Iran says it found unexpected high uranium reserve

"I cannot announce (the level of) Iran's uranium mine reserves. The important thing is that before aerial prospecting for uranium ores we were not too optimistic, but the new discoveries have made us confident about our reserves," Iranian nuclear chief Ali Akbar Salehi was quoted as saying by state news agency IRNA.

Salehi said uranium exploration had covered almost two-thirds of Iran and would be complete in the next four years.

Uranium can be used for civilian power production and scientific purposes, but is also a key ingredient in nuclear weapons.

When Iran builds the bomb, will Israel be forced to have Nuclear-equipped bombers continuously aloft, in case Iran launches a surprise attack?

"Netanyahu pressed for Iran attacks, but was denied: ex-defense chief"

"Israel's political leaders pushed to attack Iran at least three times in the past few years but had to back down on the advice of the military and due to concerns about its ally the United States, former defense minister Ehud Barak said."

In interviews to his biographers aired late on Friday by Israel's Channel Two, Barak said he and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had wanted military operations against Iranian nuclear facilities in 2010, 2011 and 2012.

In 2010, the Israeli leadership wanted an attack but the military said it did not have "operational capability,"

If Iran builds the bomb, and, the evidence says they are very interested in doing so, Israel will come to regret not doing something about it when they could have.

Kerry's bait-and-switch

"Kerry Says ‘Nobody Has Ever Talked About Dismantling’ Iran’s Nuclear Program, But in 2013 Insisted Dismantlement Was The ‘Whole Point’ of Sanctions Regime"

 

Link to video

Iran and USA: Let's keep talking

"International negotiators announced the framework for an Iranian nuclear deal Thursday, capping days of exhaustive and tense talks that blew past their original deadline."

The preliminary agreement allows all sides -- the U.S., Iran and five other world powers -- to continue working toward a final agreement by a June 30 deadline. 

"It is a good deal," Obama said.

At the outset of his show today, Rush was pointing out how far the left has traveled (my word) following Obama. The left that was adamantly anti-nukes, before and during the Reagan years, is now, in the personification of the United States president, about to welcome another country into the nuclear club.

About Iran Uranium Enrichment: Video

"Iran Backs Away From Key Detail in Nuclear Deal"

"Iranian officials on Sunday backed away from a critical element of a proposed nuclear agreement, saying they are no longer willing to ship their atomic fuel out of the country."

For months, Iran tentatively agreed that it would send a large portion of its stockpile of uranium to Russia, where it would not be accessible for use in any future weapons program. But on Sunday Iran’s deputy foreign minister made a surprise comment to Iranian reporters, ruling out an agreement that involved giving up a stockpile that Iran has spent years and billions of dollars to amass.

“The export of stocks of enriched uranium is not in our program, and we do not intend sending them abroad,” the official, Abbas Araqchi, told the Iranian media, according to Agence France-Presse. “There is no question of sending the stocks abroad.”

"Iran dismisses GOP letter while Obama says it aligns them with Iran hardliners"

"In an open letter to the Islamic republic, the 47 Republicans, including Senate leaders and several potential 2016 presidential candidates, reminded Iranian leaders that President Barack Obama is in office only until January 2017, and a successor could scrap the agreement if Congress has not approved it.""We believe that the letter has no legal value and is propaganda," Zarif said, quoted in Iranian media.

 

"The senators must know that under international law, Congress cannot change the content of the agreement.

And the Iranian regime must know that our constitution provides a roll for our congress to play in matters of foreign treaties. They are not just a potted plant. 

"Any congressional action to prevent the implementation of any agreement will violate the international commitments of the (US) government.

"The world is not just in America," Zarif added.

While president Obamas reaction to the GOP letter was... well, Obama being Obama, saying "it's an unusual coalition" to see US Republicans talking directly to Iranian hard-liners."

I would expect the US president and the US congress to work together on this very serious business.

Iran still withholding key information and Netanyau believes he knows why

"The head of the United Nations' nuclear watchdog said on Monday Iran had still not handed over key information to his staff, and his body's investigation into Tehran's atomic program could not continue indefinitely."

"Iran has yet to provide explanations that enable the agency to clarify two outstanding practical measures," chief Yukiya Amano told the body's Board of Governors in Vienna... "The Agency is not in a position to provide credible assurance about the absence of undeclared nuclear material and activities in Iran, and therefore to conclude that all nuclear material in Iran is in peaceful activities," Amano said.

The Agency remains ready to accelerate the resolution of all outstanding issues, he added, but "this process cannot continue indefinitely". 

Meanwhile the Israely prime minister Benjamin Netanyau arrives in Washington DC to address the people of the United States.

During his upcoming speech to Congress, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will lay out the details of what he understands to be the nuclear agreement between world powers and Iran, hoping it will prompt lawmakers to question the administration and delay the March 24 deadline for a political agreement.

A senior Israeli official traveling in Netanyahu's delegation... said the Israeli government had "a good understanding of the agreement we can draw conclusions from. We know what we know. And believe me, we know a lot of information about this agreement," the official told reporters aboard the flight to Washington. "The Prime Minister is going to Congress to explain what they don't know about this agreement that it is a bad agreement."

Giuliani: Netanyahu Is A Man Who Fights for His People

Watch what has caused a big online stir and judge for yourself.


Part 1 Link in case the video does not play correctly


Part 2 Link in case the video does not play correctly

Dont Go Wobbly On Iran

"For the past 10 years, world powers have been talking to Iran. Meanwhile, Iran has been creating facts on the ground by building the elements of a nuclear weapons program and the long-range missiles needed to deliver a nuclear warhead."

Yet once again, the Obama administration is asking Congress to hold off on additional sanctions to give time for diplomacy to work. Tougher sanctions, we are warned, could upset the delicate balance inside Iran and poison the well for a deal.

I disagree. Tough sanctions are exactly what has brought Iran to the table now, and tightening sanctions as we engage diplomatically affords us the opportunity to apply further pressure and force Iran’s leaders to choose between regime survival and a nuclear weapon.

... we should take this opportunity to meet with Iran. We should test out the sincerity of Iran’s proposals, but our patience must be limited. The past decade should give us little optimism and great skepticism about Iranian intentions.

It is far too premature to let up the pressure.

Portions of a Marco Rubio piece on Politico