Middle East

Iran update: number 127

Summary

  • Russia decides not to sell Iran its S-300 anti-aircraft system
  • In the second presidential debate, Obama and McCain sound off on sanctions
  • The Bush Administration holds off on establishing permanent diplomatic presence in Iran
  • Iran refutes earlier hints that it might cease uranium enrichment on condition that it receives a guaranteed international supply of nuclear fuel
  • Iran withdraws its bid to be on the board of the IAEA in favor of regional partner Syria

 

Russian resurgence and diplomacy

Whether the Russian operation against Georgia was premeditated or not, the leadership has used it effectively to strengthen nationalistic support within the country, and to challenge the view domestically and internationally of expanding, unbridled US dominance.

Launch of Adelphi 396: Abolishing nuclear weapons

George Perkovich is the leading author of a new Adelphi paper, commissioned in part by the UK Foreign Office and trailed by Margaret Beckett, whilst Foreign Secretary, in a speech at the Carnegie Conference in 2007 about the technical and political aspects around moves towards a world free of nuclear weapons. The paper was launched in Washington on 16th September at the Carnegie Endowment.

Iran update: number 125

Summary

  • Russia commits to completing light water reactor at Bushehr; overall Russian-Iranian nuclear ties may be increasing
  • Iran risking new round of sanctions, but no news yet
  • French President Sarkozy takes up mantle as a principal intermediary between West and Iran
  • Syrian attempts to persuade Iran to more seriously commit to inspection regime
  • Iranian air force to hold war games during Ramadan

On September 2, the state-run Russian nuclear consortium, AtomStroiExport (ASE),

Iran update: number 124

Summary

  • New sanctions imposed; ongoing negotiations on Iran's nuclear program
  • Implications from conflict in Georgia; Medvedev scheduled to meet with Ahmadinejad
  • Iran announces second nuclear power plant site; Russian nuclear official to visit Tehran and Bushehr
  • Tehran tests Safir rocket, United States says it was a failed satellite launch
  • Iran claims increase in the range of its fighter jets
  • New Iranian submarine class announced
  • Khamenei shows support for second Ahmadinejad term

On August 8, the Eu