[wvns] Iran Cuts Dollar Dependence
Iran cuts foreign dollar assets to 30 percent:
Pakistan Daily Times
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
http://snipurl.com/1qvsk
TEHRAN: Iran has massively cut down its dependence on the dollar in
the face of US pressure over its nuclear programme and now 70 percent
of its foreign assets are saved in other currencies or in gold, an
official said on Monday.
"After the strong fall in the dollar and the decision to transfer our
foreign currency reserves into euros, we have taken measures and now
70 percent of Iranian assets are in euros, other currencies or gold,"
said Deputy Economy Minister Mohammad Zahedi Vafa.
Iran had announced earlier this year it was switching out of dollars
and would instead save its foreign assets in other currencies to
dampen the effects of US pressure on its financial system.
The United States has been seeking to make international banking
transactions harder for Iran as another tool to pressure Tehran into
backing down over its controversial nuclear programme.
Several European banks have drastically cut business with Iran as
result of pressure from the United States.
Caretaker Oil Minister Gholam Hossein Nozari has said that already 60
percent of Iran's oil transactions for export are carried out in euros.
Iran's foreign currency reserves held in banks abroad have risen by 37
percent over the past year to the equivalent of 65 billion dollars as
of the end of June 2007, the central bank said last week.
The world's fourth largest oil exporter and the second in OPEC has
been helped by soaring crude prices which are helping the country
weather domestic economic problems. afp
===
Iran Leader: Bush Will Be Tried
By NASSER KARIMI
The Associated Press
Friday, September 14, 2007
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/14/AR2007091400636.html
TEHRAN, Iran -- President Bush and other American officials will one
day face trial just like deposed Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein for
"the catastrophes they caused in Iraq," Iran's supreme leader said Friday.
Speaking to thousands of worshippers during the first Friday prayer of
the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali
Khamenei said that Bush will be called to account for the U.S.-led
invasion.
Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, center, leads a Friday
prayer at the Tehran University campus, in Tehran, Iran, Friday, Sept.
14, 2007. U.S. President George W. Bush will one day be tried in court
just like deposed Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein for his involvement in
the Iraq tragedy, said Iran's supreme leader Friday. (AP Photo/Vahid
Salemi) (Vahid Salemi - AP)
PHOTOS
"A day will come that the current U.S. president and officials will be
tried in an international supreme court for the catastrophes they
caused in Iraq," he said.
"Americans will have to answer for why they don't end occupation of
Iraq and why waves of terrorism and insurgency have overwhelmed the
country," he added. "It will not be like this forever and some day
they will be stopped as happened to Hitler, Saddam and certain other
European leaders."
Bush painted quite a different picture Thursday, describing an Iraq on
the mend.
"One year ago, much of Baghdad was under siege," Bush said in a
televised speech from the Oval Office. "Today, most of Baghdad's
neighborhoods are being patrolled by coalition and Iraqi forces who
live among the people they protect. ... Sectarian killings are down.
And ordinary life is beginning to return."
But Khamenei mocked the U.S., describing the recent congressional
testimony of the top American officials in Iraq as a sign of weakness
and the failure of American policy in the war torn country.
"More than four years have passed since the occupation of Iraq and
today everyone knows that America has failed and is frantically
looking for a way out," he said.
In their testimony Gen. David Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan Crocker
raised allegations _ denied by Iran _ of Iranian meddling in Iraq by
financial and military support of militias and insurgent groups. They
warned that the U.S. was already embroiled in a proxy war with the
Islamic republic.
Despite U.N. sanctions and efforts to isolate Iran internationally,
the country is flourishing, maintained Khamenei.
"Today we are in a better political position compared to four to five
years ago," he said. "We have moved forward economically and the
spiritual preparedness and happiness of our nation has improved."
"A nation like ours, without an atomic bomb and not as wealthy as
these other powerful governments, has foiled a whole series of their
conspiracies and forced them to give up and withdraw," he added.
