November 6th, 2009 by Jason

According to Al-Arabiya, the International Atomic Energy Agency has asked Iran to explain why they may have experimented with an advanced nuclear warhead design, called a “two-point implosion” device. According to a purportedly-classified IAEA document, Iran has the capability to build a nuclear weapon and was working towards a missile delivery system, but the IAEA continues to publicly declare it has no proof Iran has or once had a nuclear weapons program. In addition, IAEA officials found “nothing to be worried about” during their inspection of the once-secret Qum nuclear facility.

Robert Dreyfuss writing in Middle East Online rebuts the argument by Ray Takeyh that the U.S. should end dialogue with Iran should the regime implement a crackdown against the opposition. Dreyfuss argues that the U.S. has reasons to negotiate on the nuclear issue regardless of our concern for human rights, suggesting “that isn’t appeasement […] It’s just common sense.” Given that opposition leaders are now bashing President Ahmadinejad for seeking a deal, Dreyfuss contends that the U.S. should not “try to game Iranian internal politics.”

While leading Friday prayers, hard-liner Ahmad Khatami condemned Wednesday’s anti-regime protests, implying the protesters adhere to “Americanized Islam.” Khatami also accused the Obama administration of funding $50 million to plot an overthrow of the regime. Another government official, Alaedin Boroujerdi, accused Voice of America of feeding slogans to the opposition. The speeches were followed by chants of “Death to America.”

Finally, an economic correspondent for the Tehran Bureau explores Ahmadinejad’s desire to reduce subsidies within three years. According to the article, Ahmadinejad hopes to hurt the “large number of Iranian households with fixed income, particularly clerks, teachers, and government employees - the political backbone of the ‘Green’ reformist movement.”

Posted in Human Rights, Iran, Oil, US foreign policy, United Nations |