Iran even lower than what had been suggested by Russia. The Russians argue Iran’s share is at 13.6% based on the length of its coastal line. Mottaki has not backed down personally and it is not clear whether Majlis would impeach him for his remarks.

News from Iran

The growing tensions between the US and Iran and the regional security issues dominated the coverage in the Iranian media. The influential former president Hashemi Rafsanjani warned the nation that “exceptional conditions” exists for the country, with the US, the UK and the Arab states of the Persian Gulf uniting against Iran. The influential conservative daily Keyhan characterized US-Iran talks as “fruitless” and the commander of the revolutionary guards called upon the Moslems to increase their vigilance against the US. The Iranian foreign minister denounced US arms sales to Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states as “mercenary in nature.” On the nuclear front, President Ahmadinejad said that accepting Iran’s uranium enrichment program is the only way to resolve the nuclear standoff with Iran.

US-Iran Relations

· Iran’s influential former president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani warned the nation that “exceptional conditions” exists for the country; Rafsanjani said that the common stance adopted by the US president and the British prime minister against Iran during their recent meeting and the visits by the US state and defense secretaries to the region to “strengthen the regional countries against Iran” are manifestations of these “exceptional conditions” in the country; Rafsanjani added that during his presidency friendly relationships with the Arab state of the Persian Gulf were established and they were not uniting against Iran.
· Iran’s foreign minister Manouchehr Mottaki said US has too many problems in Iraq to be able to attack Iran; Mottaki said 170,000 US soldiers in Iraq have been unable to guarantee neither their own safety nor the security of Iraq; Mottaki dismissed any future UN sanction against Iran and said they would not change Iran’s mind to continue its nuclear program.
· Iran’s secretary of supreme national security council Ali Larijani said Iran is in no need for US security guarantees; Larijani said Iran will exercise its rights, including its nuclear rights, regardless if US likes it or not; he added the US does not want Iranians to have the nuclear technology; Larijani chided the US for making a strategic mistake on stopping Iran’s nuclear program because Iran has already acquired the nuclear technology.
· The influential conservative daily Keyhan called the recent negotiations between Iran and US on Iraqi security as “fruitless”; the editorial on 25 July characterized the US as “obstructionist” and “irresponsible”; sensible talks do not get through to the occupiers of Iraq, the editorial concluded.

Iran Nuclear Program

· Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said accepting Iran’s legal rights to enrich uranium is the only solution to the nuclear standoff; They [the West] should come and say this is your right, Ahmadinejad added; he said that security council resolutions against Iran over its nuclear program are illegal; he said the court of public opinion in the world is in favor of Iran and the public opinion has the final say on the world stage today.
· Iran’s chief nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani said that enriching uranium is like “breathing” for Iran; Larijani said Iran will not halt the spinning centrifuges at Natanz enrichment plant.
· Iran’s foreign minister Manouchehr Mottaki said new sanctions against Iran would mean “confrontation” with Iran; Mottaki said that Iran would be tempted to do “illegal” things if a new round of sanctions is imposed on the country;
· The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspectors visited heavy-water reactor under construction at Arak; the inspection took place on 30 July and lasted five hours.
· Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman Mohammad Ali Hosseini said Iran has no debts to Russia for the construction of Bushehr nuclear reactor; he rejected Russian claims that Iran has failed to fulfill its financial commitments on Bushehr project; Hosseini added that it would be in the interest of Russia not to waste time and to speed up the plant completion.

Domestic Storylines

· Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Iran is in the process of building satellites; he said Iran must have its own satellite in the orbit; “We have to build it. We are doing it right now,” Ahmadinejad said.
· President Ahmadinejad said that fuel consumption in the country was much more than the global average and rationing gasoline was a necessity; he said that gasoline rationing was favored by Majlis (the parliament) and the government decided to implement it; he said the rationing program has resulted in a drop in gasoline consumption of 23 million liter (6 million gallon) per day; the program limits the gasoline consumption to slightly less than a gallon per car per day.
· President Ahmadinejad said he has not yet thought about running for re-election; responding to a reporter’s question on the unpopularity of the government’s gasoline rationing program and the risks to his re-election chances, Ahmadinejad said what he says and what he does is not meant to win votes.
· Iranian judiciary spokesman Ali Reza Jamshidi said two Iranian Kurdish journalists have been sentenced to death for being "enemies of God"; Adnan Hassanpour and Abdolvahed "Hiva" Botimar were sentenced to death on July 16 by a revolutionary court in Marivan, in Iran's northeastern Kordestan province.

Regional Storylines

· Iranian foreign minister Manouchehr Mottaki denounced US arms sales to Saudi Arabia and other Arab states of the Persian Gulf as “mercenary” in nature; Mottaki said that the sales is to help US defense contractors from going bankrupt; Mottaki said “the White House politicians are major stakeholders in big arms companies trying to abuse their remaining months in office to whip up a delusional atmosphere, bring big profits to those arms companies and present the outcome as a move to enhance regional stability and security”; Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General Mohammad Mustafa Najar also accused the US of seeking to “spark an arms race in a bid to keep their giant weapon production companies away from the danger of bankruptcy.”
· The Commander of Islamic Revolution Guards Corp. (IRGC) Major General Yahya Rahim Safavi said Muslims should increase their vigilance against the US; Gen. Safavi said Iraq is becoming another Vietnam for the US.
· Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman Mohammad Ali Hosseini said if the US abides by the outcome of US-Iran talks on Iraq and fulfills its commitments, it must help bolster the Maleki government; Hosseini expressed concerned over recent development to weaken the Iraqi government and pledged Iran’s full support for Maleki.
· Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman Mohammad Ali Hosseini denied published reports that Iran is promoting violence in Basra; UK Consul in Basra, Richard Jones had accused Iran of promoting violence to hinder UK plan to hand in the city’s security to the Iraqis.
· Iranian speaker of parliament, Gholam Haddad Adel, said the victory of Hezbollah over Israel belongs to the entire Moslem world; Adel wished Hezbollah “greater victories in future fight against Zionism.”
· Iran’s influential conservative daily Keyhan, commenting on the recent elections results in Turkey, wrote that Iran’s own Islamic revolution inspired the wave of Islamism in Turkey and in the entire region; Keyhan added that the “green revolution” in the Middle East is superseding the Western-inspired velvet revolutions that took place elsewhere; the reformist daily Aftab Yazd commenting on the same election results criticized Keyhan and the government for not understanding that the victory by Islamic Justice and Development Party (AKP) does not represent victory of Islamism, Aftab Yazd wrote that AKP is committed to the country’s “general secular framework” and although their leaders are personally practicing Moslems but they have accepted the secular nature of the Turkish state.