Top Stories
NYT: "The world's global nuclear inspection agency, frustrated by Iran's refusal to answer questions, revealed for the first time on Tuesday that it possesses evidence that Tehran has conducted work on a highly sophisticated nuclear triggering technology that experts said could be used for only one purpose: setting off a nuclear weapon. The disclosure by the International Atomic Energy Agency was buried inside a nine-page report on the progress of Iran's nuclear program. The agency did not say where the evidence came from, nor did it provide many details about the allegations. Statistics in the report also indicated that Iran has begun to recover from the effects of the Stuxnet computer worm, which first struck the country nearly two years ago in an apparent effort to cripple its production of nuclear fuel. Based on recent visits by inspectors, the agency concluded that Iran's main production site at Natanz is now producing low-enriched uranium at rates slightly exceeding what it produced before being hit by the Stuxnet... The I.A.E.A.'s last report, issued in February, listed seven outstanding questions about work Iran apparently conducted on warhead design. The documents in the hands of the agency raise questions about work on how to turn uranium into bomb fuel, how to cast conventional explosives in a shape that can trigger a nuclear blast, how to make detonators, generate neutrons to spur a chain reaction, measure detonation waves and make nose-cones for missiles. Tuesday's report gave new details for all seven of the categories of allegations." http://t.uani.com/jV6fnn
AFP: "The United States on Tuesday announced new sanctions against Iran, targeting foreign firms that the country has relied on for the gasoline and other refined petroleum products its people need. It said the sanctions on seven companies -- including those from Venezuela, Singapore and Israel -- are part of a new strategy to squeeze Iran's energy sector and deny it funds for a nuclear program suspected of developing weapons. Washington also imposed sanctions against 16 other firms and individuals, including from China, over trade with Iran, Syria and North Korea in goods or technology that may be used for weapons of mass destruction or missiles. Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg said all seven firms were involved in the supply of gasoline and other refined petroleum products to Iran. Two firms were previously hit with sanctions for similar reasons... The seven companies are Petroleos de Venezuela (PDVSA), as well as PCCI (Jersey/Iran), Royal Oyster Group (UAE), Speedy Ship (UAE/Iran), Tanker Pacific (Singapore), Ofer Brothers Group (Israel), and Associated Shipbroking (Monaco)." http://t.uani.com/iXhQik
WSJ: "Defense Secretary Robert Gates urged Iraq to host U.S. troops beyond the end of the year to maintain stability and keep Iran at bay, echoing the growing concerns of U.S. military officials that the government in Baghdad isn't moving fast enough to request an extension of the U.S. troop presence. Mr. Gates predicted the U.S. would accede to such a request to send a message to American allies and Iran that the U.S. isn't withdrawing from the region, he said in remarks to a think tank in Washington on Tuesday. 'It would be reassuring to the Gulf States. It would not be reassuring to Iran, and that is a good thing,' Mr. Gates said. Some military officials say that without a continued U.S. presence, Iraq is likely to fall into the orbit of Iran. In a paper released Tuesday, Frederick Kagan, an influential defense analyst, argued that without a continued U.S. presence, Iraq would also be vulnerable to continued insurgent-style attacks from Iran-backed proxies or even a full-scale invasion by Iran... Mr. Kagan, a scholar at the American Enterprise Institute who regularly advises military commanders, argued in his paper, which was released Tuesday, that Iraq won't be able to defend itself against Iran and its agents without a U.S. troop presence. 'The Iraqi Security Forces will not be able to defend Iraq's sovereignty, independence from Iran, and internal stability without American assistance, including some ground forces, for a number of years,' Mr. Kagan wrote. Many Iraqi lawmakers say they believe there is a parliamentary majority in Iraq supporting a continued U.S. troop presence. But the influential pro-Iranian cleric, Moqtada al Sadr, is pushing lawmakers to block a request." http://t.uani.com/kHsISq
Nuclear Program & Sanctions
Reuters: "The European Union suspended a travel ban on Iran's foreign minister at the same time as significantly extending its sanctions against the country this week, an EU spokeswoman said on Tuesday. Ali Akbar Salehi was included in an EU travel ban before he became foreign minister earlier this year because of his role in Iran's nuclear programme, which the West suspects of being a front for the development of atomic bombs. 'Technically he stays on the list, but the application of the travel ban has been suspended,' said Maja Kocijancic, spokeswoman for EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton. The spokeswoman said it was normal for foreign ministers not to be included on sanctions lists so they could carry out their role of interlocutor with other countries." http://t.uani.com/jsMRLG
