Iran will not be allowed nuclear weapons, says Bush

Iran

] Ambassador Gregory Schulte, has told the organisation’s Board of Governors that unanswered questions strongly suggest Iran has undertaken a significant state-sponsored effort to develop nuclear weapons. IAEA chief Mohamed ElBaradei said Monday that it was regrettable that the IAEA had not made the expected progress in clarifying possible military projects concerning missiles, high explosives testing and nuclear material production. Iran would be served best by admitting its past nuclear weapons work and allowing the IAEA to verify that it has been halted, Schulte told the 35-nation board. Like his European colleagues, he spoke in favour of a negotiated solution to the Iranian nuclear issue. Most countries represented on the IAEA board have again called on Iran to heed the UN Security Council’s demands for halting its uranium enrichment program. Iran is expected to deliver a response at the IAEA Board of Governors on Thursday. [url:
http://feeds.bignewsnetwork.com/index.php?sid=367324[/url]

] More than 100 Israeli fighter jets took part in manoeuvres over the eastern Mediterranean and over Greece in the first week of June, US officials said. Iran insists its programme is peaceful, but Israel sees Iran’s development of the technology as a serious threat. Tehran is defying a demand from the UN that it stop the enrichment of uranium. The UN Security Council approved a third round of sanctions against Iran over the issue in March 2008. 'Signals' Several US officials briefing the New York Times said the exercise was intended demonstrate the seriousness of Israel’s concern over Iran’s nuclear activities, and its willingness to act unilaterally. More [url:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/low/middle_east/7465170.stm[/url]

] The channel said that the missile test fired was a “Shahab 3 with a conventional warhead weighing one tonne and a 2000 kilometre range”. The test firing, which also included the firing of several other missiles, comes at a time of growing tensions over the Iranian nuclear program, which the West fears could be aimed at making an atomic bomb. In total nine missiles were tested, state-run English language channel Press-TV reported. Along with the Shahab-3, the missiles tested were the Zelzal, which has a range of up to 400km and the Fateh, which has a range of around 170km. Press-TV showed pictures of the Shahab-3 being launched at an undisclosed desert location inside Iran. “This a show of Iran’s military muscle in the region in the face of threats from countries who said they would target Iran’s nuclear facilities," the Press-TV announcer said. More [url:
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,23993406-23109,00.html[/url]

See also: Oil Prices Rebound on Iran Missile Tests July 9, 2008 - Oil Prices Rebound in Asian Trading After Iran Test-Fires Missiles

] Oil prices rebounded Wednesday in Asia from a tumble of more than $5 in the previous session after Iran test-fired nine missiles, renewing fears of a conflict that could cut global oil supplies. Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guards fired nine long and medium range missiles Wednesday during war games officials say are a response to U.S. and Israeli threats, state television reported. Gen. Hossein Salami, a top Guards commander, was quoted as saying the exercise “is to demonstrate our resolve and might against enemies who in recent weeks have threatened Iran with harsh language." The drill was conducted in the Persian Gulf and the strategic Strait of Hormuz, through which about 40 percent of global oil exports pass, and comes less than a day after Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said he sees no possibility of a war with the United States or Israel. “I assure you that there won’t be any war in the future," Ahmadinejad said Tuesday during a visit to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The countries were “focusing on propaganda and psychological war," he said. Midafternoon in Singapore, light, sweet crude for August delivery was up $1.20 at $136.24 a barrel in Asian electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. In the floor session Tuesday, the contract fell $5.33 to settle at $136.04 a barrel. More [url:
http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=5336431[/url]