- IAEA reports that Iran has added more centrifuges at underground enrichment facility, but additional centrifuges not operating
- Iran and IAEA to resume talks on December 13th
- Iran says willing to attend conference for Middle East zone free of weapons of mass destruction
- Close calls regarding Israeli attacks on Iran come to light
- Britain may not cooperate in any military attack by the United States and Israel
- EU reinforcing sanctions against Iran
- Iran fires upon U.S. drone
- Iran’s nuclear power plant likely experiencing more problems
IAEA reports that Iran has added more centrifuges at underground enrichment facility, but additional centrifuges not operating
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) released its latest report on November 16th, detailing Iran’s nuclear activities. Since the IAEA’s previous report, Iran’s stockpile of uranium enriched to 20% U235 has grown by 43kg. This takes the total amount of 20% enriched uranium to around 130kg (Iran has fabricated almost 100kg into fuel destined for the Tehran Research Reactor (TRR), and so is not available for further enrichment). It would require an estimated 250kg of 20% U235 for a bomb – IF this amount were further enriched to weapons-grade (90% enrichment level).
The report also found that while no additional centrifuges have been made operational at either the Fordow or Natanz enrichment plants, the Fordow plant has now been fitted with the maximum capacity of centrifuges it can hold while the number at Natanz has also increased. It is thought that Iran now has the capacity to enrich about 25kg of 20% uranium 235 a month as opposed to its current rate of 15kg, if these centrifuges were all operating. At this pace Iran would reach the threshold of Israel’s stated red line (250kg of 20% U235) in an estimated seven months.
Iranian authorities have so far refused access to the Parchin military site for IAEA inspectors. Suspicion remains that Iran has been sanitizing the site, and the IAEA has again concluded that it cannot say with any level of confidence that Iranian nuclear facilities are being used for purely peaceful activities. To the contrary, Iranian ambassador to the IAEA, Ali Asghar Soltanieh, claimed that the report had once again confirmed the peaceful aims of Iran’s nuclear program.
Iran and IAEA to resume talks on December 13th
In another attempt to break the impasse between the IAEA and Iran, officials announced that representatives will meet in Tehran starting December 13th. In particular, the meeting is expected to provide another chance for an agreement on how to address Iran’s suspected clean-up of evidence at Parchin. IAEA Director-General Yukiya Amano remained optimistic that next month’s projected talks with Iran could yield results: “It is in the interests of Iran, and for the international community, and that is why I believe that there is some good reason that Iran will get cooperative for us. At the same time, the situation is very difficult and worrying. I do not want to speculate.”
Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi sounded confident about the talks, saying that a framework of action on addressing suspected military activities related to the nuclear program could still be reached. However, Salehi denied that there has been a removal of evidence from Parchin, saying, “It is not possible to clean up signs of nuclear pollution.”
On November 21st, EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton will host the E3+3/P5+1 (US, UK, China, Russia, France, and Germany) to plan the next steps the group will take with Iran. Within a week after U.S. President Barack Obama’s re-election, he pledged to renew efforts to break the impasse, but denied reports that the United States would talk directly on a higher, bi-lateral level with Iran.
Iran says willing to attend conference for Middle East zone free of weapons of mass destruction
On November 6th, Iran announced its intention to attend the intergovernmental conference in Helsinki next month on a nuclear and WMD free zone in the Middle East. Ali Asghar Soltanieh, Iran’s ambassador to the IAEA, made the announcement at a Track II conference sponsored by the EU Non-proliferation Consortium in Brussels, on confidence-building measures in support of establishing the zone. Soltanieh stated: “The Islamic Republic of Iran now finally has decided to participate at the conference… on a Middle East (nuclear) Free Zone” and is “determined to participate actively”.
There are many who remain doubtful that the 2012 Conference, as it has been coined, will actually take place this year. Prospects for this conference to convene were never certain, and there is speculation circulating that the conference has been cancelled. Indeed, many political factors stand in the way, but the official facilitator, Finnish diplomat Jaakko Laajava, has not yet made an announcement either way. Laajava recently said: “Many issues regarding the meeting remain open. One essential target is to get every country in the region to participate in the conference.” This will remain a struggle due to prolonged tension between states in the region, Syria’s ongoing civil war, the resurgence of fighting between Israel and Hamas, Israel’s assumed possession of nuclear weapons and the fact that Israel is not a member of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).
On the same day that Iran confirmed its attendance at the Helsinki Conference, the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence published an analysis assessing the possible threat of nuclear confrontation. The report is entitled “Reasons and Obstacles of a Military Attack by the Zionist Regime Against Iran” and emphasizes that diplomatic channels should be pursued, stipulating that “one of the options is to take diplomatic and political measures and use the potentials [sic] of international bodies, which is a necessary and less costly option”.
