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Prayer Time (Tehran)
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Dawn: 5:18
Sunrise: 6:46
Noon: 11:50
Evening: 17:14
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Weather Guide
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WED |
THU |
Tehran: |
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High: |
1 oC |
a-1 oC |
Low: |
-3 oC |
-3 oC |
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Athens |
15 |
12 |
Ankara |
10 |
5 |
Cairo |
22 |
2 |
Copenhagen |
2 |
4 |
Frankfurt |
4 |
22 |
Karachi |
22 |
20 |
Kuwait City |
19 |
20 |
London |
6 |
7 |
Madrid |
13 |
13 |
Moscow |
-7 |
-6 |
New Delhi |
25 |
25 |
Paris |
5 |
3 |
Riyadh |
21 |
21 |
Rome |
11 |
11 |
Vienna |
5 |
3 |
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Identification
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Published by the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA)
Address:
Iran Cultural & Press Institute, #212 Khorramshahr Avenue Tehran/Iran
Executive Editor:
Editorial Dept. Tel: 88755761-2
Editorial Dept. Fax: 88761869
Advertising Dept. Tel: 88500616,88500617
Internet Address:
www.iran-daily.com
E-mail Address:
iran-daily@iran-daily.com
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Proposal for Direct US Talks Valid
No Major Problem With UK
Nuclear Ambiguities Will End
By Mohammad Reza Asgari
TEHRAN, Dec. 11--President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Iran welcomes the outlines of a recent report by the US National Intelligence Estimate and considers it a step forward.
Speaking in a press conference on Tuesday, Ahmadinejad noted that Iran’s positive attitude toward NIE does not mean that the report is perfect.
Asked by CNN’s correspondent whether Iran is ready to take part in face-to-face talks and without any preconditions with the US, Ahmadinejad responded that as everyone knows, problems between Iran and the US are not limited to the nuclear issue or the anti-Iran resolutions.
“We have a long list of problems and we should be looking for their solutions,“ he said.
The president pointed out that during his visit to the US last year, he expressed his readiness to take part in talks with American officials on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly meeting held in New York.
“And this proposal is still on the table,“ he said.
In response to another American reporter, Ahmadinejad said in his opinion the world’s political landscape is rapidly changing and the world, particularly the Middle East, is not prepared for new military invasions.
“Countries responsible for the military invasion of other countries do not have the capacity for new military conflicts,“ he said.
Noting that using the military option will deteriorate the prevailing conditions, the president emphasized the negative consequences of military conflicts for the invaders themselves.
Commenting on anti-Iran resolutions issued by the United Nations Security Council, Ahmadinejad pointed out that the West has problems with the two resolutions issued by the Security Council and they have to solve it themselves.
Asked by the BBC correspondent about the possibility of peace between Iran, the US and the UK before the end of his presidential tenure, the chief executive said Iran does not have any problem with the UK.
Ahmadinejad opined that the only problem with the UK is that it supports policies of a third country.
“If the UK adopts an independent stance in its relations with Iran, we will see that no major problem exists. Of course, we have received messages in this regard and have given positive response,“ he said.
Ahmadinejad asserted that
The Al-Jazeerah correspondent stated that US Defense Secretary Robert Gates’ proposal to build a Mideast defense shield is aimed at ruining Ahmadinejad’s efforts in Qatar to prevent Tehran from establishing friendly ties with other Arab countries.
The chief executive responded that the Iranian government cannot prevent others from making efforts.
“We have our own diplomatic efforts and state our own stance; they also do the same,“ he said.
Ahmadinejad noted that Iran’s proposals to neighboring countries have been constructive and are aimed at consolidating the scientific, economic, cultural and social cooperation.
The Japanese daily Asahi Shimbun’s correspondent asked about charges brought against former Iran’s top nuclear negotiator, Hossein Mousavian, to which the president said judiciary is responsible for Mousavian’s case and his verdict will be issued in due time.
Asked by Arabic news network Al-Alam about the possibility of Israel’s attack on Iran increasing with the increase in the number of Iran’s centrifuges, Ahmadinejad said every country has a limited capacity for military attacks and Israel is not an exception.
“Iran needs about 50,000 active centrifuges and it takes four to five years to reach this number of centrifuges,“ he said.
Referring to the positive reports of the International Atomic Energy Agency and the US National Intelligence Estimate on Iran, Ahmadinejad expressed hope that ambiguities concerning Iran’s nuclear case will gradually disappear.
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Zolqadr Goes
To Joint Chiefs Of Staff
TEHRAN, Dec. 11--Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei appointed Brigadier General Mohammad Baqer Zolqadr as the deputy chief of Joint Staff of the Armed Forces for Basij affairs.
