Middle East Politics.Net

The spokesman for Iran’s Atomic Energy Corporation, Mohsen Delaviz, stated that their first nuclear plant will open sometime in 2009.  Russia agreed to build the plant in 1995, but it has continuously been delayed due to payment problems. The Bushehr plant is, interestingly enough, located on the same site as the plant that was planned with the German company Siemens in 1970.  This emphasizes the fact that this nuclear plant has been a long sought after achievement.  The Russian firm building the plant stated that they would begin work in December 2008, which would put the plant on an “irreversible path” to completion.  As Moscow has used the plant as a lever with its relations with Tehran for the past 13 years, the date is much appreciated by the Iranians. The United States of course continues to insist that Iran cease its nuclear program.

Bridget Russell

November 20th, 2008 | Tags: Iran, nuclear power, Russia, U.S. | Category: Uncategorized | Leave a comment

The longstanding legal immunity for private military contractors working in Iraq could soon be a thing of the past.  A new arrangement, set for a vote in the Iraqi parliament next week, will grant Iraqi jurisdiction over American companies working for the Departments of State and Defense.  Contractors, “such as Blackwater, DynCorp International LLC and Triple Canopy,” will face new legal scrutiny as they are held accountable to local courts for the first time.  The increase in accountability comes in sync with a new military agreement between American forces and the Iraqi government, alongside a likely drawdown of US troops pending the new Obama administration.

Zack Freundlich

November 20th, 2008 | Tags: Iraq | Category: Uncategorized | Leave a comment

According to nuclear experts, analyzing the latest report from atomic inspectors, Iran has enough material to make one atomic bomb.  Experts say that the landmark is primarily symbolic because, although they have enough enriched uranium for a single bomb, the material would have to go through a purification process and be placed in a warhead to be used.  Western experts are unsure if Iran has this ability.  Moreover, in order to actually perform these processes, it would more than likely need to first kick out the inspectors.

For now, Iran seems to be following its proposed goal of attaining nuclear power, without the warheads.  The level of enrichment they have achieved is high enough for nuclear fuel, but the centrifuges would have to be reconfigured, a process taking a few months, to reach the enrichment level necessary for an atomic bomb. The landmark is simply that they now have enough nuclear material to make it happen.  The Bush administration now claims that it is unlikely that Iran will make any moves to arm its uranium supply until it has enough for, not one, but several bombs.

Bridget Russell

November 20th, 2008 | Tags: Iran, nuclear power | Category: Uncategorized | Leave a comment

The Speaker of Iran’s Parliament spoke out again urging the Iraqi Parliament not to sign the security pact with the United States.  Although, Iraqis see the agreement as a step forward from the immovable stance that the Bush administration had been promulgating (”no timetable”), Iran’s concern, of course, is the possibility that Iraq could be used as an outpost of U.S. power.

The text of the pact, though originally allowing for the placement of American military bases in the country after the withdrawal in 2011, has been negotiated by the Iraqi side to remove this clause.  This has led judiciary chief Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi-Shahroudi to conclude that the pact is in fact a move forward in the occupation. It should be noted that the pact does place the United States mission in the hands of the Iraq government, instead of under the purview of the U.N. Security Council mandate.

Bridget Russell

November 19th, 2008 | Tags: Iran, Iraq | Category: agreements | Leave a comment

Despite recent attacks on vessels at sea by Somali pirates, Iran has stated that its ships will not avoid these routes, according to the Tehran Times. Iran currently exports approximately 2.4 million barrels of crude oil per day, 25% of which is sent to Europe via pirate-infested waters. An Iranian-operated Hong Kong-flagged cargo ship carrying wheat is the latest vessel reported hijacked by pirates in the Gulf of Aden, according to both U.S. and Chinese officials. While a spokesman from the National Iranian Tanker Company says this does cause Iran some worry, he has also said that they will continue to use these routes. “We have been very careful when traveling in this region, but now we have to be even more careful.”

Kayla Cahoon

November 19th, 2008 | Tags: exports, Iran, oil, pirates, Somalia | Category: Middle East politics | Leave a comment

The International Atomic Energy Authority (IAEA) has reported that uranium traces found at the Syrian site bombed by Israel, provide inconclusive results.  Syria has said that the uranium was from the Israeli bombs, but the U.S. and Israel, whose intelligence collaborated on the conclusion that there was a nuclear reactor, have insisted that the presence of uranium justifies the Israeli attack.

The IAEA calls for cooperation with the Syrian government over the issue.  Syria points out that the uranium was not highly enriched, saying a reactor is not the only explanation for the finding.

Joshua Bark

November 19th, 2008 | Tags: Israel, nuclear, Syria, United States | Category: Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Iraqi security forces found and detained a man whom they alleged to be a commando from the elite Iranian Revolutionary Guard. The man is accused of “involvement in facilitating Iranian weapons shipments into Iraq,” a practice thought to be widespread in Iraq since the beginning of the insurgency.  The man was operating under the cover of working for an organization that restores religious sites in Iraq.  The U.S. military has accused Iranian organizations of “arming, training, and funding Iraqi militiamen to stoke the sectarian violence that has convulsed the country since the 2003 US-led invasion.”

Iran has interests in the country and more than likely would not be thrilled at the possibility of a strong U.S. presence in Iraq, as it would undermine Iran’s influence in the region.  One of the most effective ways for Iran to become dominant is to destabilize Iraq, until the United States pulls out and it can gain a foothold.

Steven Craig

November 19th, 2008 | Tags: Iran, Iraq, U.S. | Category: Middle East politics, conflict | Leave a comment

Wednesday November 20th provided another example of Syria’s increasing influence within the Middle East. The occasion was the meeting of Greek President Karolos Papoulias and Syrian Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs Abdullah al-Dardari. Papoulias voiced his approval of the Syrian administration and the leadership of President Bashar al-Assad, proclaiming Syria as one of the keys to the region’s issues. President Papoulias reiterated much of the popular thought in the region on the issue, stressing that in order for the Arab-Israeli conflict to be resolved, Israel’s withdrawal from the Golan was essential. He also emphasized his disapproval of American aggression towards Syria.

The Greek president repeatedly voiced his ringing endorsement of Syria, affirming Greece’s willingness to participate in bilateral economic and political relations. Assad repeated these same sentiments, reaffirming Syria’s desire to participate with Greece in the economic and political advancement of both countries. This meeting between Syria and Greece provides more evidence of the cooperation Syria has undertaken to remove its isolationist label and to encouarge a positive image in the eyes of the international community.

Samuel Anene

November 19th, 2008 | Tags: Assad, Greece, Papoulias, Syria | Category: agreements | Leave a comment

As a consequence of the liberalizing economy and increased tourism in Syria, 10 boutique hotels have been built in Damascus’ old city region in just the last two years.  As the economy in Syria allows more purchasing power to businessmen/women, these hotels have become more in demand.

One Syrian points out, however, that many Westerners have a negative view of Syria. Further, bombings and the U.S. military incursion into Syria have increased general fears about the country. Diplomatic relations between countries have implications at much lower levels, and normalizing relations between Syria and the West will surely bring more tourists to Syria.

Joshua Bark

November 19th, 2008 | Tags: Syria, tourism | Category: Uncategorized | Leave a comment