[For more background on a Middle East zone free of WMD, see the recent report on a Track II meeting that BASIC held in Istanbul at the end of October.]Close calls regarding Israeli attacks on Iran come to light
In a recent visit to London, Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak described in an interview with the Daily Telegraph how Iran narrowly avoided an imminent attack in August when it removed over a third of its stockpile of enriched uranium to 20% U235 for the TRR. Barak explained that Iran delayed Israeli action for a period of “eight to ten months” but was also sure to take note of his administration’s enduring belief that sanctions and diplomacy were no solution.
A November 6th televised Israeli report suggested that in 2010, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Barak asked the Israeli military to prepare for an imminent strike against elements of Iran’s nuclear fuel cycle. However, these orders were blocked due to concerns over whether the military possessed sufficient capabilities for such a strike and whether the Prime Minister and Defence Minister alone had the authority to give such an order.
Britain may not cooperate in any military attack by the United States and Israel
While the United States has yet to make a formal request of Britain, the possibility that it could ask permission for use of British bases (in particular Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean) may have led to internal advice within the British government against giving any green light for legal reasons. London is reported to have indicated that it does not currently support a preventive strike upon Iran. Prime Minister David Cameron sent a strong message to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently when he said sanctions needed more time. However, Cameron’s spokeswomen also explained that “no option is off the table” when it comes to the Iranian situation.
EU reinforcing sanctions against Iran
The Council of the European Union broadened EU restrictive measures against Iran on October 15th, including “…the financial, trade, energy and transport sectors, as well as additional designations, notably of entities active in the oil and gas industry”. All transactions between European and Iranian banks are prohibited under the new measures, “unless authorised in advance under strict conditions with exemptions for humanitarian needs”, and included an intensification of sanctions on the Central Bank of Iran. While reiterating concerns over the Iranian nuclear program, the Council again underlined its hope that diplomatic channels may remain the priority in efforts to establish a solution to the problem.
In addition to the Council’s statement, French President Francois Hollande made a further call for stringent sanctions against Iran during Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to Paris on October 31st. Speaking about Iran’s nuclear program, Hollande said “it’s a threat that cannot be accepted by France” and that “we must make sure that through pressure, sanctions and later through negotiations, Iran renounces its intentions to have access to nuclear weapons”. Iran has already renounced its path to nuclear weapons. Hollande did, however, make sure to explicitly distance himself from Netanyahu’s apparent intentions to pursue military action.
In Iran, senior legislator Kazzem Jalali called the sanctions “illegal and inhumane”, saying that it was the Iranian people who were bearing the brunt of them and making explicit mention of the fact that medical imports are also being impacted upon.
Iran fires upon U.S. drone
In early-November, Iranian fighter planes fired upon a U.S. Predator drone. A Pentagon spokesperson said that the drone had been fired upon even though it was flying in international waters during a “routine exercise”. U.S. officials said that the drone was flying 16 nautical miles off the coast of Iran. (Iranian territory starts at 12 nautical miles).
The Iranian Defense Minister has since confirmed that warplanes did, in fact, fire upon the drones and then followed it for a while until it was further from Iranian airspace. It remains unclear, however, as to whether the Iranian intention was to shoot down the drone or simply if shots were fired as a warning to leave the vicinity. The United States issued a diplomatic protest to the Iranian authorities through the Swiss Embassy. Defense Minister Brigadier General Ahmad Vahidi announced that Iran would be carrying out large scale air defense manoeuvres starting around November 17th, and are expected to last a week.
Iran’s nuclear power plant likely experiencing more problems
Amidst signs of continuing troubles for the Bushehr nuclear reactor, Tehran has announced that it will now take over operation of the facility from Russian engineers early next year, rather than in 2012. The Bushehr plant is not seen as a proliferation threat but is inspected by the IAEA, and the older design of the plant has raised safety concerns. The IAEA’s most recent report on Iran’s nuclear activities mentions that the facility’s nuclear rods were removed, suggesting that the scale of Bushehr’s technical problems has been much larger than the Iranian authorities had previously admitted. After the release of the report, Iran’s representative to the IAEA Ali Asghar Soltanieh, contended that the procedure was a normal technical manoeuvre related to the handover of the plant from Russian engineers.
