IAEA Chief rejects as “politically motivated and totally baseless” allegations that information on Iran’s atomic programme was hidden; Iran gives new set of proposals to P5+1; Lavrov rules out imposing new sanctions against Tehran
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    • The outgoing IAEA Director General Mohamed el-Baradei rejected as “politically motivated and totally baseless” allegations that he had purposely hidden information about Iran’s atomic programme. In its latest report, the IAEA however stated that Western intelligence material implying Tehran secretly combined uranium processing, explosive tests and work to remodel a missile cone in a way that would fit a nuclear warhead was compelling1.

    Iran’s Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki revealed an updated package of proposals to address his country’s nuclear programme. The proposals were submitted to the ambassadors of France, Russia, Germany, and China, the British charge d’affaires, as well as the Swiss ambassador to Tehran, whose country represents US interests in Iran. Mottaki stated that the new proposals were intended to provide “a new opportunity for dialogue in line with reciprocal cooperation.” The proposals address peaceful uses of nuclear energy, economic cooperation, and ways to achieve global nuclear disarmament. President Ahmadinejad on his part stated that Iran will continue its nuclear activities within the framework of international regulations and in close cooperation with the IAEA2.

    Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov meanwhile ruled out imposing new sanctions against Iran over its nuclear program, despite growing Western concerns that the country had made significant progress in recent months in its bid for nuclear weapons. Lavrov stated that he believed that a new set of proposals that Iran gave to European nations offered a viable basis for negotiations to end the dispute. He added that the proposals showed that Iran was “ready for a comprehensive discussion of the situation” and pointed out the “positive” role Iran can play in Iraq, Afghanistan and the region3.

    US Defense Secretary Robert Gates urged Arab nations to strengthen their military cooperation with Washington as a means of pressuring Iran to back off over its nuclear program. He added that the Iranians have to be persuaded that moving down the nuclear route will actually jeopardize its security and not enhance it. Gates also did not agree that Tehran had gained regional clout in the aftermath of the 2003 US invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein4.

    In other developments, reports noted that Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited Moscow during the week to discuss Russian arms sales to Iran and Syria. Israel has in the past urged Moscow not to sell S-300 surface-to-air missile systems to Iran, which it states Tehran could deploy around its nuclear sites. Israeli President Shimon Peres had also met Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on August 185.

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