Reuters: "The European Union has targeted more Iranian shipping companies as part of moves to tighten sanctions imposed on the Islamic Republic. EU foreign ministers agreed on Monday to add more than 100 new entities to a list of companies and people affected by EU sanctions, designed to put economic pressure on Tehran to abandon its atomic programme. Adding further pressure, the United States on Tuesday announced sanctions on Venezuela's state oil company PDVSA and six other smaller oil and shipping companies for engaging in trade with Iran in violation of a U.S. ban. The EU move, reflecting mounting frustration over a lack of progress in nuclear talks with Tehran, has added a number of holding companies owned or controlled by the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines (IRISL)... The new EU measures have targeted over 30 IRISL holding companies based in Germany, Malta, Hong Kong and the Isle of Man in the UK. All the companies were listed at the same address in each location, the EU's Official Journal showed on Tuesday. Among the shipping companies targeted by the EU were Safiran Payam Darya Shipping Lines, which it said took over IRISL's bulk services and routes and used vessels previously owned by IRISL." http://t.uani.com/jJiZ3O
Bloomberg: "Petroleos de Venezuela SA bonds plunged, pushing yields up the most in three months, after the U.S. announced sanctions on the state-owned oil company for supporting Iran's energy industry in ways that might aid the country's alleged 'illicit' nuclear activities... PDVSA, as the company is known, delivered at least two cargos of a gasoline additive to Iran between December and March, worth about $50 million, the U.S. State Department said today in an e-mailed statement. The sanctions prohibit the company from competing for U.S. government procurement contracts, from getting financing from the U.S. Export-Import Bank and from obtaining U.S. export licenses. The sanctions don't prohibit the export of crude oil to the U.S. 'These sanctions constitute a warning shot from the U.S. government to Venezuela in its dealings with the Iranian regime,' Boris Segura, Latin America economist at Nomura Securities International, wrote in a note to clients. 'The authorities' reaction at this juncture is key. If they interpret these sanctions as an attack of the 'empire' on the revolution, we could expect further measures to try to armour plate the country from potentially more severe sanctions.'" http://t.uani.com/jte6E0
Reuters: "President Hugo Chavez reacted with predictable fury at 'imperialist' sanctions by Washington over Venezuela's ties with ally Iran -- but does not look ready to jeopardize his huge oil trade with the United States... 'This is an aggression against Venezuela and against OPEC,' Energy Minister Rafael Ramirez said, likening the sanctions against his country with U.S. pressure on Iran over its nuclear policy and the war to topple Libya's Muammar Gaddafi. Out of the public eye for once due to a knee injury, Chavez nevertheless popped up on Twitter to condemn the 'new gringo aggression' and 'imperialist government.' Beyond such rhetoric, however, pragmatism probably will again prevail on both sides, analysts say." http://t.uani.com/m3TAou
AP: "Iran's nuclear chief has dismissed the latest report by the U.N. watchdog agency saying that Tehran may be working on an atomic weapons program, calling it a 'fabrication.' Fereidoun Abbasi says the report on Iran's alleged nuclear weapons' activities was based on wrongful information provided by a 'few arrogant countries' - a phrase authorities in Iran often use to refer to the United States and its allies. Abbasi's remarks were reported on Wednesday by state television." http://t.uani.com/ljMzE4
Human Rights
AP: "Two American hikers held captive in Iran for nearly two years have a big hitter in their corner: boxing champion Muhammad Ali, the self-proclaimed 'greatest of all time.' Ali on Tuesday led a prominent group of U.S. Muslims in appealing for the release of Shane Bauer and Josh Fattal. The 28-year-old Americans were taken into custody along the Iran-Iraq border in July 2009 and have been held by Iranian authorities ever since. Bauer's fiancee, Sarah Shourd, was released on bail last year and returned to the United States. Like the former heavyweight champion, the two Americans only 'wanted to experience the world, they wanted to experience other cultures, they wanted to experience other people,' said Ali's wife, Lonnie, who spoke on his behalf. The 69-year-old Ali sat in a chair next to her, in a dark suit and sunglasses. He didn't speak." http://t.uani.com/m4v0zF
Domestic Politics
NYT: "President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran will not preside over - or even attend - next month's OPEC meeting in Vienna as previously planned, Iran's Foreign Ministry said Tuesday. The change in plan, reported late Monday in Iran's state-run press, appeared to signify a retreat by the president in his power struggle with the nation's supreme leader... The move by Mr. Ahmadinejad to take over the oil ministry and project himself on the world stage at the June 8 meeting in Vienna was seen as the latest skirmish in a confrontation with the supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, that surfaced a month ago and put a sharp public focus on the widening cracks within Iran's ruling elite. The reversal suggested that his ability to exert independent power in either domestic or foreign affairs is diminishing. 'The leader has drawn a bright red line around Ahmadinejad's continued power grabs,' said Cliff Kupchan, a former State Department official who is now an Iran expert at Eurasia Group, a consultancy. 'Ahmadinejad has been severely weakened.'" http://t.uani.com/jJrhPV