Contributions by Helen Martin and Rachel Staley, BASIC
Stories and Links
- World powers to mull improving Iran offer: diplomats
AFP via Yahoo! News, November 20, 2012
http://en-maktoob.news.yahoo.com/world-powers-mull-improving-iran-offer-diplomats-165007292.html
- Iran defends “normal procedures” at Bushehr nuclear plant
Reuters, November 18, 2012
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/11/18/us-nuclear-iran-bushehr-idUSBRE8AH0GL20121118
- IAEA report confirms Iran’s nuclear program is peaceful: Soltanieh
Tehran Times, November 18, 2012
http://tehrantimes.com/politics/103414-iaea-report-confirms-irans-nuclear-program-is-peaceful-soltanieh - IAEA: Iran ready to boost uranium enrichment
Al Jazeera, November 17, 2012
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2012/11/201211170442883543.html - Iran ready to double uranium enrichment at Fordo – IAEABBC, November 16, 2012
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-20368030 - Iran steps up pace and capacity of uranium enrichment, says IAEA report
Julian Borger, The Guardian, November 16, 2012
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/nov/16/iran-uranium-enrichment-red-line - Senior MP: Western Sanctions Designed to Harm Iranian People
Fars News Agency, November 13, 2012
http://english.farsnews.com/newstext.php?nn=9107118948 - IAEA: Iran cleanup of Parchin site ‘ongoing’
Arab News, November 12, 2012
http://www.arabnews.com/iaea-iran-cleanup-parchin-site-%E2%80%98ongoing%E2%80%99 - Iran preparing to take control of Bushehr nuclear plant
Tehran Times, November 12, 2012
http://www.tehrantimes.com/component/content/article/103178 - Iran expresses hope of deal on nuclear watchdog visit to Parchin
Reuters, November 12, 2012
2012http://uk.reuters.com/article/2012/11/12/uk-iran-nuclear-idUKBRE8AB0HN20121112 - IAEA chief: Iran continuing nuclear cleanup at Parchin
Haaretz, November 11, 2012
http://www.haaretz.com/news/middle-east/iaea-chief-iran-continuing-nuclear-cleanup-at-parchin-1.476806 - Diplomats: Mideast nuke talks called off
Associated Press, November 11, 2012
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2012/11/11/mideast-nuke-talks-npt/1697215/ - Iran says repelled unidentified plane from its airspace
Reuters, November 9, 2012
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/11/09/us-usa-iran-drone-idUSBRE8A71C520121109 - Iran, U.N. nuclear agency to resume talks in December
Reuters, November 9, 2012
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/11/09/us-nuclear-iran-iaea-idUSBRE8A80PW20121109 - Iran says it will hold ‘massive’ week-long air defense drill as tensions with West escalate
Associated Press, November 8, 2012
http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/iran-says-it-will-hold-massive-week-long-air-defense-drill-as-tensions-with-west-escalate/2012/11/08/a4dc677a-2985-11e2-aaa5-ac786110c486_story.html - Iran Fired on Military Drone in First Such Attack, U.S. Says
Thom Shanker and Rick Gladestone, The New York Times, November 8, 2012
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/09/world/middleeast/pentagon-says-iran-fired-at-surveillance-drone-last-week.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0 - Iran hints at possible new delay in atom power plant’s operation
Reuters, November 8, 2012
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/11/08/iran-nuclear-bushehr-idUSL5E8M8CZ220121108 - Iranian ministry suggests openness to talks
Jason Rezaian, The Washington Post, November 7, 2012
http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/iranian-ministry-suggests-openness-to-talks/2012/11/07/dbd0fa18-28f2-11e2-bab2-eda299503684_story.html - Obama victory opens negotiating window with Iran
Marcus George, Reuters, November 7, 2012
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/11/07/us-usa-campaign-iran-opportunity-idUSBRE8A61P920121107 - Britain could build up its military presence in the Gulf to counter Iran threat
Christopher Hope, The Telegraph, November 6, 2012
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/defence/9656299/Britain-could-build-up-its-military-presence-in-the-Gulf-to-counter-Iran-threat.html - Iran to take part in talks on nuclear-free Middle East
Adrian Croft, Reuters, November 6, 2012
http://uk.reuters.com/article/2012/11/06/uk-iran-nuclear-meeting-idUKBRE8A50TY20121106 - Israel and Iran hold ‘positive’ nuclear talks in Brussels
Julian Borger, The Guardian, November 5, 2012
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/nov/05/israel-iran-brussels-nuclear-conference - Iran Sanctions Take Unexpected Toll on Medical Imports Thomas Erdbrink
Thomas Erdbrink, The New York Times, November 2, 2012
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/03/world/middleeast/iran-sanctions-take-toll-on-medical-imports.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0 - Sudan: the new battlefield in Iran and Israel’s covert conflict
David Howden, The Independent, October 31, 2012
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/africa/sudan-the-new-battlefield-in-iran-and-israels-covert-conflict-8262251.html - Iran warships leave Sudan after four-day stay