The U.S. accuses Iran of secretly trying to develop nuclear weapons
and has called for further international sanctions against the
country. Iran denies the charge.
Iran and the U.S. have not had diplomatic relations since Washington
cut its ties with Tehran after Iranian students stormed the U.S.
embassy there in 1979.
===
IRAN SAYS DEAD REBELS HAD U.S.-MADE ARMS
Reuters
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L31710825.htm
Rebels killed in clashes with Iranian forces this week had recently
infiltrated border areas of the Islamic Republic carrying U.S.-made
arms, an Iranian commander was quoted as saying on Thursday.
Ten rebels and seven Iranian border guards were killed in clashes in a
northwestern area close to Turkey, according to Iranian media reports
on Wednesday and Thursday.
"The weapons ... included M16 weapons which are being provided through
channels linked to forces present in the region," General
Rastegar-Panah, identified only with his last name, told state radio.
The report referred to "American-made weaponry and arms".
Tehran often accuses its old foe the United States, which invaded Iraq
in 2003, of trying to undermine Iran's security by backing insurgents
operating in sensitive border regions.
The Intelligence Ministry said last Saturday it had uncovered spy
networks, mostly near its western borders, working for U.S. and
British intelligence services.
Iranian daily Hamshahri said the seven border guards were killed in
fighting with "armed terrorists" on Monday. State media on Wednesday
reported the deaths of the 10 "anti-revolutionary" rebels in the same
region.
The fighting took place near the town of Salmas in West Azerbaijan, a
northwestern province inhabited by ethnic Azeris as well as some
Kurds, during a three-day operation aimed at clearing the border
areas, the media said.
Rastegar-Panah said the rebels were backed by "forces affiliated to
the world of arrogance", rhetoric which Iranian officials have used in
the past to denounce Western powers, even though he did not mention
the United States by name.
"Hopefully we will be able to destroy the bases they have set up near
our borders in order to give a crushing response to such plots hatched
by foreigners on the other side of our borders," he said.
Iranian Kurdish rebels linked to Turkish Kurd guerrilla group
Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) usually operate in other parts of
northwestern Iran.
The United States accuses Iran of seeking to develop nuclear arms and
of fomenting instability in Iraq. Iran denies the charges and blames
the presence of U.S. forces for the violence in its western neighbour.
The two countries, which have not had diplomatic ties since shortly
after Iran's 1979 Islamic revolution, on Monday held their most
high-profile talks in almost three decades when their officials met in
Baghdad to discuss the situation in Iraq.
===
IAEA Chief Walks out on EU session in Protest
http://www.wakeupfromyourslumber.com/node/3475
I have been waiting for this news to make it to mainstream media, but
so far there is nothing... I suppose that Zionist-mainstream prefers
to hide from the American people and the world that the IAEA is in
disagreement with the Ziocon agenda for Iran... and that its Secretary
General is not bending down to the pressures exerted on him by the
war-mongers...
Please look at those 3 articles. The first one is "the news". The
second one is because I unfortunately need to back up "my" news with
something from mainstream to prove that the first article is real
news.. because somehow mainstream media still enjoys a certain
undeserved credibility! The third article is to elaborate on the
subject of the session the IAEA chief walked out on and to show how
Reuters deliberately choses to omit certain news which it know
happened.. while it insists on developing other "news" which will be
more 'supportive' of its masters in Washington and Tel Aviv.
ElBaradei protests at EU statement
Wed, 12 Sep 2007 01:20:44
Agencies
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=22768§ionid=351020104
The IAEA chief has walked out of a session to protest at an EU
statement against Iran.
The UN nuclear chief Mohammad ElBaradei has left an IAEA meeting in
protest at an EU statement on Iran, diplomats say.
ElBaradei walked out of an afternoon session of his IAEA in Vienna on
Tuesday to voice his anger at a statement issued against Iran by the
EU, the diplomats attending the meeting said.
"The Europeans issued a nasty statement against Iran, so Mr. ElBaradei
left the meeting," said one diplomat who spoke on condition of anonymity.
