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NYT:
"No one knows if the Obama administration will manage in the next
five weeks to strike what many in the White House consider the most
important foreign policy deal of his presidency: an accord with Iran that
would forestall its ability to make a nuclear weapon. But the White House
has made one significant decision: If agreement is reached, President
Obama will do everything in his power to avoid letting Congress vote on
it. White House officials say Congress should not be surprised by this
plan. They point to testimony earlier this year when top negotiators
argued that the best way to assure that Iran complies with its
obligations is a step-by-step suspension of sanctions - with the implicit
understanding that the president could turn them back on as fast as he
turned them off. But many members of Congress see the plan as an effort
by the administration to freeze them out, a view shared by some Israeli
officials who see a congressional vote as the best way to constrain the
kind of deal that Mr. Obama might strike. http://t.uani.com/1wrfeyG
Reuters:
"Iran has still not implemented all the nuclear transparency
measures it had agreed to carry out by late August, the head of the U.N.
atomic energy agency said on Monday, suggesting little headway in an
inquiry into suspected bomb research. Western officials say Iran must
cooperate more with United Nations nuclear sleuths if it wants to settle
a protracted dispute with six world powers over its nuclear program and
be rid of crippling financial sanctions. 'In order to resolve all
outstanding issues, it is very important that Iran implements, in a
timely manner, all practical measures agreed under the Framework for
Cooperation,' Yukiya Amano said. That accord was reached with Tehran last
year to help advance the long-running investigation. The IAEA has been
trying for years to get to the bottom of Western intelligence reports
suggesting Iran was designing a nuclear warhead. Iran say the
intelligence was fabricated by its foes. But it has promised to work with
the IAEA since last year. Tehran said last month the IAEA lacked
'substantiated' evidence. Diplomats say the United States and its Western
allies as well as Israel have provided information on Iran to the
IAEA." http://t.uani.com/1t2jtjd
WSJ:
"Despite continued talk of progress in Iran's nuclear negotiations
with six major powers, there remains a significant possibility a final
deal will not be done by the Nov. 24 deadline, paving the way for an
extension of the discussions .In Brussels, that is raising a question-
Who will play the role of Catherine Ashton, the outgoing European Union
foreign-policy chief who has chaired the six party group and played
negotiating partner to Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif? The answer
seems to be: Ms. Ashton.The British diplomat is due to step down from her
Brussels post when a new EU executive takes over on Nov. 1. But the six
power group - the U.S., the U.K., France, Germany, Russia and China -
reached an informal agreement in July when talks were extended, that Ms.
Ashton would stay until Nov. 24. However, in recent weeks, as the
possibility of a second extension of the talks has loomed, an
understanding is forming that Ms. Ashton should stay on to see the job
through, according to several people close to the talks". http://t.uani.com/1t3vcxO
Nuclear Program & Negotiations
Times of Israel:
"Neither Iran nor six world powers are looking to extend talks on
Tehran's nuclear program, a senior Iranian official said Sunday. Araqchi's
statement constituted a turnaround from just over a week ago, when he was
quoted by the semi-official Fars news agency as saying that an extension
was under consideration and that it was 'possible.' However, Iranian
Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif had said Friday that Tehran does
not want to extend its nuclear talks with world powers. Negotiations
between Iran and the six world powers (the US, UK, France, Russia, China
and Germany) are scheduled to resume on Wednesday with expert-level
talks. The talks were already extended once earlier this year and
reportedly remain stuck over the size and output of Iran's uranium
enrichment program, a possible pathway to nuclear arms. Israel has
lobbied against any deal that leaves Iran with the capacity to enrich
uranium". http://t.uani.com/1yaIOYk
AFP:
"Expert-level talks between Iran and world powers aimed at clearing
the path toward a nuclear deal will be held Wednesday and Thursday in
Vienna, a top Iranian official said. Iran and the P5+1 group of nations (Britain,
China, France, Russia, the United States plus Germany) are seeking a
comprehensive agreement over Tehran's nuclear programme by a November 24
deadline. However the talks have been hit by disputes over what limits
should be placed on Iran's atomic activities, particularly its enrichment
of uranium, and on the process of lifting US, UN and European sanctions.
'Negotiations between experts from Iran and the P5+1 will be held
Wednesday and Thursday in Vienna,' Iranian negotiator and deputy foreign
minister Abbas Araqchi was quoted as saying by the official IRNA news
agency". http://t.uani.com/1yRQzpd
Sanctions
Relief
LAT:
"Iranian officials are expressing new worry over the global oil
price slump, which is threatening the country's budget and could undermine
its strategy in international nuclear negotiations .As recently as
Tuesday, Iran's oil ministry was speaking confidently despite the 20%
global price decline, insisting that it wouldn't affect the budget.