Reuters, October 31, 2012
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/10/31/us-sudan-iran-warships-idUSBRE89U0QW20121031 - Netanyahu Visits France to Press for More Iran Sanctions
Jonathan Ferziger and Helene Fouquet, Bloomberg Businessweek, October 31, 2012
http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-10-30/netanyahu-visits-france-to-press-for-more-iran-sanctions - Israel’s Netanyahu , France’s Hollande push for tougher Iran sanctions
The Washington Post, October 31 2012
http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/netanyahu-wants-france-to-push-for-tougher-iran-sanctions-defends-settlement-building/2012/10/31/de14621c-233c-11e2-92f8-7f9c4daf276a_story.html - Iran temporarily put nuclear bomb ambitions on hold: Barak
Agence France Presse, Oct 30, 2012
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5iwVDOzCWQzpOveFSXdFsd_t32NJw?docId=CNG.2279507a63c0400f76bbe50494ff67c8.101 - Israel says Iran has pulled back from the brink of nuclear weapon – for now
David Blair, The Telegraph, October 30, 2012
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/iran/9643647/Israel-says-Iran-has-pulled-back-from-the-brink-of-nuclear-weapon-for-now.html - Clinton renews call to Iran for ‘serious’ nuclear talks
Daily Star, October 30, 2012
http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Middle-East/2012/Oct-30/193266-clinton-renews-call-to-iran-for-serious-nuclear-talks.ashx#axzz2As9pgPOl - Sudan denies Iranian Links to bombed factory,
Al Jazeera , October 30, 2012
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/africa/2012/10/20121029223348264150.html - Iran aims to defy sanctions through domestic production
Jason Rezaian, The Washington Post, October 28, 2012
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/iran-aims-to-defy-sanctions-through-domestic-production-8229552.html - EU MEPs cancel Iran visit over rights activists contact
BBC, October 27, 2012
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-20110047 - Britain says opposed to strike on Iran “at this moment”
Reuters, October 26, 2012
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/10/26/us-britain-iran-usa-idUSBRE89P0TZ20121026 - Senior Iranian figures push for compromise over nuclear issue
David Blair, The Telegraph, October 26, 2012
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/iran/9636742/Senior-Iranian-figures-push-for-compromise-over-nuclear-issue.html - Iran’s currency traders forced underground
Najmeh Bozorgmehr, Financial Times, October 26, 2012
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/d3396c9c-1c4e-11e2-a63b-00144feabdc0.html#axzz2AsaYeoeP - Iran military action not ‘right course at this time’, Downing Street says
Patrick Wintour and Nick Hopkins, The Guardian, October 26, 2012
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/oct/26/iran-military-action-downing-street - Now is not the time to strike Iran, David Cameron urges Israel
Robert Winnett, The Telegraph, October 16, 2012
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/iran/9610945/Now-is-not-the-time-to-strike-Iran-David-Cameron-urges-Israel.html
Editorials, Analysis, and Reports
- ISIS Analysis of IAEA Iran Safeguards Report
David Albright, Christina Walrond, and Andrea Stricker, ISIS Reports, November 16, 2012
http://isis-online.org/uploads/isis-reports/documents/ISIS_Analysis_IAEA_safeguards_Report_November_16_2012-final.pdf - Iran must be President Obama’s immediate priority
Henry A. Kissinger, The Washington Post, November 16, 2012
http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/henry-kissinger-iran-must-be-president-obamas-immediate-priority/2012/11/16/2edf93e4-2dea-11e2-beb2-4b4cf5087636_story.html - Mideast WMD Summit Canceled: Diplomats
Global Security Newswire, November 12, 2012
http://www.nti.rsvp1.com/gsn/article/mideast-wmd-summit-canceled-diplomats/?mgh=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nti.org&mgf=1 - Is a nuclear-free Middle East possible?
Inside Story, Al Jazeera, November 7, 2012
http://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/insidestory/2012/11/2012117657339286.html - How Obama Can Succeed on Iran
Trita Parsi and Reza Marashi, The Huffington Post, November 7, 2012
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/trita-parsi/obama-iran-second-term_b_2085937.html - Iran Pledges to Attend Planned WMD Summit
Global Security Newswire, November 6, 2012
http://www.nti.org/gsn/article/iran-israel-join-informal-gathering-eye-wmd-summit/ - Council conclusions on Iran 3191st Foreign Affairs Council meeting Luxembourg
European Union Council, October 15, 2012
http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_Data/docs/pressdata/EN/foraff/132833.pdf - Fact 2013: The Grand Opening
Video via the Israeli Network Shows, n.d.
http://tin.tv/site/article/%D7%AA%D7%A2%D7%95%D7%93%D7%94/uvda-the-team/fact-2013-the-promo - WMD Free Zone in Mideast: an opportunity for detente with Iran
Tytti Erästö, Power & Policy, October 10, 2012
http://www.powerandpolicy.com/2012/10/10/wmd-free-zone-in-mideast-an-opportunity-for-detente-with-iran/