IAEA spokeswoman Melissa Fleming declined comment but several
diplomats confirmed that ElBaradei had left the session.
ElBaradei has been under pressure as the US and other Western powers
warn that a timetable for new inspections in Iran agreed by the IAEA
and Tehran last month provides Iran the opportunity to delay new UN
sanctions.
Still, the United States and ElBaradei had closed ranks on the first
day here Monday of a regular meeting of the IAEA board in urging Iran
to meet the timetable and also to do more to show the world it does
not seek the bomb, such as suspending uranium enrichment.
The European Union speech was given by Portuguese ambassador Joaquim
Duarte, as Portugal is the current EU president.
After walking out, ElBaradei stayed away until the session was
adjourned at its regular time until Wednesday. The Portuguese speech
was followed by speeches from Canada and Norway.
Just before the Portuguese speech, ElBaradei had received a rousing
statement of support from the Non-Aligned Movement, in a speech by
Cuban Ambassador Norma Miguelina Goicochea Estenoz as the NAM leader.
She said "NAM shares the view that this work plan (timetable) is a
'significant step forward'" and "reiterates its full confidence in the
impartiality and professionalism of the Secretariat of the IAEA and
its Director General, Dr. Mohamed ElBaradei."
===
This is how Reuters manipulates the real news by hardly mentioning
it.. although it should have been in the headlines! This is how
Reuters puts the lid on an important part of a story while it develops
another it might prefer people to hear! Imagine the chief of the IAEA
walks out of the European Union and it is barely part of a sentence in
an entire article...
Developing states rap "interference" in Iran deal
Tue Sep 11, 2007 6:10PM EDT
By Mark Heinrich
http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSL1154089720070911
VIENNA (Reuters) - Non-aligned nations on Tuesday rejected
"interference" in Iran's nuclear transparency deal with U.N.
inspectors, countering Western criticism the pact eases pressure on
Tehran not to seek technology with bomb potential.
The Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) of developing nations, which includes
Iran itself, endorsed the deal at a gathering of the International
Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) 35-nation board of governors.
The August 21 "work plan" commits Iran to answer five-year-old IAEA
questions one by one over a rough timeline of a few months, while
leaving untouched Tehran's expanding enrichment work.
The United States and its major European allies said the deal diverted
attention from U.N. Security Council demands that Iran suspend uranium
enrichment and grant broader inspections to defuse mistrust over its
nuclear intentions.
The West fears Iran wants to make nuclear bombs while Tehran insists
its program is aimed solely at electricity production.
A European Union statement to the board focused on demanding Iran
comply with Security Council resolutions and suggested that its pledge
to answer questions about past, hidden nuclear work, while welcome,
was worth little unless Tehran honored it.
The EU "took note" of the "work plan", which in diplomatic terms means
reserving judgment, short of approval. IAEA Director Mohamed ElBaradei
walked out of the meeting after the EU statement, said several
diplomats who were present.
"The EU statement was short-sighted..., overly hardline and not
helpful," said a Vienna diplomat working on the Iran file. "It's
harmful for the IAEA as an institution."
Ambassador Norma Goicochea Estenoz of Cuba, speaking as current
chairman of NAM, said it "strongly rejects any undue pressure or
interference in the agency's activities ... which could jeopardize its
efficiency and credibility".
Continued
She was alluding to suggestions by Washington and some allies that
Iran bulldozed inspectors into a flawed deal.
STEP FORWARD
The United Nations has imposed two sets of sanctions on Iran for
refusing to halt nuclear fuel work. Iran's agreement with the IAEA has
delayed a fresh set of tougher sanctions meant to deter Tehran from
pursuing enrichment.
"NAM believes this work plan is a significant step forward, as
(ElBaradei) said himself," Goicochea said. "NAM believes it will
facilitate negotiations between Iran and other concerned parties
toward a peaceful settlement of Iran's nuclear issues."
