Iran installing “better quality” centrifuges

Iran's Foreign Ministry has released a statement, saying the Islamic Republic is installing centrifuges with "better quality and speed" to improve the uranium enrichment process at its nuclear sites.

Despite Western fears about the country's nuclear programme, Iran is pressing on as planned. According the statement, the UN atomic watchdog had "full supervision" of the centrifuges. The West believes that Iran's nuclear programme is aimed at developing nuclear weapons, a claim that Tehran has continually denied, saying it is refining uranium for electricity generation and other civil uses.

Speaking about the latest move, an Iranian government representative Ramin Mehmanparast said: "By installing the new centrifuges progress is being made with more speed and better quality." He added that this particular development showed Iran's success in pursuing its "peaceful nuclear activity".

A number of world powers have been in talks with Iran over its nuclear programme, but with little success. Iran remains resolute to carry on its nuclear activities despite being subject to United Nations Security Council's sanctions over its refusal to cease uranium enrichment.

Sources: BBC News, AFP, RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty

For more news and expert analysis about Iran, please see Iran Strategic Focus.

Iran offers nuclear facilities tour

Iran has invited several key world powers to tour its nuclear facilities, ahead of the second-round of nuclear talks scheduled for late January in Istanbul. The UN suspects that Iran's technology used to produce fuel for nuclear power might also be used to enrich uranium; however, Tehran maintains that the programme is peaceful and intended for civil use only.

It is believed that Iran's invitation to survey its nuclear grounds was extended to Russia, China and several other EU countries but not the US. Speaking about Iran's offer, US State Department spokesman, Philip J Crowley, deemed it a “clever ploy” to dupe the international community into a false sense of security.

Iran's Foreign Ministry's spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said, "The representatives of some European Union countries, NAM [Non-Aligned Movement], and some representatives of the five-plus-one [world powers] have been invited to visit our nuclear sites."

According to Mehmanparast, Iran's decision to comply with international requests to survey its nuclear grounds is a sign of “co-operation with the [International Atomic Energy Agency] IAEA."

It has also been reported that a senior government spokesman, Ali Asghar Soltanieh, extended the selected invitees an all-expenses paid visit to the sites, due to take place later in January. China, a close ally of Iran and one of the invitees, has not confirmed whether or not it will accept the invitation. But China's Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said that his country was in communication with Iran.

When asked about whether or not US representative would be invited to the tour Mehmanparast said, "The list of the countries invited for the visit will be unveiled when it is finalised."

According to Iranian press reports, the tour would include a visit to the country's uranium enrichment site at Natanz as well as its heavy water facility in Arak.

Sources: BBC News, Voice of America, Sky News

For more news and expert analysis about Iran, please see Iran Strategic Focus.

Iran says the sacking of Mottaki will not impact foreign policy

Iran says its foreign policy will not be affected by the recent sacking of the country's Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki. The Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad fired Mottaki on Monday 13th December for reasons which have not been disclosed.

The presidential directive to Mottaki's interim replacement, Iran's nuclear energy chief Ali Akbar Salehi read “Considering your commitment, knowledge, and valued expertise, and in accordance with Article 135 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran, and based on this decree you are appointed as acting foreign minister.”

Speaking to the press on Tuesday 14th December, Iran's Foreign Ministry's Spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said that Mottaki's removal from office “will not see any alteration of Iran's basic policies” as they are "decided at higher levels".

Mehmanparast also added that the sacking will not affect the country's stance on its nuclear programme and that the decision to fire Mottaki was due to practical reasons, but declined to elaborate. He went on to commend Mottaki and laud his successor Salehi.

Some members of the parliament have criticized Ahmadinejad's impromptu decision, which may have been a result of a power struggled between Iran's ruling conservatives and Ahmadinejad's opponents with whom Mottaki was allied.

Iranian media has expressed shock about the sudden dismissal of the foreign minister, questioning why it took place while Mottaki was on a stake visit to Senegal. Mehmanparast declined to comment about the timing.

Kayhan daily described the sacking as a “clear insult” to Mottaki who had been the country's Foreign Minister since 2005. The newspaper implied that the sacking was a result of a disagreement between Ahmadinejad and Mottaki over “parallel diplomacy” which transpired in summer following Ahmadinejad's attempts to appoint his aides as envoys to work alongside the foreign office. It is believe that, Ahmadinejad's decision to back down was heavily influenced by Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Former Iranian president Abolhassan Bani Sadr called the firing "scandalous," and noted that Ahmadinejad is trying to convince the world that he and Supreme Leader Khamenei are "in charge" of Iran's foreign policy.

Sadr also stressed that Khamenei would have no doubt seconded Ahmadinejad's decision. He also said that the choice of Salehi as the replacement could be a signal to the West that he and Khamenei will be the ultimate arbiteurs during nuclear negotiations in January.

Iranian lawmakers, who will have to approve the new appointee, have also voiced concern over Mottaki's sacking and the way it transpired. A senior member of the National Security and Foreign Policy Commission Esmail Kowsari said," I do not approve of the manner Mr Mottaki was dismissed, because he was on duty in Senegal when his dismissal order was issued."

Kowsari added that a commission would have to review and approve the appointment of Salehi as an interim foreign minister. Salehi, who was appointed as Iran's atomic energy chief in 2009, has been a driving force behind the country's nuclear programme.

Sources: Voice of America, BBC News, PressTV

For more news and expert analysis about Iran, please see Iran Strategic Focus.