AP: "From a hillside, Kamal Saadat looked forlornly at hundreds of potential customers, knowing he could not take them for trips in his boat to enjoy a spring weekend on picturesque Oroumieh Lake, the third largest saltwater lake on earth. 'Look, the boat is stuck... It cannot move anymore,' said Saadat, gesturing to where it lay encased by solidifying salt and lamenting that he could not understand why the lake was fading away. The long popular lake, home to migrating flamingos, pelicans and gulls, has shrunken by 60 percent and could disappear entirely in just a few years, experts say - drained by drought, misguided irrigation policies, development and the damming of rivers that feed it." http://t.uani.com/jqUhkQ
Foreign Affairs
AP: "Iran's government has protested to the Cannes Film Festival over its decision to ban director Lars von Trier for saying he sympathized with Adolf Hitler. Iran's semiofficial FARS news agency said Tuesday that deputy culture minister Javad Shamaqdari had written to festival president Gilles Jacob saying Cannes had smirched its history and rendered its claims to defend free speech 'a meaningless slogan.' The Iranian regime has jailed several filmmakers or banned them from making movies for supporting the country's reform movement... In response to the Iranian letter, von Trier said Tuesday that his remarks were 'unintelligent, ambiguous and needlessly hurtful.'" http://t.uani.com/keZUoR
Opinion & Analysis
Howard LaFranchi in CSM: "The United States is for the first time imposing sanctions designed to hit Iranian imports of refined petroleum products including gasoline. The measures announced Tuesday against seven companies supplying Iran - including the Venezuelan giant PDVSA and an Israeli shipping firm - are seen by some foreign-policy analysts as the Obama administration's response to Capitol Hill critics who say the US has been slow to get tough on Iran in a meaningful way. The US action was announced the same day the United Nations' nuclear watchdog agency, the International Atomic Energy Agency, circulated a report claiming continued progress in Iran's nuclear enrichment program. The report, to be reviewed at an IAEA meeting next month, also cites evidence that Iran diverted elements of its nuclear program to research in military applications as recently as last year. The US has imposed a series of sanctions on Iran in the past - the most recent following the UN Security Council's passage of a fourth sanctions resolution against Iran last June. But the focus of those measures has been Iranian companies, banks, and individuals found to be associated with the country's nuclear program. The measures announced Tuesday by Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg target seven foreign entities selling products such as gasoline to Iran. 'All of these companies have engaged in activities related to the supply of refined petroleum products to Iran, including the direct supply of gasoline,' Deputy Secretary Steinberg said. Other firms cited, in some cases joint ventures with Iranian companies, were from the United Arab Emirates, Monaco, Singapore, and Jersey, a British crown dependency off the coast of France. The new measures suggest a shift toward efforts to weaken the Iranian economy as a means of pressuring Iran to halt its uranium enrichment program. The US and other Western powers accuse Iran of pursuing its nuclear program, including enrichment, with the goal of developing a nuclear weapon. Iran insists its objectives are purely peaceful and aimed at developing civilian nuclear power. Iran is a major producer of oil, but is weak on petroleum refinery capacity and must import about 40 percent of its gasoline. The measures announced Tuesday constitute the first substantial action by the Obama administration under legislation passed in Congress about a year ago. The Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act of 2010 sought among other things to target Iran's importing of gasoline, which is seen as the Iranian economy's Achilles' Heel." http://t.uani.com/juHnHK
David Albright, Andrea Stricker, and Christina Walrond in ISIS: "The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) released on May 24, 2011 its latest report on the implementation of NPT safeguards in Iran and the status of Iran's compliance with Security Council Resolutions. The following analysis highlights the IAEA's key findings, including: 1) continuing clearer statements about Iran not meeting its obligations under its safeguards agreement and United Nations Security Council resolutions; 2) the average monthly rate of low enriched uranium (LEU) production increased significantly from the last reporting period, and the number of centrifuges slightly increased, which raises the possibility of ongoing problems in its centrifuge modules; 3) two 164-machine cascades of new advanced centrifuges have not yet been deployed at the Natanz Pilot Fuel Enrichment Plant, as expected; 4) the IAEA's information about Iran's enrichment activities continues to diminish; 5) monthly production rates of 20 percent enriched LEU slightly increase; 6) the Bushehr nuclear power reactor went critical on May 10, 2011; and 7) the IAEA has more new evidence about Iran's weaponization activities... The IAEA reports that Iran has still refused to clarify and the Agency remains concerned about 'the possible existence in Iran of past or current undisclosed nuclear related activities involving military related organizations, including activities related to the development of a nuclear payload for a missile.' The IAEA notes, moreover, that since its last report in February, it has 'received further information' related to these undisclosed nuclear related activities, which it is currently