Iran Advances Nuclear Program Ahead of Talks

Talks between global powers and Iran over its nuclear development program are scheduled to take place in one week, and according to Reuters. Russia anticipates progress.

However, the AFP is reporting that Israel and the United Nations have said Iran is "closer than ever" to being able to build a nuclear bomb.

The following is a closer look at the political situation regarding Iran's efforts to develop a nuclear program.

* Russia, Britain, China, France, Germany, and the United States will discuss Iran's nuclear program in Almaty, Kazakhstan on Tuesday. According to Reuters, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov was sounding a hopeful note on Thursday, saying that "the group of six has carried out meaningful preparatory work for the round in Almaty," referring to the six nations.

* However, another report from Reuters on Thursday indicated that a report from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) suggested Iran had begun installing advanced centrifuges at its main uranium enrichment plant near Natanz.

* If successful, it would be seen as a provocative move by the U.S., State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said on Thursday. White House spokesman Jay Carney noted that if talks failed, Iran would face further actions taken against it by the international community.

* The UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office commented on the development on Thursday. Foreign Office Minister Alistair Burt said that the timing of the actions by Iran "immediately before the IAEA Board of Governors meeting and before E3+3 talks with Iran in Almaty, Kazakstan, next week -- concerns and disappoints us. We trust that Iran will come to talks in Almaty willing to negotiate meaningfully, and we urge Iran to respect all relevant resolutions and cooperate fully with the IAEA."

* As reported by AFP, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office had said that "preventing nuclear arms from Iran will be the first topic Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will discuss with U.S. President Barack Obama."

* A separate report from Reuters said that Nigeria had discovered a "terrorist cell" operating in the country with the intention of attacking American and Israeli targets in the country. The group was said to have been trained by Iran.

* Nigerian State Security Service (SSS) spokeswoman Marilyn Ogar said that there was "conclusive evidence" that Abdullahi Mustapha Berende and two Nigerians arrested with him were working with Iranian sponsors to gather intelligence and plan attacks, according to Reuters.

Shawn Humphrey is a former contributor to The Flint Journal and an amateur Africanist, focusing his personal studies on human rights and political issues on the continent.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/iran-advances-nuclear-program-ahead-talks-174400646.html

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