IRAN GROK Daily News – Excerpts from International Media Reports
[Links to full articles were active on the date posted here]
Russia Bowing to US Pressure — Iran [May 27]
“President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said yesterday Russia’s support for new UN sanctions against Iran was unacceptable and called on President Dmitry Medvedev to rethink his backing for the US-led move. Iran was snubbed by Russia and China last week when, just hours after it offered to ship some of its enriched uranium abroad, Washington announced that all five members of the UN Security Council backed a new sanctions draft. In an unusually strong criticism of the Russian government, Ahmadinejad used a televised outdoor speech to directly address Medvedev who, he said, had bowed to US pressure to support the squeeze on Iran over its nuclear programme. “If I were the Russian president, when making decisions about subjects related to a great nation [Iran] … I would act more cautiously, I would think more,” Ahmadinejad said. “The Iranian nation doesn’t know: are they [the Russians] our friends and neighbours? Are they with us or are they looking for something else?”..” [Complete Report]
U.N.’s Ban Urges Iran Talks With Security Council [May 27]
“United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Thursday urged Iran to do more to dispel international suspicion that it is trying to build atomic weapons, saying that the Islamic Republic’s enrichment of uranium is sowing mistrust. Speaking at an event in Rio de Janeiro, Ban also reiterated that a fuel swap deal brokered by Brazil and Turkey could help defuse tensions over Iran’s nuclear program. But he stressed that Iran must do more to assure the world that it is only enriching uranium for peaceful purposes, as Tehran insists. “At the heart of this crisis there appears to be a serious lack of trust and confidence in Iran,” Ban told a news conference in Rio, where he was attending the Third Forum of the U.N. Alliance of Civilizations. “Iran has at the same time declared it will continue the enrichment process … That has caused some serious concerns of the international community,” Ban added..” [Complete Report]
Iran Film Ban Latest Chapter in Cannes-Tehran Row [May 27]
“A rumbling censorship row between the Cannes film festival and Iran flared anew Thursday when Tehran banned celebrated director Abbas Kiarostami’s new movie due to star Juliet Binoche’s “attire”. Already an Oscar-winner, she picked up Cannes’ best actress award last weekend for her role in “Certified Copy”, a tortuous tete-a-tete about love and marriage in which she remains determinedly fully clothed throughout. “If Juliette Binoche were better clad it could have been screened but due to her attire there will not be a general screening,” Deputy Culture Minister Javad Shamaqdari was quoted as saying by local newspapers, without describing the offensive attire. Kiarostami’s first film shot outside his country, where his work is rarely seen, features Binoche in western dress, at one point with plunging neckline and at another slapping on make-up and ear-rings. She does recount how she took off her bra in a church because she felt uncomfortable but that scene is not on screen..” [Complete Report]
Iran Calls for Immediate Disarmament of Nuclear States [May 27]
“Iran on Thursday urged all countries to take serious steps to dismantle all nuclear weapons and called for setting a deadline in this regard by the international community. “We believe that nuclear disarmament and non—proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) are a necessity in today’s world. So a time limit is needed to be set for the elimination of nuclear weapons and this issue has to be incorporated in the final declaration of the Nuclear Non—proliferation Treaty (NPT) conference,” Mohammad Khazaee, Iran’s ambassador to the UN, was quoted as saying by Fars news agency. Mr. Khazaee said Iran, as one of the first countries to have signed the NPT and which floated the idea of a nuke—free Middle East in 1974, supports global denuclearisation as well as free access to peaceful nuclear technology. He said Iran calls for removal of all WMD from across the globe..” [Complete Report]
Merkel Urges Iran to ‘Carefully Consider’ Nuclear Deal {May 27]
“German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Thursday called on Iran to “carefully consider” an international offer on its nuclear programme, and also expressed concern over instability in Yemen. “Iran must carefully consider the offer of the international community” on its programme of uranium enrichment, Merkel said in a speech at the Museum of Islamic Art in Doha. Merkel, who was in the Qatari capital as part of a four-nation Gulf tour, said that “the dispute with Iran must be resolved diplomatically and peacefully, and Germany will contribute to such a settlement.” “But we believe that Iran will not show the necessary transparency to the International Atomic Energy Agency, which is why we are working to strengthen sanctions in the (UN) Security Council,” Merkel said..” [Complete Report]
Government Sees “Multiple Means to Isolate Iran, North Korea [May 27]
“The United States will pursue “multiple means” to isolate Iran and North Korea ifthey ignore their international obligations over their nuclear programs, according to President Barack Obama’s national security strategy unveiled on Thursday. The wide-ranging document, which is required by law of every president, also stated that Washington was seeking engagement with Iran “without illusion,” a reference to Iranian defiance in response to Obama’s earlier diplomatic outreach..” [Complete Report]
Pakistan, Iran to Sign Pipeline Deal [May 27]
“Two months after Pakistan and Iran signed a deal for the construction of a pipeline that would allow Iranian gas to be pumped into Balochistan and Sindh, the two countries will sign a sovereign guarantee on Friday for constructing the much delayed project that was envisaged as a “peace pipeline” extending right into India. The sovereign guarantee for the $ 7.6 billion project will be signed by representatives of the National Iranian Oil Company and Pakistan’s Petroleum Ministry. The two countries had inked the deal on March 17 this year in Turkey as per which a pipeline will connect Iran’s South Pars gas field with Pakistan’s southern Balochistan and Sindh provinces. As part of the project, gas will be pumped directly into “energy-hungry” Pakistan daily from Iran by the middle of the next decade..” [Complete Report]
