Current Events and Links
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Iran moves closer to making a nuclear bomb
June 22, 2007 - Iran claims to have 100 kg of uranium. This is enough to create two atomic bombs like the one dropped on Hiroshima. The uranium would need to be enriched to 84 percent purity, but Iran does have the centrifuges necessary to complete this enrichment.
- It could choose to enrich the stockpiled uranium to weapons-grade level in a matter of months – perhaps after formally withdrawing from the nuclear non-proliferation treaty and breaking out of all international safeguards.
- Source: Telegraph UK
Nuclear Talks Between IAEA, Iran Abruptly Cancelled
June 12, 2007 - International Atomic Energy Agency head Mohammed ElBaradei claims that Iran continues to expand its uranium enrichment program without UN inspectors making any progress to determine "the nature and scope" of their work. He was scheduled to talk with high-ranking Iranian officials Monday, but talks were called off suddenly because lower-level dignitaries had made little progress.
- The U.N. Security Council has imposed two rounds of limited sanctions on Iran for its refusal to suspend uranium enrichment, which can be used to create nuclear weapons or for producing energy.
- Source: Voice of America
Mofaz: All options, including military one, on the table regarding Iran
Jun 9, 2007 - Israeli Transportation Minister Shaul Mofaz said that the current strategy for dealing with Iran's nuclear program is to continue imposing sanctions on them. At the end of 2007 Israel and the U.S. will review the effectiveness of sanctions. In the meanwhile, all options are on the table, including military action.
- Source:Ha'Aretz
Clinton: US might have to confront Iran
Apr. 26, 2007 - Speaking at a meeting of the National Jewish Democratic Council, Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton said that it might be necessary for America to confront Iran militarily. She was critical of President Bush's administration for "considerably narrowing" the options available to counter Iran, but agreed that it could come down to military intervention.
- "If we do have to take offensive military action against Iran, it would be far better if the rest of the world saw it as a position of last resort, not first resort, because the effect and consequences will be global."
- Source: Jerusalem Post
Israeli Military Expects Missile War
Apr. 20, 2007 - During the war against Hizbullah last August, some 4,500 short- and medium-range rockets were fired into Israel. They were unable to stop the rocket assault. Israeli military experts now say that the next war will be waged by Lebanon, Syria and the Palestinian Authority, using even more rockets than before.
- Source: Middle East Newsline
U.S. Plans to Open War with Cruise Missiles
Apr. 12, 2007 - Russia continues to warn that the U.S. is planning an attack on Iran in the near future. They point to three battle-ready groups in the Arabian Sea and the Persian Gulf, with more than 450 cruise missiles ready to fire.
- The assessment was the latest by government-financed Russian military analysts that warned of a U.S. war against Iran. Over the last two weeks, some analysts have raised the prospect of a U.S. air strike over the next few weeks.
- Source:Middle East Newsline
- 'Iran making battle plans'
Tehran believes U.S. attack coming, buying support from terror groups
- WorldNetDaily
Iran Says It's Prepared to Start 'Industrial Scale' Uranium Enrichment
Apr. 9, 2007 - Iran has announced that it is increasing its uranium enrichment capabilities from 328 centrifuges to 3000.
- The expansion of enrichment was a strong show of defiance toward the United Nations, which has vowed to ratchet up sanctions as long as Iran refuses to suspend the process.
- Source: Fox
- Russians insistent on U.S. Iran attack - WorldNetDaily
- Iran possibly months from making bomb - WorldNetDaily
U.N. Security Council Issues Statement of 'Grave Concern' Over Iran's Seizure of 15 British Troops
Mar. 30, 2007 - Because of opposition from Russia, the U.N. Security Council could not issue a statement that would "deplore" Iran's capture of 15 British sailors and marines, but it did issue one that expressed "grave concern" about the situation.
- Source: Fox
- Iran's Ambassador to Russia: British Sailors May Be Tried - Fox
'Arrow can fully protect against Iran'
Mar. 31, 2007 - The American-developed "Arrow" is one of the only operational ballistic missile defense systems in the world. It is in use in Israel to protect them from attacks from surrounding countries.
- Recent modifications made to the Arrow enable Israel's ballistic missile defense system to successfully intercept and destroy any ballistic missile in the Middle East, including nuclear-capable missiles under development by Iran.