In a decree on Tuesday, the leader highlighted the commitment, experiences and managerial record of Zolqadr--a former head of the Joint Staff of the Islamic Revolution’s Guards Corps, ISNA reported.
The appointment creates a new position in the Armed Forces.
“Based on the recommendation of the joint chief of staff, I appoint you as the deputy for Basij (volunteer forces) affairs,“ the leader said, stressing that he looks forward to the qualitative and quantitative development of Basij.
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Egyptian Deputy FM Expected
Haddad to Visit Cairo
TEHRAN, Dec. 11--Egyptian Deputy Foreign Minister Hussein Darar is expected in Tehran on Tuesday evening.
During his stay in Tehran, the Egyptian deputy foreign minister is scheduled to discuss expansion of mutual relations as well as regional and international developments with Iranian officials, Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said on Tuesday, IRNA reported.
Araqchi recently visited Cairo where he exchanged views with Egyptian officials.
Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit said on Monday Cairo will send its deputy foreign minister to Tehran to study expansion of mutual relations.
Meanwhile, Majlis Speaker Gholamali Haddad Adel is also scheduled to visit Egypt.
Kazem Jalali, rapporteur of Majlis National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, said on Tuesday the visit is upon the official invitation of Haddad’s Egyptian counterpart, Fars News Agency reported.
He said Haddad will participate in the Inter-Parliamentary Union meeting in Cairo.
“Iran regards Egypt as a very important country while the role of Egypt in the world of Islam is of great significance,“ he said.
Asked about a probable meeting between Haddad and Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, Jalali said the schedule has not yet been set.
This is the first visit by the head of a branch of power to Egypt since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
Iran and Egypt, which cut diplomatic relations in 1980 after Egypt recognized Israel as a state, currently have only interests sections in their respective country.
According to media reports, Egypt’s Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit said on Monday his deputy, Hussein Dirar, will visit Iran in the coming days to discuss Tehran-Cairo relations.
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Riyadh Keen
On Enhanced Ties
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, Dec. 11--Foreign Minister Saud Al-Faisal said Saudi Arabia is keen on having enhanced ties with Iran.
Speaking in a press conference in the Saudi capital on Tuesday, Faisal noted member-states of the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council are interested in establishing useful and strong ties with Iran, IRNA cited AFP as reporting.
He rejected any settling of scores between Iran and Saudi Arabia with regard to Iraq.
“Iran and Saudi Arabia pursue no rivalry in Iraq and we consider the Iraqi government as friend and brother. We like to interact with the Iraqi government,“ he said.
Iraqi National Security Advisor Muwaffak Al-Rubaie had claimed that Tehran and Riyadh are engaged in settling scores in Iraq.
“Some countries are fueling a tribal crisis that obstructs the diplomatic trend in Iraq,“ he said.
The Saudi minister went on to assert that Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad proposed economic cooperation with PGCC and the member-states should respond.
President Ahmadinejad had proposed a joint security agreement with PGCC, calling on them to review his proposal in a meeting to be held in Tehran.
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Medvedev: Putin Should Be Premier
MOSCOW, Dec. 11--Dmitry Medvedev, the handpicked candidate to succeed President Vladimir Putin, called Tuesday for Putin to become prime minister after the March 2 election.
Putin is prohibited by law for running for a third consecutive term, but clearly wants to retain a powerful role once he steps down.
Medvedev’s proposal would provide such a role, especially if the constitution were amended to increase the prime minister’s powers--which could be done readily with the new parliament dominated by pro-Putin politicians, AP reported.
Medvedev, 42, has spent most of his career as a loyal comrade of Putin, and his proposal for him to become prime minister almost certainly was made with prior consultation with the president.
“Having expressed my readiness to run for president of Russia, I appeal to (Putin) with a request to give his principal agreement to head the Russian government after the election of the new president of our country,“ Medvedev said in televised address a day after Putin endorsed his candidacy.
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China Defends Oil Deal
BEIJING, Dec. 11--China swiped aside US complaints about a major oil deal with Iran on Tuesday, saying the agreement was no other government’s business.
Sinopec, China’s biggest oil refiner and petrochemicals producer, signed a deal over the weekend to invest $2 billion in Iran’s Yadavaran oilfield, Reuters reported.
The deal, coinciding with western efforts to pressure Iran with threats of tighter sanctions to rein in its peaceful nuclear program, drew a swift rebuke from Washington.
“This is commercial cooperation in the energy sphere undertaken by a Chinese company with Iran following the principle of equality and mutual benefit,“ Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Qin Gang told a news conference.
“As commercial cooperation, a government doesn’t have to and shouldn’t comment or even speak ill of this.“
The deal and verbal volleys have highlighted tensions over Iran between Washington and Beijing, which looks to the Middle Eastern power as a major oil supplier and export market.
