IRAN: Iran says U.S. trying to derail atomic talks

Record ID: 313713

  • Title: IRAN: Iran says U.S. trying to derail atomic talks
  • Date: 26th August 2007
  • Summary: (BN10) TEHRAN, IRAN (AUGUST 26, 2007) (REUTERS) IRANIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN MOHAMMAD ALI HOSSEINI ENTERING THE PRESS HALL WIDE OF PRESS HALL CAMERA OERATORS (SOUNDBITE) (Farsi) IRANIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN MOHAMMAD ALI HOSSEINI SAYING: "There was nothing else to be expected from America other than this (response). The trend (of talks) between Iran and the agency was successful; other countries welcomed it as well. The Americans are making efforts to harm this trend." REPORTERS (SOUNDBITE) (Farsi) IRANIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN MOHAMMAD ALI HOSSEINI SAYING: "America's policies regarding this issue (about Revolutionary Guards) are being intensified as we get closer to September and the presentation of the final (IAEA) report." WIDE OF THE PRESS HALL
  • Embargoed: 10th September 2007 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: International Relations,Energy
  • Reuters ID: LVABK5HPWD652JEO3WXER8M9S24D
  • Story Text: Quoting the Defence Ministry, Iranian television on Sunday (August 26) showed pictures of a "smart bomb" weighing 2,000 pounds (900kg).
    The guided bomb, named Qased (Messenger), was developed by specialists within the ministry and is now operational, IRNA news agency said, adding it could be dropped from F-4 and F-5 jets.
    Iran still uses planes, such as the F-5, supplied by the United States to the government of the former shah of Iran, who was a close U.S. ally.
    Iran often says it has built new arms or upgraded weapons but rarely gives enough details for analysts to determine their capabilities. Although much of Iran's weaponry is outmoded, analysts say Iran has become proficient at modifying such arms.
    Defence Minister Mostafa Mohammad Najjar said already last year Iran had designed the Qased bomb but that it had yet to be tested. He said only a limited number of countries possessed the technology of "smart and guided weaponry."
    Washington and Tehran are embroiled in a deepening standoff over Iran's nuclear programme, which the West suspects is aimed at making atom bombs, a charge Iran denies.
    On Sunday an Iranian government spokesman accused the U.S. of trying to derail talks with the U.N. nuclear watchdog over Iran's atomic ambitions.
    Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) held two-days of talks last week about a plan for more transparency. A senior IAEA official described their agreement as a "milestone" but Washington said the deal had "real limitations".
    "There was nothing else to be expected from America other than this (response) ... The trend (of talks) between Iran and the agency was successful, other countries welcomed it as well. The Americans are making efforts to harm this trend," said Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad Ali Hosseini.
    He also said Washington's threat to brand Iran's Revolutionary Guards a foreign terrorist group, a move that would allow the United States to target the force's finances, was a political manoeuvre ahead of an IAEA report in September. That report will give details on the plan that aims to clear up suspicions about Iran's nuclear activities, which Tehran insists have only civilian goals.
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