- Source: Jerusalem Post
U.S. Begins Show of Force in Persian Gulf
Mar. 27, 2007 - Following the Iranian capture of British sailors, the U.S. has begun the largest demonstration of force in the Persian Gulf since the 2003 invasion of Iraq. The activity is centered around two aircraft carriers
- The maneuvers bring together two strike groups of U.S. warships and more than 100 U.S. warplanes to conduct simulated air warfare in the crowded Gulf shipping lanes.
- Source:Fox
- Background - Friday, Mar. 23, 2007: Iranian Vessels Seize 15 British Navy Personnel in Iraqi Waters
Russia to nix 'extreme' Iran sanctions
Mar. 21, 2007 - Russia will not support "extreme" sanctions against Iran, the foreign minister said Wednesday, as the UN Security Council considered imposing harsher measures intended to push Teheran to freeze its nuclear program.
- Source:Jerusalem Post
World powers agree on new Iran sanctions
Mar. 15, 2007 - Ambassadors from six key nations have agreed on a new package of sanctions against Iran for enriching uranium. Their plan will be presented to the U.N. Security Council where it is likely to be approved.
- The modest package includes an embargo on Iranian arms exports and an asset freeze on more individuals and companies associated with Tehran's nuclear and missile programs, council diplomats said.
The six nations are the U.S., Russia, China, France, Britain and Germany.
- Source:Yahoo
UN nuclear watchdog okays cuts in aid to Iranian nuclear program
Mar. 8, 2007 - The 35-nation board of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) decided to curb 22 of Iran's 55 nuclear aid projects because of their apparent intention to produce nuclear weapons.
- Only two states in the IAEA's 50-year history have been stripped of nuclear aid due to concern about possible diversions into bomb making - North Korea and Saddam Hussein's Iraq.
- Source: Ha'Aretz
Syria ready with bio-terror if U.S. hits Iran
Mar. 5, 2007 - According to Jill Bellamy-Dekker, Director for the Public Health Preparedness program for the European Homeland Security Association, Syria will join Iran if the U.S. attacks Iranian nuclear facilities. They are prepared to respond by launching a biological attack on Israel or Europe.
- "The Syrians are embedding their biological weapons program into their commercial pharmaceuticals business and their veterinary vaccine-research facilities. The intelligence service oversees Syria's 'bio-farm' program and the Ministry of Defense is well interfaced into the effort."
- Source:WorldNetDaily
Russia Warns U.S. Against Striking Iran
Mar. 1, 2007 - Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov warned the U.S. not to use military force against Iran.
- ``We are observing a U.S. military buildup in the Persian Gulf. Such a buildup of forces always threatens to trigger a military conflict, even by accident.''
He was reacting to Vice President Dick Cheney's recent comment that ``all options are on the table'' to stop Tehran from becoming a nuclear power.
- Source:Guardian - UK
U.S. set to join Iran and Syria in talks on Iraq
Feb. 28, 2007 - Revising President Bush's policy of avoiding high-level contacts with hostile countries in the Middle East, American officials will engage dignitaries from Iran and Syria in talks about Iraq.
- Source:International Herald Tribune
Israel to hold nationwide nuclear attack drill
Feb. 26, 2007 - In March Israel will hold its first-ever nationwide drill simulating a nuclear and chemical missile attack on its cities.
- The exercise was initiated by the army's homefront corps in the wake of last summer's war in Lebanon and Iran's calls for the destruction of the Jewish state and its controversial nuclear program.
- Source:Breitbart.com
Iran Fails to Meet U.N. Deadline to Halt Uranium Enrichment
Feb. 22, 2007 - The White House is studying a copy of a report by the U.N.'s nuclear watchdog organization. The report verifies that Iran failed to suspend uranium enrichment by Feb. 21, as demanded by the United Nations.
- Developing story - more to come.
- Source:Fox
U.N. Nuclear Watchdog Prepares Iran Report That Could Trigger Harsher Sanctions
Feb. 21, 2007 - Time has run out on the U.N. requirement for a 60-day "freeze" on Iranian uranium enrichment.
- Officials at the International Atomic Energy Agency said the report — by Mohamed ElBaradei, head of the Vienna-based IAEA — would likely say that Iran has expanded enrichment efforts instead of freezing them.
