Last Updated: Wednesday, April 23, 2008 | 7:37 AM ET Associated Press
The UN's nuclear watchdog says Iran has agreed to co-operate with its probe of allegations that Tehran tried to develop nuclear weapons.
International Atomic Energy Agency spokeswoman Melissa Fleming says the agency hopes Iran will provide the necessary clarifications about the allegations next month.
Iran insists its nuclear program is geared solely toward the production of electricity.
Fleming said Wednesday that an agreement on the issue was reached during talks in Tehran earlier this week between Iranian officials and IAEA deputy director general Olli Heinonen.
http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2008/04/23/nuclear-iran.html
Israeli Extremists laying foundation for Iran war
Wed, 02 Apr 2008 01:29:32
Israel has reportedly unveiled plans to prepare for missile strikes it believes will be launched by states like Iran and Syria.
(In response to attacks its planning on both states, as well as Lebanon.)
During the five-day preparation operation, Israel will reportedly simulate conventional and non-conventional missile strikes to test emergency response against Iran and Syria as well as the evacuation of cities.
The operation is slated to begin on April 6, according to the WorldTribune.com.
Although the operation seems to be an innocent attempt to improve defense capabilities, pundits are beginning to question whether the exercise may be aimed at laying the foundation for a strike on Iran's nuclear energy facilities.
Analysts claim this news echoes the latest developments and points to a war on Iran as it follows a recent report that a US nuclear submarine had been deployed to the Persian Gulf.
Another reason that has caused speculation that the Islamic Republic will come under attack is the sudden resignation of US Admiral William "Fox" Fallon.
Admiral Fallon played one of the most decisive roles in US foreign policy by overseeing military operations in the Middle East. He was well-known for his opposition to the Bush administration rattling sabers with Iran.
(He famously said that 'an attack on Iran will never occur on my watch'.)
Another development that has worried analysts is that Saudi Arabia reportedly started taking measures to prepare for nuclear fallout a day after US Vice President Dick Cheney met with Saudi officials during his Mideast tour.
As the details of Cheney's recent discussions with his Arab allies remain unclear, question have been raised regarding the timing of such drastic measures.
According to popular government-guided Saudi newspaper Okaz, Saudi Arabia will start the implementation of 'national plans to deal with any sudden nuclear and radioactive hazards that may affect the Kingdom following expert warnings of possible attacks on Iran's Bushehr nuclear power reactors'.
This is while Iran maintains that as a signatory to the Non-Proliferation Treaty, it is entitled to use nuclear technology for peaceful purposes.
(And indeed, this is true.)
Tehran has warned on numerous occassions that any attack launched against it shall be met with a 'crushing response'.
(Just as any state would when threatened with unprovoked, illegal Aggression.)
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=49868§ionid=351020104
Israel's Syrian Air Strike Was Aimed at Iran
http://winnipeg.indymedia.org/item.php?8196S
The ME has had a Secretive Nuclear Power in its Midst for Years
http://winnipeg.indymedia.org/item.php?8195S
Spooks Refuse to Toe Cheney's Line on Iran
http://winnipeg.indymedia.org/item.php?8173S
IAEA Again Verifies Iranian Compliance
http://winnipeg.indymedia.org/item.php?8130S
Israel Considering Strike on Iran Despite US Intelligence Report
www.guardian.co.uk/iran/story/0,,2224052,00.html
US intelligence report heightens danger of Israeli strike on Iran
http://wsws.org/articles/2007/dec2007/isra-d06.shtml
'Laptop of Death': Revising the NIE on Iran
The entire claim that Iran was building nuclear weapons rests on a laptop provided by a single, dubious source.
http://www.antiwar.com /ips/akhavi.php?articleid=12028 http://www.antiwar.com /prather/?articleid=12025
Israeli Extremists Prep for Nuclear Strike on Iran
http://www.israel.indymedia.org/newswire/display/7903/index.php
Hersh: Israel Pressed me to Write Syrian Site was Nuclear
http://rawstory.com/news/2008/Sy_Hersh_Israeli_raid_on_Syria_0208.html
Sy Hersh confirms: Syrian Facility Bombed by Israel Not Nuclear
http://winnipeg.indymedia.org/item.php?10935S
A Strike in the Dark - What did Israel bomb in Syria?
by Seymour M. Hersh
http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2008/02/11/080211fa_fact_hersh/?printable=true
War Clouds Over Mideast
http://www.arabnews.com/?page=7§ion=0&article=108719&d=8&m=4&y=2008
Israel & The 'Clash of Civilizations'
http://winnipeg.indymedia.org/item.php?11022S
Israel, US Joint Plotting Against Iran, Attack ElBaredei
http://www.israel.indymedia.org/newswire/display/7888/index.php tlm77 tlmzi
The largest threat to the region doesn't come from Iran: it comes from Israel's success in having had the US "neutralize" countries which it believes to be an existential threat to it's existence. However, there's just one little problem with this approach concerning Iran. Russia's diplomats have stated unequivocally that any attack against Iran will be perceived as an attack on Russia.