Iran hails Brazil role in N-deal

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Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast says Brazil and Turkey have played a “key role” in the recent breakthrough in a nuclear fuel swap deal.

On Monday, Iran agreed to a draft proposal whereby the country will send some 1200 kg of its 3.5-percent enriched uranium over to Turkey in exchange for 120 kg of 20- percent enriched uranium.

In an exclusive interview with Press TV only an hour after the meeting proved to be a success, Mehmanparast said Iran had intensified negotiations with Brazil and Turkey in the past few days in order to revive a draft proposal, which was initially dismissed by Tehran due to a lack of enough guarantees.

Mehmanparast said efforts by the two countries to mediate in the standoff have given Iran “the guarantees it needs” to proceed with the shipment of its low-enriched uranium.

He said that Iran will officially notify the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) of the details of the deal “within the coming week”.

The spokesman said that the recent breakthrough shows “Iran has always intended to enrich uranium for peaceful scientific purposes, not the development of nuclear weapons”.

Mehmanparast also hoped that the deal would address concerns of some countries and help them change their “confrontational approach”.

The Iranian official, however, warned that if Western countries step out of line and violate Tehran’s trust in the course of the swap, the fuel will be immediately returned to the country.

Iran, Turkey agree on nuclear swap deal Mon, 17 May 2010

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After several hours of intense negotiations, the trilateral meeting between Iran, Brazil and Turkey ends with Tehran agreeing to ship its domestic low-enriched uranium to Turkey.

Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said Monday that the Tehran government has agreed to a draft proposal whereby Iran will send some 1200 kg of its 3.5 percent enriched uranium over to Turkey in exchange for a total of 120 kg 20 percent, Press TV reported.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) will officially receive a letter with regards to the swap deal “within a week”.

According to a Press TV correspondent, the swap will take place nearly a month after receiving official approval from the Vienna Group, which consists of representatives from Iran, France, Russia and the US and the IAEA.

JSO demonstration against Israel

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Jafaria Students Organization (JSO) on Saturday held countrywide protest demonstration against the 62nd illegitimate foundation day of Zionist regime Israel. The Central demonstration of JSO was held outside the Karachi press club, which was addressed by the JSO Central President Hassnain Haider Jaffaria, Shia Ulema Council leader Allama Nazir Abbas Taqvi, Allama Jaffar Subhani, and others. Large number of Women, children and JSO activists present in the demonstration and chanting the slogans against America and IsraelAddressing the demonstration the leaders condemned the role of United Nation and other World organization on the Zionist regime Israel atrocities against the Palestinian Muslims. Criticizing the criminal negligence of Muslim and Arab rulers, the orators said that Israel killed the Palestinian Muslims and destroyed their homes due to the policies of Muslim rulers. They denounced the role of Egypt and Jordan against the People of Palestine saying that Egypt and Jordan were also involved in the crimes against the oppressed people of Palestine. Participants of the protest demonstration burnt the flags of United States and Zionist regime Israel.

Leader urges Muslim unity against Israel

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Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei (R) in a meeting with Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade, Tehran, May 16, 2010.

Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has called for unity among Islamic countries against Israeli atrocities in Palestinian lands.

“The Zionists, who are supported by America, should be put under political and economic pressure,” Ayatollah Khamenei said in a meeting with visiting Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade.

The Leader said Senegal, which now holds the rotating presidency of the Organization of Islamic Conference, should focus on the Palestinian issue.

Ayatollah Khamenei also met with Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, who is in Tehran to attend a summit of the Group of 15.

The Leader hailed Sri Lanka’s support for the rights of Palestinians, saying no free country should ignore the Israeli crimes committed against the Palestinian nation

Hakim, Hashimi discuss coalition gov't Sun, 16 May 2010 09:16:28 GMT

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Iraq’s vice president has talked with the head of one of the country’s top political parties about a national consensus for the formation of a government.

Vice President Tariq al-Hashimi discussed the latest developments in Iraq’s political landscape with the head of the Iraqi National Alliance (INA), Ammar al-Hakim on Saturday.

They reviewed the role of all political parties in the formation of a coalition government following the closely-contested March 7 parliamentary elections in which the al-Iraqiya Alliance, headed by Iyad Allawi, led his Rule of Law coalition by a narrow margin.

Hashimi and Hakim agreed that all sectors of Iraqi society should be represented in the new government.

This comes after Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki of the Islamic Dawa Party entered into an agreement with the INA to create a new parliamentary bloc, a move, which took place after no single group managed to win a majority in the March elections.

Iraqi leaders have made an effort to reach an agreement on the formation of a coalition government after the latest polls failed to determine the future government in the country.

Leader urges anti-totalitarianism front

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Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has said cooperation between independent governments can be a countermeasure against global totalitarianism.

“The only way to change the oppressive relations in the world today is through the formation of closer ties between independent states,” the Leader declared on Sunday.

“Superpowers have defined vertical relations in the world which places a superpower at the top. These relations must be changed and their change is possible,” Ayatollah Khamenei said.

The remarks were made in a meeting with visiting Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on the eve of the G15 summit in Tehran. The meeting was also attended by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

The US and Russia have billed Lula’s visit as Iran’s “last chance” at avoiding a fourth round of tougher UN sanctions over its nuclear program.

In an allusion to the US ultimatum, Ayatollah Khamenei said Washington is unhappy to see the expansion of cooperation between independent states and their influential role in world affairs.

“One blatant example of this is the commotion created by US over your visit to Iran. It is because they are opposed to such relations,” the Leader told Lula, who is in Tehran to work with Iranian official on a possible nuclear fuel swap deal that would render the US-pursued sanctions unnecessary.

Lula reiterated his support for the Islamic Republic’s right to pursue technological progress and said bilateral ties could help turn Tehran and Brasilia into political and economic poles.

“Brazil believes Iran has every right to defend its independence and seek progress and development,” highlighted Lula, whose country is a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council (UNSC).

Another non-permanent UNSC member, Turkey, has also signaled readiness to enter trilateral talks on finding a diplomatic solution to the nuclear standoff.

Washington and its European allies have accused Iran of harboring a covert military nuclear program and are pushing to pass a US-drafted sanctions resolution.

Iran has repeatedly rejected the accusations, arguing that as a member of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) it has the right to a civilian nuclear program aimed at electricity generation and medical research.