Ahmadinejad's Inauguration: Sweeping Changes to Follow?

Roozonline:

Coinciding with president Ahmadinejad's inauguration today and strongly worded European and American warnings to Iran, the head of the Basij militia defended Iran's nuclear policy and said that beginning Wednesday sweeping changes will be taking place in Iran. The Parliament meanwhile has received a list of sixty-five potential cabinet ministers for the available twenty-one seats. A member of the conservative-dominated parliament said all but sixteen of the named individuals are unknown to parliament members.

The European Union's Warning

The British Foreign Ministry announced that if Iran resumes its nuclear activity, the two year old negotiations with the E.U. may be suspended and the matter referred to the United Nations Security Council. This may in turn lead to economic sanctions and a stalemate between Iran and the U.S.

Analysts are not certain how much say Ahmadinejad has in Iran's nuclear policy. Though he is a member of the Supreme National Security Council, Ayatollah Khamenei along with the Council has the power to determine nuclear policy questions. Iran claims it will only resume nuclear gas conversion which it argues is not part of the agreed upon suspension of nuclear activity.

The International Atomic Energy Agency announced last night that if the current crisis escalates it will hold an emergency session within the next three days. READ MORE