assessing. Since the Agency first raised these concerns with Iran in August 2008, Iran has not provided access to locations, personnel, and information the Agency seeks in order to investigate these issues. Pursuant to resolving these outstanding issues and making progress on the 'verification of the correctness and completeness of Iran's declarations,' on May 6, 2011, IAEA Director General Amano sent a letter to newly appointed Vice President of Iran/head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization, Fereydoun Abbasi, asking for 'prompt access to relevant locations, equipment, documentation, and persons.' The IAEA lays out again very clearly in this report its lack of progress on investigating Iran's military related research and development by expanding on the list of areas over which it has concerns from its February report." http://t.uani.com/mxkKqF
Omid Memarian in The Daily Beast: "As the world has been watching the Arab Spring in full bloom, Iran's streets have been seemingly quiet since its own wave of protests in 2009, after President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's allegedly fraudulent election. But in Tehran, the astonishing and ever-increasing criticism coming from conservatives against the president is entering a new stage, which according to some sources, could turn into a bloody duel in Iranian politics over the coming weeks. Ahmadinejad and the supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, have come to a head in recent months as Ahmadinejad has blatantly made controversial decisions against the leader's wishes. A political activist close to the recent struggles told The Daily Beast that the Iranian president has not only lost Khamenei's unconditional support, but the leader has also let Ahmadinejad's opposition loose on him. Analysts say Ahmadinejad has made a lot of enemies over the past five years and has failed to build political coalitions during his time in power. He has practically brought isolation for himself and Iran internationally. And inside the country, his delusional ambitions for a power grab that could engulf the leader's territory has resulted in a very strong backlash... Just last Friday, May 20, a high-ranking IRGC (Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corp) commander said that the Basij force is preparing itself for 'preventive action' against 'the deviant trend.' The 'deviant trend' is a title used by those who oppose Ahmadinejad to describe certain people close to him, including Mashaei. The IRGC commander said that they would hold a military maneuver to show their allegiance with Iran's supreme leader. But why has Ahmadinejad stayed quiet in the face of increasing criticism and pressure? Some say he's biding his time. He could either be preparing to mount an attack. Or, some speculate, he is expecting Khamenei, who is rumored to be struggling with cancer, to lose that fight. This back and forth between Ahmadinejad and Khamenei's camps have been taking place very publicly, even on websites such as Ya Lesarat, a pro-leader conservative site. One of the individuals said to belong to the 'deviant trend' is Esfandiar Rahim Mashaei. The 'deviants' believes in the emergence of Mahdi, the Twelfth Imam of Shia Muslims. According to Shia teachings, the Vali-e Fagheeh, currently Iran's supreme leader, represents the Twelfth Imam, Mahdi, at this time. But with the emergence of the Twelfth Imam himself, the Vali-e Fagheeh, or Iran's supreme leader, will be ousted from power. In fact Ayatollah Khamenei's supporters and the traditional conservatives are worried that Ahmadinejad's disobedience of the supreme leader's orders may be a part of his long-term plans for creating fundamental changes in the Iranian political scene whereby the Iranian leader will no longer have a role." http://t.uani.com/jMb5iY
Richard Weitz in The Diplomat: "A UN panel of experts has found evidence that North Korea has been clandestinely assisting other countries, including Iran, in developing nuclear and ballistic capabilities. What's really interesting though is the country illicit goods have reportedly been trafficked through-China. Of course, we can't actually read the report ourselves because the Chinese government is blocking its release-despite an obligation to allow the UN technical experts to operate without political interference. But while Beijing could certainly take a step toward promoting more transparency over security by allowing everyone official access to the document, far more important is getting Chinese entities out of the proliferation business altogether... The UN sanctions looked at in the latest report prohibit governments or individuals from assisting either Iran or North Korea in transferring or receive WMD-related technology, including ballistic missiles. This means that if China is helping these two rogues exchange items, it is engaging in a double violation of multiple UN resolutions that its government has itself supported in the UN Security Council. According to leaked excerpts from the text, 'Prohibited ballistic missile-related items are suspected to have been transferred between the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and the Islamic Republic of Iran on regular scheduled flights of Air Koryo and Iran Air...with trans-shipment through a neighbouring third country.' In addition to Iran, the panel found that North Korea had succeeded in selling 'complete systems, components and technology to numerous customers in the Middle East and South Asia.'" http://t.uani.com/lvKGba
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