World Event #4: Iran

In the recent months Iran has drastically increased its production of nuclear fuel, with much of it coming from the newly opened plant inside a mountain bunker. There has been nearly a 50% jump since the fall in Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium. This means they are that much closer to developing a nuclear weapon. More than  third of the output is coming from a secret installation, Fordow, that IAEA inspectors found.

Iran already has enough uranium to create four nuclear weapons. The increase in their stockpile and the shift to underground bunker could greatly shorten the amount of time needed to create these weapons. However, Iran would have to kick out U.N. inspectors before it could actually begin assembling the weapons. Still, the increase in production was criticized by US and European officials who said Iran is undermining its credibility at a time when Iranian leaders have been talking about restarting nuclear talk with the West.

UN officials report that Iran had begun to stonewall the agency’s effort to investigate allegations that Iranian scientists had begun intensive research into nuclear warheads. IAEA inspectors have not been able to unearth direct evidence that Iran is working on building a bomb, however their increase in stockpile has created great fear in the West.

This seems like just another sign that Iran is not really willing to negotiate with the West, if they have begun to move to secret bunkers and have still not begun any form of negotiations. Hopefully all of these suspicions and alligations turn out to be false and Iran and the West can begin real negotiations.

World Event #3: Iran

On  Wednesday, February 15^th, confusing messages emerged from Iran. The president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad made some fiery speeches on TV condemning the recent assassination of Iranian scientists. He said that there would be retaliation against European countries through oil embargos. Hours later however, the country’s Oil Ministry backed away from such threats. However, the same day, Iranian officials signaled willingness to negotiate with world powers over the future Iranian nuclear program.

The Obama administration has chosen to ignore these threats from Iran, saying that these mixed signals and turmoil within the country’s senior leadership simply proves that the political and economic pressure the West is applying to Iran is working.

Officials criticized Iran for having Ahmadinejad appear on television wearing a lab coat and a face mask to prove what he described a breakthroughs in Iran’s nuclear program. Among these claims was that Iran is loading fuel rods into an aging US nuclear reactor. The US in return played down these accomplishments, claiming them as being “hyped” and “not terribly impressive” .

I think this is just more of a game of cat and mouse with the West and Iran. Iran has oil that the West wants but it also has its nuclear program which the West fears. There will hopefully be some actual agreements in the future, but for now it seems to be a constant back and forth of threats and bragging.

Want to read the whole thing?: http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/iran-activates-nuclear-reactor-

World Current Event #2: Iran

Turkye’s top diplomat announced this Friday that Iran is ready to negotiate and end the current standoff with the Western powers over their nuclear program. Turkey has decided to play a mediating role between the two nations. Two years ago it sought to create a deal where Iran would give nearly all of its stockpile of uranium in return for fuel rods for its medical research reactor, Iran agreed to this but then backed out. Turkish Foreign Minister, Ahmet Davutoglu said that this deal could be put together in a few days.

However the problem is that there is mutual distrust between Iran and the West. Economic sanctions imposed by the West on Iran have caused economic pain without slowing the production of enriched uranium in Iran. The President of Iran, Mahmoud Ahmedinejad and several other officials have said that they are ready to resume negotiations on its nuclear program, however, no official request for talks from Iran. Turkey relies heavily on imported natural gas from Iran, so it will be happy to see this standoff with Iran end. 

This standoff would remove a lot of strain between the West and Iran. It would also hopefully also reduce stress/tension in the Middle East, specifically with Israel. This could also help both sides, if Iran gained resources for their medical program, and the Western powers would no longer have to worry about the large amounts of enriched uranium in Iran. 

Want to read the whole thing?:  http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/turkish-diplomat-iran-is-ready-to-cut-a-deal/2012/02/10/gIQANA164Q_story.html

World Current Event #1: Iran

 On Friday, Iran successfully launched an Iranian Satellite. Shortly after, Iranian leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei delivered an anti-Israeli speech saying Iran will back “any nations, any groups” fighting against Israel. Most of the viewpoints expressed were not new ones, however due to the timing, tensions grew even stronger in the Middle East and there are now talks of military action. If such events occurred, the oil market, global economy and coalition with Iran’s nuclear program could be disrupted and even highly damaged.

The supreme leader’s tone was different from that of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad who just last month said that Iran would begin to talk with the West. Khamenei made it very clear that compromises with the West over halting uranium projects is not an option and that Iran actually has the advantage over the West in this standoff.

Iran’s sending up of the satellites, and their rocket program is controversial to say the least, and now along with this speech there is heightened tension around the world as everyone waits to see whether Israel will attack Iran, or Iran will begin to attack Israel. No matter which one happens, the West will most likely get involved, possibly forcing many countries around Iran into action as well. This situation could blow up fairly quickly, so the world is waiting on edge to see who makes the next move.

Want to read the whole thing?: http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/iran-says-it-launched-satellite/2012/02/03/gIQARNuDmQ_story.html