“Major new deals with Iran, particularly ones like these involving investment in oil and gas, really undermine international efforts to pressure the Iranians to comply with obligations already in place under the UN Security Council resolutions,“ said State Department Spokeswoman Jessica Simon.
Since publication early this month of a US intelligence assessment saying it appeared likely that Iran had stopped a nuclear weapons program four years ago, China’s stance has been ambiguous.
Chinese diplomats have repeated stock calls for negotiations, leaving unclear whether Beijing would wield its power as a permanent member of the UN Security Council to veto new sanctions demanding that Iran stop uranium enrichment.
Iran is China’s third biggest supplier of imported crude oil, behind Angola and Saudi Arabia. China’s exports to Iran are also booming. In the first 10 months of the year, they leapt to $5.9 billion in value, up 68.4 percent on the same time last year.
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62 Killed
In Algiers Bombings
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Rescuers and policemen work near a destroyed building at the site of a bomb blast in Algiers, Dec. 11.
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ALGIERS, Algeria, Dec. 11--Sixty-two people were killed and scores injured in two bomb attacks in Algiers on Tuesday, according to a new toll given by hospital sources.
One of the sources estimated the number of injured at more than 100, including some who were in critical condition, AFP reported.
One explosion targeted the offices of the UN refugee agency in Algiers, while the other bomb was triggered near the Algerian Supreme Court building.
Ten UN staff, all Algerians, were among the dead, a senior UN official said.
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Intelligence Coup
By Amir Ali Abolfath
A declassified document by the US National Intelligence Estimate on Iran’s nuclear program has infuriated America’s ultra-rightist enclave, the pro-Israel hawks in particular. Some key neocon figures close to the war president in Washington have been trying, with ready help from
the print and broadcast media, to portray the NIE report as some sort of “coup by US spy agencies“ against George Bush.
John Bolton, the infamous former US envoy to the UN and a staunch supporter of Israel who hardly makes a secret of his deep dislike for all things Iranian, and Newt Gingrich, a rabid Republican who once served as House speaker, have said that the NIE report is the handiwork of elements kicked out from the Department of State and later hired by the intelligence agencies.
It can be claimed that a hidden war is going on between the army of US spy agencies, whose performance is being seriously questioned, and the neo-conservatives whose fortunes for sometime are witnessing diminishing returns. For all practical reasons, the conflict will get much worse before it gets any better.
It needs recalling, however, that the ageing masters of American subterfuge claim Iran had been developing a nuclear program up until 2003. This clearly implies that according to them it cannot be said with certainty that Iran in the future will not pursue a nuclear weapons program.
All things considered, war-mongers in the Bush White House and the Pentagon are fuming over the NIE’s alleged stance that Tehran “suspended its nuclear weapons activities in 2003“.
The embattled American ruler and his war team had invested a lot of time, money and energy in the failed war project against Iran by intimidating the international community about the “threat posed by a nuclear-armed Iran.“
This is while the open-minded US intelligence experts, long aware of the non-diversion of Iran’s civilian nuclear program, have ultimately decided (contrary to the spin that resulted in the Iraq quagmire for the superpower) to take on the Republican hardliners.
Why concern leaning on panic is visiting the US intelligence community, is not very difficult to comprehend. Suffice to say that it decided to come clean because it suffered huge loss of credibility and efficiency due to the illegal Anglo-American invasion of Iraq that has produced unprecedented global hatred for America.
However, differences between the necons and the US intelligence apparatus go back years before the 2003 invasion of Iraq. At that time the CIA provided Bush with reports documenting that Iraq had halted its secret programs to produce weapons of mass destruction. It also conveyed that Saddam’s Iraq had no role in the 9/11 terrorist attacks. This is while senior neocon Dick Cheney, who has shares in major US oil and arms companies, insisted that the CIA was out of step and Iraq was a “serious threat“ to US security.
He instructed CIA’s former boss George Tenet and the small coterie of spin doctors to “create“ the necessary documents for the impending invasion of the Arab country.
That led to a war of words between the two senior Bush aides. However, the spy agencies failed to get their president’s ear leaving the field open to the war planners. The US bombed its way into Iraq and devastated the oil-rich country probably beyond recognition. Tenet was thanked for his services and told find another job.
The experience of war and occupation in Afghanistan and Iraq is a big disgrace for the US and its war allies, and taught US intelligence the lessons it cannot forget: their indifference and negligence can have very serious and irreversible consequences.
They pushed to publicize their Iran nuclear findings to show Bush’s suicidal claims about Iran’s nuclear program are very fare from the truth and unverifiable. Such courage has been described by some as “an intelligence coup“ against Bush.
Bush critics and respected anti-war activists stress that the coup was actually when the neocons and the spin doctors misled public opinion and dragged the US into the unending Iraq conflict which by all accounts is the bloodiest and most devastating for the people of America.
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