Deputy Oil Minister Rokneddin Javadi said the decrease would be
'short lived,' an oil ministry information service said. But Iranian
President Hassan Rouhani, clearly concerned, has directed the oil
ministry to seek a meeting of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting
Countries cartel next month to discuss propping up the price, Iranian
news agencies are reporting. Crude oil has fallen from over $100 a barrel
in spring to under $85 a barrel. About 75% Iran's government revenues
come from oil sales, and analysts say the country needs an oil price of
around $140 a barrel to sustain its budget". http://t.uani.com/1vVmFPV
Reuters:
"Indian refiners will pay $500 million to Iran next week, the second
installment in an interim deal that allows Tehran to recover part of
overseas frozen oil revenues that are payments for oil it has sold, two
industry sources said in Friday.Iran and the United States, China,
France, Germany, Britain and Russia agreed in July to extend a six-month
interim accord until Nov. 24 after they failed to meet a July 20 deadline
for reaching a long-term deal to end their nuclear dispute.' The process
for the first installment of $400 million has been initiated and the
second installment of $500 million will also be cleared next week,' said
one of the sources.Payment of $900 million by India was to be made in
September, the sources said. It was not immediately clear why the process
has been delayed. Indian refiners together owe about $6 billion to
Iran". http://t.uani.com/1yaLHsn
Reuters:
"Years of economic sanctions and isolation have ravaged Iran's
economy but created one of the last unexploited opportunities for
international portfolio investors, who could start moving their money in
this year if geopolitics permit. The Tehran Stock Exchange is 'the last,
large untapped emerging market in the world', said Ramin Rabii, managing
director of Turquoise Partners, a Tehran-based investment firm with
around $200 million of assets under management. Talks between Iran and
world powers in Vienna this week aim to reach a deal on Tehran's disputed
nuclear program. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said on Monday
agreement was 'certain', though not necessarily before a self-imposed
Nov. 24 deadline. A deal would pave the way for the West to lift
sanctions that have largely frozen Iran out of the global banking system,
deterring the vast majority of foreign investors". http://t.uani.com/1wr9EfD
AP:
"The number of foreigners visiting Iran jumped dramatically over the
12-month period ending in March, with 35 percent more tourists compared
to the same period a year earlier, Iran's top tourism official said
Saturday.Masoud Soltanifar said on state TV that the thriving industry
could help boost Iran's economy out of recession and bring in much-needed
hard currency. He said 4.5 million foreign tourists that came to the
Islamic Republic over the period, bringing in some $6 billion in revenue.
He attributed the increase to the 2013 election of President Hassan
Rouhani, who has shifted away from the bombastic style adopted under his
hard-line predecessor, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Rouhani, who has advocated
for tourism, hopes it will boost the country's image". http://t.uani.com/1utIpwk
Human Rights
AFP:
"A series of acid attacks on women in the historic Iranian city of
Isfahan has raised fears and prompted rumours that the victims were
targeted for not being properly veiled. Police have declined to comment
on a motive but suspects have been arrested and an investigation is
ongoing, General Hossein Ashtari was quoted as saying by the official
IRNA news agency. He said four acid attacks had been reported in Isfahan,
450 kilometres (280 miles) south of Tehran, but he gave no other
details". http://t.uani.com/1ptTgF1
AFP:
"Award-winning Iranian human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh told AFP
Sunday that she has been barred from practising for three years and will
hold a protest against the decision this week.Sotoudeh was released from
jail last year when halfway through a six-year sentence for 'actions
against national security and committing propaganda against the regime'.She
said the ban was a threat to the legal profession but she would not
appeal. Instead, she will conduct a sit-down protest outside the Iran Bar
Association's headquarters in Tehran, starting Tuesday.'The tribunal made
this illegal decision at the demand of a court based at Evin Prison,' the
Tehran jail where she served her sentence, Sotoudeh said by
telephone". http://t.uani.com/1nwXSyw
Foreign Affairs
AP:
"Iran said Sunday it is ready to provide aid to the Lebanese army as
well as the Shiite Hezbollah group to help combat 'terrorists.' The
promise of aid comes after Iran's regional rival Saudi Arabia pledged
billions of dollars to Lebanon's armed forces, and will be seen by many
Lebanese as part of a competition for influence over the tiny country,
which is gripped by sectarian tensions and bitterly divided over the
Syrian civil war. Ali Shamkhani, secretary of Iran's Supreme National
Security Council, was quoted by state TV as saying that 'supporting the
Lebanese nation, army and resistance will still remain on Iran's agenda.'
