Edition

Iran Offers Inspectors 'Supervision' of Nuclear Program

IN THIS ISSUE: Iran offers 'supervision' of nuclear program, IDF to simulate attack on Dimona, Lavrov: US unwilling to cooperate on missile defense, IAEA calls rare Mideast nuke talks, N. Korea nuke equipment from black market, IAEA to call for nuclear crisis team.

Published on September 6, 2011
 

Easing Stance, Iran Offers Inspectors 'Supervision' of Nuclear Program

David Sanger | New York Times

Fereydoon Abbasi

Iran on Monday made its first counterproposal in two years to ease the confrontation with the West over its nuclear program, offering to allow international inspectors "full supervision" of the country's nuclear activities for the next five years, but on the condition that the mounting sanctions against Iran are lifted.

The proposal came from Fereydoon Abbasi, the head of Iran's atomic energy agency, who was designated by the United Nations in 2007 as a scientist involved in Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile activities, and, as such, subject to a freeze on his assets and limitations on his travel. He narrowly escaped an assassination attempt last year.

Mr. Abbasi's offer was vaguely worded. It was far from clear what he meant by "full supervision," after several years in which Iran has refused to turn over documents to the International Atomic Energy Agency or allow interviews of its most important nuclear scientists. The government has also restricted where inspectors could travel. Full Article   



Follow the Nuclear Policy Program
 RSS News Feed Twitter
Footer information begins here

More from Proliferation News


Yaakov Katz | Jerusalem Post
The IDF Home Front Command and the Israel Atomic Energy Commission will hold a large exercise on Tuesday to simulate a missile attack against the Dimona nuclear reactor in the Negev. Called "Fernando," the drill is named for the nuclear meltdown in 1959 in the San Fernando Valley near Los Angeles.     Full Article

 
 
RIA Novosti
Washington does not cooperate with Moscow on the European missile defense issue, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Saturday. "At the moment there is no evidence that they are ready to cooperate with us [on missile defense system]," Lavrov said.     Full Article

Fredrik Dahl | Reuters
The IAEA has invited its members -- including Israel, Arab states and Iran -- to attend rare talks later this year about the volatile Middle East and efforts to rid the world of atomic bombs, it said on Friday. While Israel and some Arab nations have indicated readiness to take part in the planned forum in Vienna in November, Iran said it saw no justification for such a meeting now.     Full Article

George Jahn | Associated Press
A report from the U.N. nuclear agency on Friday strengthened suspicions that - like Iran - North Korea turned to black market suppliers to set up a uranium enrichment plant revealed only last year. The IAEA report says the layout of equipment and other details observed by a visiting U.S. group were "broadly consistent" with designs sold by a "clandestine supply network."     Full Article

The Japan Times
The International Atomic Energy Agency will call on its members to establish an emergency team to respond to major nuclear accidents worldwide, part of an agency plan to enhance nuclear safety, according to a draft obtained Tuesday. The Vienna-based nuclear watchdog also plans to dispatch safety investigators within three years to all member countries who operate nuclear power plants.     Full Article
Carnegie does not take institutional positions on public policy issues; the views represented herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Carnegie, its staff, or its trustees.