The findings could lead to harsher U.N. sanctions against Iran.
- Source: Fox
Russia's Putin: U.S. Wants World Domination
Feb. 12, 2007 - Speaking in Germany, Russian President Vladimir Putin accused the United States of forcing its will on the world.
- In a speech in Germany, which one U.S. senator said smacked of Cold War rhetoric, Putin accused the United States of making the world a more dangerous place by pursuing policies aimed at making it "one single master".
- Source: NewsMax
- Sec. Robert Gates: Putin Remark 'Just Old Spy Talk' - NewsMax
Report: Mossad assassinated Iranian nuclear scientist
Feb. 4, 2007 - Ardeshire Hassanpour, 44, prize-winning Iranian nuclear physicist has reportedly
been assassinated by the Mossad, the Israeli security service.
- According to Radio Farda, Iranian reports of Hassanpour’s death emerged on January 21 after a delay of six days, giving the cause as “gas poisoning”. The Iranian reports did not say how or where Hassanpour was poisoned but his death was said to have been announced at a conference on nuclear safety.
- Source: Worthy News
Attack on Iran by end of Bush's term?
Jan. 31, 2007 - According to The British Times, Europeans are concerned that Washington will resort to force if necessary to resolve the Iranian nuclear threat. The U.S. accuses European dragging their feet and not implementing the sanctions against Iran that were approved by the Security Council.
- A diplomatic source in Washington told The Times, “It is difficult to imagine Bush and Cheney leaving office without resolving the Iranian issue, if necessary, by force.”
- Source: YNet
Report: Iran Preparing to Put Satellite in Orbit
Jan. 26, 2007 - According to the latest issue of Aviation Week & Space Technology magazine, Iran is preparing to try launching a satellite into orbit.
- The reported Iranian space launcher, which U.S. intelligence agencies believe to be a derivation of the Shahab 3 ballistic missile, has recently been assembled and "will liftoff soon" with a satellite, according to Iranian officials.
A successful mission could lead to the development of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) that could reach Europe, Russia, China and India. It could also result in the capability of placing weapons in orbit that could be dropped anywhere around the Earth.
- Source: Fox
- Of further concern: Report: N. Korea Helping Iran Plan Nuclear Test - Fox
Report: Russia tracking IDF movements
Jan. 25, 2007 - An Israeli TV station reports that Russia has maintained listening posts for more than a decade along the Syrian border with Israel. This technology follow IDF movements in the Golan Heights, and reports to Hizbullah in Lebanon.
- Diplomatic officials said that the while Prime Minister Ehud Olmert discussed with the Russians during his visit to Moscow in October the advanced Russian arms that were found in Hizbullah's possession during the summer's war in Lebanon, the issue of the listening posts was not brought up.
- Source: Jerusalem Post
U.S. Said To Plan Major Strike On Iran
Jan 22, 2007 - According to Wayne White, a credible former U.S. intelligence analyst, the U.S. has developed a plan for a full-fledged war against Iran.
- White, who served as deputy director for the State Department's Bureau of Intelligence and Research, addressed the Washington-based Middle East Policy Council on Jan. 19. He said the U.S. military was preparing to destroy most of Iran's arsenal in the Gulf.
- Source:Middle East Newsline
Mushrooms over the Middle East
Jan 12,2007 - Prophecy expert Hal Lindsey says he was shocked by the news that Israel may have plans to use tactical nuclear weapons in a pre-emptive strike to stop Iran's nuclear drive. He admits that he has thought about this possibility, and has even discussed it publicly. But it was still a blow to read the report in last Sunday's edition of The London Times. He wondered why Israel would have leaked such news. The obvious reason would be to soften-up public opinnion a little in case they actually have to use that option. It also gives the opportunity to measure world reaction to such action.
- They can also judge whether the world might actually be relieved if someone takes out Iran's nukes before Mahmoud Ahmadinejad launches them on Israel and starts a regional nuclear holocaust. It's increasingly the global consensus that this is exactly what will happen if Iran develops a nuclear capability.
- Source: Hal Lindsey - WorldNetDaily
- Revealed: Israel plans nuclear strike on Iran - London Times
- If Israel had tactical nukes, would it use them against Iran? - Jerusalem Post
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