A Daily Briefing on Iran: Iran's Nuclear News Briefing

Excerpts of today's major news developments on Iran's nuclear program:

US says any Iran accord must end nuclear weapons EU Business:

"The international community is resolved not to allow Iran to develop nuclear weapons. And we are committed to pursuing this through peaceful diplomatic means and this is what we are continuing to do," White House spokesman Scott McClellan told reporters.

Diplomats: Iran expected to suspend nuclear plan Jerusalem Post

But hard-liners in Teheran called on the government to ignore demands it suspend nuclear activities...
"Despite the fact that the Europeans cannot be trusted has been proven to all, unfortunately these people (Iranian negotiators) have again reached agreement with these three traitor European countries," the daily said.

Iran Claims Draft Accord With Europe on Uranium NY Times

Mr. Kharrazi's comments in Tehran to state-run television underscored the fact that the Europeans had given in on the issue of whether Iran's suspension of uranium enrichment would be permanent, European officials said. But the Europeans also resisted Iran's demand that the suspension last only six months, the officials added.

Instead, the suspension will continue only as long as Iran and the Europeans are involved in negotiations for a comprehensive package of rewards for Iran in exchange for a suspension of its production of enriched uranium, which can be used in civilian and military nuclear programs.

USING NUCLEAR WEAPONS BRINGS HAVOC FOR IRAN Iran Press Service

A high-ranking officer of the Iranian revolutionary Guards admitted Monday for the first time that using atomic weapons by Iran would have “adverse results” for the country. ...

“Using non conventional weapons is in contradiction with the fundaments of our religion and in military dimension, such arms would produce adverse effects for the nation”, the acting commander in chief of the ruling ayatollah’s Praetorian Guard General Mohammad Baqer Zolqadr ...

Bush ‘will still pursue aggressive' foreign policy Financial Times

Mr Powell said there was no agreement yet between Iran and the European Union three of Britain, France and Germany on its nuclear programme. The US had not endorsed a European proposal and Iran should not be given another chance to “slip away” from referral to the United Nations Security Council, he said, while confirming that “regime change” was not the US policy towards Iran. Iran and the US will be sitting at the same table in Egypt later this month at a conference on Iraq. ...

US Doubts Iran's Good Faith in Nuclear Talks WSJ

The U.S. doubts Iran's good faith in talks with three European powers trying to persuade the country to suspend activities that can help make nuclear arms, Stephen G. Rademaker, an assistant U.S. secretary of state for arms control said Tuesday.

"We are very skeptical of Iran's long-term intentions, and we do not expect Iran to comply over the long term with any commitment not to develop nuclear weapons," Rademaker told reporters in Vienna. ...

"We've told our European allies that we will not stand in the way of their effort to come to some diplomatic understanding with Iran," Rademaker said. However, the U.S. view is that "Iran is seriously embarked on an effort to develop nuclear weapons," he said.

Iran Demands More EU Flexibility on Nuke Deal Deutsche Welle

"Ultimately, we shall see not only if Iran and the Europeans are able to reach agreement on how Iran can comply with the (IAEA) board's requirements, but whether the IAEA was able to verify that," Boucher said.