[NYTr] Behind Bush's Latest Anti-Iranian Threats

[All the News That Doesn't Fit]

dave muller's southnews - Aug 31, 2007

Global Research - Aug 31, 2007
http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=6658


Behind Bush's Latest Anti-Iranian Threats

by Muriel Mirak-Weissbach

President Bush's most recent ranting, in which he accused Iran of 
threatening to unleash a "nuclear holocaust," must be seen, for sure,
in the context of the drumbeat for military aggression against the
Islamic Republic.

Within the space of a few days, several articles appeared in the 
mainstream press, indicating that the Cheney project for launching a
new war is on the front burner. Most explicit was the report of two
British think tankers, Daniel Pletsch and Martin Butcher, issued on
August 27 and leaked by Raw Story the following day. Their study,
entitled, "Considering a war with Iran: A discussion paper on WMD in
the Middle East," claimed that the US could destroy Iran's nuclear
program, industrial base and government infrastructure within days.

But Bush's specific reference to Iran's alleged ambitions to develop a 
nuclear bomb, should be placed in the category of one who "doth protest 
too much." What Bush did NOT mention is a development of major 
significance, which may well have been the trigger for his wild 
assertions. This was the agreement reached by the International Atomic 
Energy Agency and Iran, which proved that the persistent, rigorous 
approach pursued by the IAEA, to solve the conflict over Iran's nuclear 
energy program through diplomatic means, has yielded results which the 
Agency itself has dubbed a breakthrough. The contention of the 
Bush-Cheney administration, which is bent on war at all costs, has been 
that the efforts of the European Union group of three (Great Britain, 
Germany and France) as well as those of the IAEA, have been destined to 
failure, since Tehran was only interested in gaining time to build its
bomb.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, speaking to journalists in
Tehran on August 28, announced unequivocably that he believed, on the
basis of the agreement with the IAEA, that the entire matter should be
considered "closed." This was not empty rhetoric of the sort often
attributed to Ahmadinejad, but a statement of fact, as documented in
the "Understandings of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the IAEA on the 
modalities of resolution of the outstanding issues," published on
August 29, by the new Iranian all news station News TV, among others.
The text makes clear that the discussion process involving Iranian
chief negotiator Ali Larijani and his IAEA interlocutors, including
Director General Mohammad ElBaradei, has borne its desired fruits: to
wit, that through the question-and-answer process, whereby the IAEA has
raised its queries regarding specific aspects of Iran's program and
Iran has given its clarifications, has satisfied the agency's demands.
In sum, the document states that certain specific issues have been
fully resolved, and that those yet to be resolved, will be dealt with
in the same manner, such that specific timeframes can be defined for
"closing the dossier," as Ahmadinejad put it.

The text of the agreement was published on request of Iran, "as an 
INFCIRC document and to be made available to the public through the
IAEA website." It states: "Pursuant to the negotiations between H.E.
Dr. Larijani, I. R. of Iran's Secretary of Supreme National Security
Council and H.E. Dr. ElBaradei, Director General of the IAEA, in
Vienna; following the initiative and good will of the Islamic Republic
of Iran and the agreement made, a high ranking delegation consisting of
the directors of technical, legal and political departments of the
IAEA, paid a visit to Tehran from 11 to 12 July 2007 during which 
'Understandings of The Islamic Republic of Iran and the IAEA on the 
Modalities of Resolution of the Outstanding Issues, Tehran 12 July
2007' were prepared."

The text reports on the following meetings that took place in Vienna
and Tehran on July 24, and August 20-21, following which "both Parties 
reached the following understandings...." First, regarding the 
enirchment program, which has been targetted by the Bush-Cheney cabal
as "proof" that Tehran wants the bomb. "The Agency and Iran agreed to 
cooperate in preparing the safeguards approach for the Natanz Fuel 
Enrichment Plant in accordance with Iran's Comprehensive Safeguards 
Agreement. The draft text of the safeguards approach paper, and the 
facility attachment of IRN- were provided to Iran on 23 July 2007. The 
safeguards approach and the facility attachment were discussed during 
technical meetings in Iran between the Agency and the AEOI from 6 to 8 
August 2007. Further discussions will be held with the aim of
finalizing the facility attachment by the end of September 2007."

As for the heavy water reactor in Arak, "Iran agreed with the Agency's 
request to visit the heavy water research reactor (IR40) site in Arak.
A successful visit took place on 30 July 2007." Furthermore, it is 
reported that "On 12 July 2007, Iran accepted the designation of five 
additional inspectors" and "On 12 July 2007, Iran agreed to issue one 
year multiple entry visas for 14 inspectors and staff of the Agency."

Under the rubric of "Past Outstanding Issues," the question of
plutonium experiments was dealt with. Here, the joint text reports that
in the course of July and August, the IAEA presented questions, and
Iran, answers, to various issues. Then, in a sentence which might have
caused heart tremors for Dick Cheney, the text states: "On 20 August
2007 the Agency stated that earlier statements made by Iran *are
consistent with the Agencys findings,* and *thus this matter is
resolved* (emphasis added). This will be communicated officially by the
Agency to Iran through a letter."

Regarding other vital issues, a clear timeline is set for the 
question-and-answer process to yield its results. regarding the issue
of P1-P2, the IAEA says the Pu experiments should close by August 31,
and that it will therefore provide all its remaining questions to Iran
by that date. Discussions are scheduled then for September 24-25 in
Tehran, followed by a mid-October meeting, both to clarify the
questions. "The Agency's target date for the closure of this issue is
November 2007," says the text.

And, for remaining issues, the same sensible approach is adopted: "once 
all the above mentioned issues are concluded and their files are 
closed," further questions can be submitted by the IAEA, again with 
specific dates, and Iran will respond, within deadlines.

In a final paragraph entitled "General Understandings," the document 
asserts five points which must have sent Bush ballistic. Since it is 
absurd to imagine that the establishment press will give the public any 
insight into what is going on here between the IAEA and Iran, it is 
worth quoting the points in full:

"1. These modalities cover all remaining issues and the Agency
confirmed that there are no other remaining issues and ambiguities
regarding Iran's past nuclear program and activities.

2. The Agency agreed to provide Iran with all remaining questions 
according to the above work plan. This means that after receiving the 
questions, no other questions are left. Iran will provide the Agency 
with the required clarifications and information.

3. The Agency's delegation is of the view that the agreement on the 
above issues shall further promote the efficiency of the implementation 
of safeguards in Iran and its ability to conclude the exclusive
peaceful nature of the Iran's nuclear activities.

4. The Agency has been able to verify the non-diversion of the declared 
nuclear materials at the enrichment facilities in Iran and has
therefore concluded that it remains in peaceful use.

5. The Agency and Iran agreed that after the implementation of the
above work plan and the agreed modalities for resolving the outstanding 
issues, the implementation of safeguards in Iran will be conducted in a 
routine manner."

The gist of this document is that, contrary to the hysterical ravings 
from the White House, diplomacy does work, and that if Iran were
treated as a normal country, with due respect, as Tehran has always
insisted, then progress could be made on any front. The implications of
the IAEA-Iran "understandings" are profound: we are not dealing here
with a "rogue state" or a member of the "axis of evil," but with a
sovereign nation which correctly asserts its right to nuclear energy
technology, in the framework of the IAEA and NPT.

The fact that the IAEA reached this groundbreaking agreement has thrown 
a major monkey-wrench into the Bush-Cheney cabal's plans for war, based 
on their claims that Iran is building the bomb. But then, Washington 
will quickly retort, aren't the Iranian Revolutionary Guards killing
our troops in Iraq?


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