Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Iran

Iran, EU Resuming Talks In Turkish Capital

Ali Larijani in Ankara today (epa)

April 25, 2007 -- Iran and the European Union are resuming diplomatic talks today about Iran's controversial nuclear program.

TEXT SIZE - +

April 25, 2007

The meeting between EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana and Ali Larijani, the secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, is taking place in Turkey's capital, Ankara.

Iran has given no sign ahead of the talks that it is prepared to halt uranium enrichment activities as demanded by the European Union, the United States, and the United Nations Security Council.

Major powers -- including the EU, the United States, Russia, and China -- have offered Tehran talks on a package of economic, civilian nuclear, and security incentives in exchange for halting enrichment.

Iran describes its nuclear program as peaceful and says its work is irreversible.

Iran has also rejected a proposal under which UN sanctions against Iran could be suspended in exchange for halting uranium enrichment.

(compiled from agency reports)

The Proliferation Threat

The Arak heavy-water plant in central Iran (Fars)

BENDING THE RULES. Henry Sokolski, executive director of the Nonproliferation Policy Education Center, told an RFE/RL-Radio Free Asia briefing on January 9 that the West is hamstrung in dealing with Iran and North Korea because of the way it has interpreted the international nonproliferation regime to benefit friendly countries like India and Japan.

LISTEN

Listen to the entire briefing (about 90 minutes):
Real Audio Windows Media

Iran, North Korea Present Proliferation Challenges

Tehran Watches As North Korea Tests Global Resolve

Rogue Nuclear Programs Threaten New Arms Race

Why Shouldn't Pyongyang Join Nuclear Club?

Many Iranians have been claiming that their access to social networks and Internet-based e-mail sites has been blocked in recent days.

Iran Tightens Internet Control

Iranians are reporting that their access to Facebook and Internet-based e-mail sites like Gmail has been blocked, without any explanation from the government. Not even the strongest antifiltering programs have penetrated the firewall, they say. Some speculate the move is related to Iran's plan to launch a national internet, which might sever Iranians' ability to access the World Wide Web. More

Web-savvy Iranian oppositionists are renowned for their ability to use proxies and other means to circumvent Tehran

Explainer: Iran's National Internet

Reports that Iran has stepped up its Internet censorship in recent days -- as evidenced by a general slowdown of the web, Internet blackouts, and the blocking of sites such as Google -- has raised speculation that the country might be testing its controversial "national Internet." More

A cardboard Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini arrives in Tehran to mark the 33rd anniversary of his triumphant return to Iran following the Islamic Revolution.

Iran's 'Cardboard Khomeini' Faces Criticism, Condemnation

Iran's "Cardboard Khomeini" is fueling a firestorm of criticism in the Middle Eastern country after cutouts of the Islamic republic's founder appeared at a number of events, and photos mocking the mock-up went viral. More