Main focus of Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Doubts over nuclear comprise with Iran

Pursuant to mediation by Turkey and Brazil, Iran declared on Monday its willingness to have uranium for a research reactor enriched abroad. Europe's press is sceptical about Tehran's sincerity in the nuclear compromise.

Berlingske - Denmark

The conservative daily Berlingske Tidende comments that the nuclear compromise between Turkey and Iran is of little worth without Tehran's good will being put to the test: "No matter what happens in the days to come, the US and the EU should not go ahead and take the pressure off the clerical leadership in Tehran, which is known for speaking with a forked tongue. ... On the contrary, the Iranians' will to reach a peaceful solution to this enduring conflict must be put to the test. If the leadership really has peaceful intentions, it should grant free access to all facilities so the world may assure itself Iran is now abandoning its threatening posture and offering peace. Nevertheless the likelihood that Iran really will open up to the world is slim indeed. ... The world is used to Iran making a fool of it. There is still no proof whatsoever that Iran has really abandoned its nuclear weapons ambitions." (18/05/2010)

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Trouw - Netherlands

Iran may have surprised the West with its compromise over the nuclear dispute but scepticism is still called for, writes the daily Trouw: "A certain amount of distrust is in order, especially in view of Iran's turnabouts after earlier agreements. This time for example it is simply incomprehensible that Iran is holding to 20 percent uranium enrichment and at the same time wants to win back the trust of the West. The UN Security Council has expressly prohibited this. On these grounds alone the US and the EU have reason enough to prepare new sanctions against Tehran. At the same time Iran has clearly strengthened its diplomatic position. Turkey and Brazil are members of the Security Council and will now oppose new sanctions, along with China and possibly also Russia." (18/05/2010)

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More from the press review on the subject » International Relations, » Security Policy / Crises / War, » Global, » Turkey, » Iran, » Brazil

Il Sole 24 Ore - Italy

The nuclear compromise between Iran, Brazil and Turkey is inadequate and above all represents an attempt by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to delay a decision on sanctions, the business paper Il Sole 24 Ore writes: "The agreement fulfils only some of the conditions stipulated by the UN Security Council. The core of the problem remains uranium enrichment in Iran, the nuclear facility in Qom, the lack of concrete answers to the demands of the International nuclear authorities. ... However, according to its own statements the Iranian government is rushing to put the ball back in the West's court. It wants to put off the discussions about new sanctions to prevent them from coinciding with the first anniversary of the presidential elections on 12 June 2009, which led to a national uprising and the regime's brutal reaction to the revolt." (18/05/2010)

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More from the press review on the subject » International Relations, » Security Policy / Crises / War, » Turkey, » Iran, » Brazil
All available articles from » Alberto Negri

Süddeutsche Zeitung - Germany

If Iran ceased its uranium enrichment programme the compromise with Brazil and Turkey in the nuclear dispute would be a true success, writes the daily Süddeutsche Zeitung: "Ahmadinejad has scored a real victory. Once more he was in the limelight, this time not as a provocateur however, but as partner to a potentially productive solution. 'There is no longer any reason for sanctions', the Turkish foreign minister said at the end. ... As it turns out, the transfer of Iranian uranium for further enrichment abroad is part of a package that was wrapped long ago but never tied up. ... Doubts remain about whether Iran will really deliver the fuel, and above all whether it will now respect the three UN resolutions and stop its enrichment programme. That would satisfy almost everyone - apart from those who would prefer escalation to a solution to the conflict." (18/05/2010)

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More from the press review on the subject » Security Policy / Crises / War, » EU Policy, » Energy, » Russia, » Europe, » U.S., » Global, » Iran
All available articles from » Rudolf Chimelli

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