“Intervention will harm Iran’s democratic movement”

“The demonization of Iran is such that it appears we are on a one-track punitive response even though few believe it will work but lack the imagination or belief in other options.”

Iran Update: Number 144

Talks over Iran's nuclear enrichment could resume in the fall
More sanctions levied on Iran; Tehran vows to continue enriching uranium
Utility and impacts of sanctions questioned
Tehran pushes uranium enrichment progress; United States and Russia warn Iran closer to weapons capability
G8 and D8 summits
Case of Iranian nuclear scientist adds more controversy to Iran-U.S. relations; Canadian convicted of trying to export dual-use technology to Iran

U.K.’s ‘special relationship’ with U.S. under microscope at G8

“The British and the British media have to be very careful in shouting too loudly about this. It's America's worst environmental disaster unfolding in the Gulf, and if you are too defensive about this the mud sticks.”

BASIC Executive Director Paul Ingram quoted in the Times Colonist. Read more:

http://www.timescolonist.com/news/special+relationship+with+under+microscope/3181535/story.html

Disarmament timeline could be deal-breaker at NPT Review Conference

Day 14: There is widespread dismay at the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference where the latest draft on the treaty's disarmament pillar has excised all references to a timetable for the nuclear weapons states to disarm.

Iran sanctions ‘holding up nuclear treaty negotiations’

The unveiling of the Iran sanctions resolution “has changed the atmosphere here”, noted Anne Penketh who is monitoring the view. The conference, she noted, “has been on a knife-edge from the get-go and I think it still is”.

Russia rejects German proposal on tactical nuclear weapons

Day 13: Russia has rejected a proposal from Germany to include a call for the “irreversible reduction and elimination” of US and Russian tactical weapons in a draft action plan of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Review Treaty Conference.

The exchange took place during a closed-door session which was discussing the disarmament pillar of the NPT.

Iran Update: Number 142

Head of Iran's nuclear organization says Tehran still open to fuel swap
Iran hails new centrifuge
United States focuses on Iranian nuclear program's weapons potential
Iranian President assails U.S. President over Nuclear Posture Review
International divisions over sanctions continue
Iran holds international conference on nuclear weapons and nuclear energy
Khatami prevented from visiting Hiroshima

Nuclear summit takes aim at unsecured bomb material

“If leaders at the summit get it right, they could render nuclear power safer to use in the fight against climate change, strengthen the non-proliferation regime, and build further international confidence in … nuclear disarmament.”

BASIC Research Director Ian Kearns quoted by Reuters in Sundays Zaman.