"NAM also expects all concerned parties to avoid taking any measures
which put at risk the recent constructive process between Iran and the
Agency," she said.
There are 115 nations in the NAM, 15 of them on the IAEA's board,
which makes decisions based on consensus.
Iran has few staunch allies in NAM -- Cuba, Syria, Bolivia and
Venezuela, all foes of Washington. Many members are disenchanted with
Iranian intransigence, diplomats say.
But many also resent what they see as efforts by some Western powers
on the board to isolate rather than negotiate with Iran to head off a
slide into conflict.
Ambassador Joachim Duarte of Portugal, current chairman of the EU,
said the bloc appreciated "impartial efforts" by the IAEA to uncover
Iran's nuclear history, but also called for regular status reports to
board governors.
Some Western diplomats have suggested IAEA inspectors should have
consulted governors before sealing the deal.
Duarte said the EU remained open to negotiations on trade benefits for
Iran if it shelved enrichment activity first. Iran has rejected that
precondition as undermining its sovereignty.
===
EU Session that El Baradei (IAEA Chief) walked out on
September 11, 2007
http://www.javno.com/en/world/clanak.php?id=79585
EU Expected to Demand Iran Shelve All Nuclear WorkThe European Union
is expected this week to renew demands on Iran to shelve all nuclear work.
Reuters. The European Union is expected this week to renew demands on
Iran to shelve all nuclear work, despite a deal between Tehran and the
U.N. nuclear watchdog meant to assuage fears about its atomic programme.
Sharing U.S. scepticism about Iran's limited agreement to be
transparent for U.N. inspectors, a draft EU statement highlights
Iranian defiance of U.N. Security Council resolutions ordering it to
suspend uranium enrichment, a process that can yield atom bombs.
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief Mohamed ElBaradei on
Monday assured agency governors meeting in Vienna that the deal's lack
of references to demands for suspension and wider IAEA inspections did
not mean Tehran was free to develop sensitive nuclear technology.
But the EU statement, to be delivered during debate on Wednesday, said
that, while progress towards uncovering Iran's nuclear history was
appreciated, the agreement did nothing to rein in Tehran's expanding
enrichment programme.
"Full and timely implementation of the work plan (to resolve past
activities) would constitute a significant step forward," said the
statement, obtained by Reuters.
"But we have been informed by the IAEA that Iran has further increased
its enrichment capacities" since an agency report on Aug. 30 showing
that Iran was close to being able to start producing usable amounts of
enriched uranium.
The EU condemned Iran's continued refusal to grant wider ranging
inspections of sites not declared to be nuclear in order to verify
that Tehran has no covert military project parallel to its official
quest for nuclear-generated electricity.
ANSWERS NOW NOT LATER
The statement implicitly criticised a rough 2 to 3-month timeline in
the agreement for Iran to answer questions one by one, saying it
should be "fully implemented without delay".
Washington has said it and many board members will press for swifter
responses to questions outstanding for five years.
Diplomats on the board said IAEA negotiators had told them that Iran
was adamant about the staged transparency procedure. "The IAEA told us
this was the best they could get, take it or leave it," one Western
diplomat said.
Elbaradei defended the pact in a speech opening the 35-nation meeting
to counter suspicions raised by Iran's announcement after agreeing the
deal that its nuclear dossier was now "closed".
For that to happen, he said, it was "indispensable" for Iran to permit
broader, intrusive inspections and suspend enrichment-related activity
as required by repeated IAEA board and Security Council resolutions.
The transparency deal stalled a U.S. push to isolate Iran by reducing
European support for, and stiffening Russian resistance to, a swift
resort to tougher U.N. sanctions.
Iran won the reprieve by threatening to exclude the IAEA if Security
Council pressure intensified, diplomats said.
But the U.S. and close EU allies have softened initial scathing
criticism to avoid being seen as wreckers and lending weight to Iran's
argument that it is being bullied by a few big powers more interested
in confrontation than peaceful solutions.
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