Iran's Foreign Minister: Sanctions ‘Utterly Failed’

Iran Official: Sanctions ‘Utterly Failed’ To Stop Nuclear Program -- Washington Times

Economic sanctions against Iran “have failed utterly,” the Islamic republic’s foreign minister said of Western efforts to curtail Tehran’s disputed nuclear program, just days after securing a deal with world powers to temporarily ease some of those same sanctions.

“When sanctions started, Iran had less than 200 centrifuges. Today Iran has 19,000 centrifuges, so the net product of the sanctions has been about 18,800 centrifuges that have been added to Iran’s stock of centrifuges,” Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said in an interview with Al-Jazeera that aired Tuesday night. “So sanctions have utterly failed in that regard.”

In addition, Mr. Zarif said the sanctions, which constrict Iran’s oil industry and central bank, have invited consternation for the West among Iranians, whose ability to buy food and medicine has been crippled.

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My Comment: US Secretary of State John Kerry has a different interpretation on the expansion of Iran's nuclear enrichment program .... he is blaming former President Bush.

Is Iran About To Expand It's Nuclear Enrichment Program?

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad visits the Natanz nuclear enrichment facility, 350 km south of Tehran, April 8, 2008.

Iran’s Bid To Buy Banned Magnets Stokes Fears About Major Expansion Of Nuclear Capacity -- Washington Post

Iran recently sought to acquire tens of thousands of highly specialized magnets used in centrifuge machines, according to experts and diplomats, a sign that the country may be planning a major expansion of its nuclear program that could shorten the path to an atomic weapons capability.

Purchase orders obtained by nuclear researchers show an attempt by Iranian agents to buy 100,000 of the ring-shaped magnets — which are banned from export to Iran under U.N. resolutions — from China about a year ago, those familiar with the effort said. It is unclear whether the attempt succeeded.

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Update: Iran Upgrades Devices at Nuclear Plant as Talks Resume -- New York Times

My Comment: So much for this assessment.

Iran Increases Stockpile Of Uranium

From The Financial Times:

Iran is forging ahead with its nuclear programme, the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog reported on Wednesday, deepening the dilemma facing US president-elect Barack Obama over his campaign promise to engage with Tehran.

The latest report by the International Atomic Energy Agency reveals that Iran is rapidly increasing its stockpile of enriched uranium, which could be rendered into weapons-grade material should Tehran decide to develop a nuclear device.

The agency says that, as of this month, Tehran had amassed 630kg of low enriched uranium hexafluoride, up from 480kg in late August. Analysts say Iran is enriching uranium at such a pace that, by early next year, it could reach break-out capacity – one step away from producing enough fissile material for a crude nuclear bomb.

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My Comment: The IAEA is only reporting what they know. Since the Iranian regime has not been cooperative with the UN agency, we can only assume that these are rough estimates.

Iran Nuclear Talks End Without Agreement

From The Washington Post:

High-level international talks on Iran's nuclear program ended inconclusively today in Geneva, with European envoy Javier Solana telling reporters that Iran needed to give a more definitive answer within two weeks.

The meeting was significant because for the first time a U.S. diplomat, Undersecretary of State William J. Burns, joined other envoys in meeting with the top Iranian nuclear negotiator. U.S. officials had said the shift in Bush administration policy was intended to help lead to a breakthrough in the impasse over the Iranian program, but if Iran failed to respond positively, it only would unify the international coalition dealing with Iran.

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More News On Iran's Refusal To Stop Enrichment

IRAN: Inside nuclear talks, frustrating diplomacy -- L.A. Times
Iran praises Geneva nuclear talks as "step forward" -- China View
Iran's Ahmadinejad Says Nuclear Talks a 'Step Forward' -- Voice Of America
Diplomacy given fresh look as Bush presidency nears its end -- AFP
Iran: U.S. Shift in policy positive -- Albawaba
Nuclear Talks With Iran End in a Deadlock -- New York Times
Official request needed for opening U.S. outpost in Tehran: Mottaki -- Tehran Times
Iran gets Two Weeks -- The Statesman
U.S. nuke summit with Iran accomplishes jack; Updated -- Hot Air
Iran Given Two-Week Deadline to End the Nuclear Impasse -- Truth Out

My Comment: I have trouble understanding how after years of "negotiating", the Iranians were going to give up their goals for being a nuclear power on the world scene. The religious leaders of Iran are so wrapped up with this idea of having a weapon from God, that any thought of giving up what has become a religious calling is silly at best, and delusional at worse.

Bottom line .... the Iranian leadership believes it is their sacred duty to obtain a nuclear capability. No one cannot and will not stop them from obtaining this goal. The only way this perception can change is if they realize their strategic and personal security is at risk if they continue down this path. But present diplomacy from the West is clearly not giving them any concern to be afraid.

For everyone's info, last weeks headlines were singing a different tune when it came to Iran. Last week's pundits were voicing their optimism on the success of this weekend. To refresh everyone's memory, I have listed some of these stories. It is amazing to read what these journalists wrote last week .... and to then see how completely off they are.

Last Week

IRAN: No U-turns on nuclear policy in Tehran -- LA Times
Iran hopes for 'constructive' nuclear talks -- MSNBC
Iran Calls American Participation in Nuclear Talks Positive -- New York Sun
Iran Calls Nuclear Talks Positive -- Time Magazine
Amid the Bluster, Iran and the United States Might Just Give Diplomacy a Chance -- U.S. News And World Report
Iran: US will seek green light to open base in Tehran -- The Guardian
Iran prepares for first nuclear talks with America -- The Telegraph
Condi's coup: how the neo-cons lost the argument over Iran -- The Independent
What the U.S. should do about Iran's nuclear program -- Newsweek
US-Iran relations since 1979: timeline -- The Guardian