While UN inspectors monitor the spent nuclear fuel at the Bushehr power plant, worries are that there are other sites the inspectors don't know about. Photo from Radio Free Europe.From The Washington Times:
Intelligence estimate contradicts '07 report.
U.S. intelligence agencies now suspect that Iran never halted work on its nuclear arms program in 2003, as stated in a national intelligence estimate made public three years ago, U.S. officials said.
Differences among analysts now focus on whether the country's supreme leader has given or will soon give orders for full-scale production of nuclear weapons.
The new consensus emerging among analysts in the 16 agencies that make up the U.S. intelligence community on Iran's nuclear arms program is expected to be the highlight of a classified national intelligence estimate nearing completion that will replace the estimate issued in 2007.
Read more ....
More News On Iran's Nuclear Program
Horrid 2007 Iran NIE To Be Revised -- Threats Watch
US intel agencies suspect Iran never halted nuclear arms work -- Washington TV
The Hopelessly Stupid Politics of the Iran NIE -- CATO&Liberty
Germany warns Iran it faces new sanctions -- Reuters
Merkel Backs More Sanctions Against Iran -- New York Times/AP
Iran Says German, Israeli Comments on Nuclear Issue "Repetitious" -- CRIEnglish
China urges flexibility over Iran -- AFP
China urges flexibility on Iran, downplays sanctions -- Reuters
China’s move to block new sanctions against Iran could have opposite effect -- Times Online
Bubble bursts on Iran nuclear options -- Asia Times
Iran Says Western Warships Would Be Targeted in Event of Attack -- Business Week
Iran threatens to hit Western warships if attacked -- Dawn
Q+A: Has Obama's offer to engage yielded any results? -- Reuters
1 comment:
I'm concerned Iran may do a North Korea, by threatening to have the (very near term) nuclear card ready to play at the bargaining table.
Thing is, Iran owes its internal powerbase by being a heavily subsidized country, with the government pushing food and fuel prices low, all paid for by oil/gas revenues.
Now, according to John Hannah, writing on ForeignPolicy.com (Nov. 13), Iran needs more than $90 per barrel (bbl.) to meet funding needs (by comparison, Saudi Arabia needs $51 bbl.) and the current price hovers between $75-$80 bbl., due to the same Saudi Arabia increasing production - big time.
It is estimated that even with exports of 2.5 million bbl. per day, Iran loses a whopping $900 million for every $1 drop in the price of oil.
In short, Iran is loosing revenue - fast.
Could this be why Iran is stirring its spoon in Yemen, putting the pressure on the Saudis?
So Iran pursueing a nuclear weapon may not be just to pi$$ off the Israelis or the US, but more to put pressure on regional oil producers, to support Teheran by keeping oil prices high enough for the regime to stay in power.
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