Hezbollah's allies refer to it as the "resistance" because of
its stated mission of driving Israel out of occupied territory. 'Iran is
ready to transfer its experience in order to improve security in Lebanon
and the region, and to combat terrorists,' he said during a meeting with
visiting Lebanese Defense Minister Samir Moqbel. Moqbel also met with
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani". http://t.uani.com/1utA3Fe
NYT:
"The Pakistan government summoned the Iranian ambassador Saturday to
protest the killing of a Pakistani security official by Iranian border
guards, an official said.'The Iranian ambassador was summoned, a protest
was lodged and an investigation was demanded into the killing of our
security official,' Tasnim Aslam, the spokeswoman for the Pakistani
ministry of foreign affairs, said in an interview on Saturday. Tensions
have been growing between the neighboring countries after recent
allegations by Iranian officials that Sunni militants based in
Baluchistan have been mounting strikes against bases and border posts
inside Iranian territory. Pakistani officials have dismissed the
allegations and have asked for evidence from Iran. http://t.uani.com/1zhU5KE
Bloomberg:
"Iran's 'inherently sectarian' policy is undermining ties between
the Islamic republic and Gulf Cooperation Council countries, said Anwar
Gargash, the United Arab Emirates' minister of state for foreign affairs.
Gargash, in a speech delivered today in Abu Dhabi, said Iran was
interfering in the affairs of Arab countries including Bahrain, Yemen,
Syria, Iraq and 'most recently and dramatically Yemen.' Yemen's Shiite
Houthi rebels have seized key cities in the country as the authority of
the GCC-backed central government crumbles. The Houthis took control of the
crossing along Saudi Arabia's southern border this month. Shiite-ruled
Iran supports the rebels' 'rightful fight,' Ali Akbar Velayati, senior
adviser to Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said yesterday,
according to the official Islamic Republic News Agency. http://t.uani.com/1wjKspj
Opinion &
Analysis
UANI Outreach
Coordinator Bob Feferman in The Times of Israel:
"Over the past years, the growing movement called BDS (Boycott,
Divestment Sanctions) has made Israel its exclusive target. It has been a
great puzzle for me to understand how the supporters of BDS who claim
concern about peace and human rights have been silent when it comes to
the tremendous pain and suffering caused by the government of Iran. If I
had the opportunity, I would ask the supporters of BDS a few questions...
supporters of BDS a few questions...Does it not trouble you that today
there are 200,000 dead Syrians and millions of refugees for two reasons:
Iran and its proxy Hezbollah? The massive support provided by Iran and Hezbollah
to the brutal regime of Bashar al-Assad has somehow escaped the notice of
supporters of BDS. Moreover, the horrific causes of so many of these
deaths have also escaped their attention. Who is President Assad
protecting himself from? Why aren't the supporters of BDS criticizing the
Assad regime for its crimes against humanity? Their silence is more than
troubling- it is shameful". http://t.uani.com/1t53odM
Israeli
Intelligence Minister Yuval Steinitz in the New York Times:
"Although Iran has modified its tone recently, there have hardly
been any changes of substance since the soft-spoken president, Hassan
Rouhani, took over the reins from his aggressive predecessor, Mahmoud
Ahmadinejad. Neither administration has budged from the insistence that Iran
should retain most of the 9,400 operational centrifuges it deploys to
enrich uranium, as well as its nearly completed nuclear reactor in Arak,
which could produce plutonium in the future. Barring a surprising change
in Iran's negotiating stance, there is zero chance of reaching a
satisfactory good deal before the Nov. 24 deadline. Choosing the 'no
deal' option will very likely produce extra pressure - including some new
sanctions - on Iran and, subsequently, might pave the way for a better
deal in the near future. Standing our moral ground will transmit a clear
message to the leaders in Tehran that the only way to escape mounting
pressure will be through ultimately making the necessary significant
compromises". http://t.uani.com/1t3tqwK
Howard Kurtz in Fox
News: "Even in an era when media outlets sell access
to their journalists at conferences and on cruises, a new promotion by
the New York Times is truly troubling. The destination is Iran. Check out
this corporate come-on by the Times: 'Journey 2,500 years back in time to
discover the ancient secrets of Persia on this 13-day itinerary
incorporating some of most well preserved archaeological sites in the
world. Welcome to the once-forbidden land of Iran.' Wow. You'd never know
that Iran is developing nuclear weapons, supports terrorism, poses a
mortal threat to Israel, and has been hostile to the United States since
its seizure of American hostages back in 1979. Wow. You'd never know that
Iran is developing nuclear weapons, supports terrorism, poses a mortal
threat to Israel, and has been hostile to the United States since its
seizure of American hostages back in 1979." http://t.uani.com/1wepbNZ
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Eye on Iran is a periodic news summary from United Against
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