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onehandle

(51,122 posts)
Sat Nov 3, 2012, 10:42 PM Nov 2012

Iran suspends uranium enrichment

Source: The Guardian

Iran has suspended the enrichment of uranium stockpiles to the 20% purity needed to bring it a short step from building a nuclear device, news services in the region have reported.

Mohammad Hossein Asfari, a member of parliament responsible for foreign policy and national security, was quoted as saying that the move was a "goodwill" gesture, aimed at softening Iran's position before a new round of scheduled talks with the United States after this week's presidential elections.

Asfari said he hoped sanctions would be lifted in return for Iran's actions, otherwise it would resume the programme, according to a website belonging to the Al Arabiya news channel. Talks aimed at halting Iran's enrichment programme have made little progress, leading to the west tightening sanctions and increasing the prospect of military action by Israel.

The Islamic republic's economy has plummeted in the grip of punitive economic measures and Tehran indicated earlier this month that it would be willing to negotiate. However, the offer to suspend enrichment required so many concessions that it was dismissed by the United States.

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/nov/04/iran-suspend-uranium-enrichment

25 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Iran suspends uranium enrichment (Original Post) onehandle Nov 2012 OP
Holy What!!?? It's not October!! November Surprise Biotches!! SaveAmerica Nov 2012 #1
Perfect response! usregimechange Nov 2012 #14
Too funny auto1969 Nov 2012 #2
<a new round of scheduled talks with the United States> Botany Nov 2012 #3
So now the Republicans have only two things left...or so they will think kelliekat44 Nov 2012 #4
Kick! patrice Nov 2012 #5
Here's your November surprise. longship Nov 2012 #6
Love this news! Milliesmom Nov 2012 #7
I wonder what the TV news headlines will look like tomorrow? TeamPooka Nov 2012 #8
LOL.... too damn good! ProudProgressiveNow Nov 2012 #11
Man, it feels like Christmas morning - the gifts just keep on coming! Native Nov 2012 #9
Here's the RW spin on this... mak3cats Nov 2012 #10
+1 nt ProudProgressiveNow Nov 2012 #12
Obama's good mood tonight apparently had multiple sources BeyondGeography Nov 2012 #13
LMSP kicking. n/t littlemissmartypants Nov 2012 #15
Thanks, Mr President Rose Siding Nov 2012 #16
Cue the Republican whining and gnashing of teeth. They HATE shit that is good for America Berlum Nov 2012 #17
Original news report here dipsydoodle Nov 2012 #18
Obama's done the impossible lindysalsagal Nov 2012 #19
the title at the link now says that Iran denies this Maine-ah Nov 2012 #20
Since when is "20% purity" a "short step from building a nuclear device" Strelnikov_ Nov 2012 #21
The actual facts of the matter don't fit the narrative. ronnie624 Nov 2012 #25
Obviously this will have no impact on the election. JackRiddler Nov 2012 #22
I suspect the announcement was done internally like this... hughee99 Nov 2012 #23
Didn't this story come out about 3 weeks ago and was then debunked? randome Nov 2012 #24

Botany

(70,516 posts)
3. <a new round of scheduled talks with the United States>
Sat Nov 3, 2012, 10:52 PM
Nov 2012
Damn that Kenyan moozlim socialist ......

for Hillary and the State Department.

 

kelliekat44

(7,759 posts)
4. So now the Republicans have only two things left...or so they will think
Sat Nov 3, 2012, 10:55 PM
Nov 2012

Bengaizi and the color of the President's skin. Poor Mitt. What is he going to say about Iran now. I know: Obama is really a Persian.

longship

(40,416 posts)
6. Here's your November surprise.
Sat Nov 3, 2012, 11:09 PM
Nov 2012

And it sticks a fork into Romney's campaign! He's done! Fini!

President Obama and our wonderful State Department under Secretary of State Hillary Clinton have achieved a great victory without going to war.

Wow!

TeamPooka

(24,229 posts)
8. I wonder what the TV news headlines will look like tomorrow?
Sat Nov 3, 2012, 11:48 PM
Nov 2012

MSNBC: Obama Defeats Iran!
FOX: Iran Ready to Nuke Israel?
CNN: Iranian Uranium Enrichment Too Close To Call....

mak3cats

(1,573 posts)
10. Here's the RW spin on this...
Sat Nov 3, 2012, 11:59 PM
Nov 2012

"It's another sign that points to a Romney victory. Iran is caving in advance because they're afraid of what he'll do when he wins."

Rose Siding

(32,623 posts)
16. Thanks, Mr President
Sun Nov 4, 2012, 12:40 AM
Nov 2012


Speaker of the House Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), House Majority Leader Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-MD), House Minority Whip Rep. Eric Cantor (R-VA), U.S. Ambassador to the United Nation Dr. Susan E. Rice and Secretary of the Treasury Timothy F. Geithner watch as President Barack Obama signs a bill in the East Room of the White House July 1, 2010 in Washington, DC. President Obama was joined by Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), Secretary of the Treasury Timothy F. Geithner and other members of Congress to sign the Iran Sanctions Bill, which will limit business done with Iran due to their nuclear program.
(June 30, 2010 - Source: Brendan Smialowski/Getty Images North America)

Berlum

(7,044 posts)
17. Cue the Republican whining and gnashing of teeth. They HATE shit that is good for America
Sun Nov 4, 2012, 05:42 AM
Nov 2012

...and so they will HATE this.

dipsydoodle

(42,239 posts)
18. Original news report here
Sun Nov 4, 2012, 07:17 AM
Nov 2012

Iran has suspended 20-percent uranium enrichment in order to have Western-imposed sanctions lifted, a parliament member told Al Arabiya on Saturday.

Earlier, Foreign Policy and National Security Commission of Parliament Mohammad Hossein Asfari told ISNA news agency that Tehran’s move was a “good will” gesture, hoping that Western countries will lift their sanctions on Tehran.

Fereydoun Abbasi, head of Iran’s atomic energy organization, told ISNA on Oct.31 that Tehran was completing the installation of centrifuges at Fordow uranium enrichment plant.

http://english.alarabiya.net/articles/2012/11/04/247475.html

See also : Iran Uranium suspension story untrue? http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1251&pid=208738

Maine-ah

(9,902 posts)
20. the title at the link now says that Iran denies this
Sun Nov 4, 2012, 10:55 AM
Nov 2012
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/nov/04/iran-suspend-uranium-enrichment

Asafari on Sunday stepped forward to clarify. "The 20% enrichment has not been and will not be halted in Iran," he insisted, according to the website of the state's English-language television, Press TV.

Asafari is a member of the parliamentary committee on national security and foreign policy.

"Yet … as announced previously, Tehran is ready to temporarily supply its need for 20%-enriched uranium for its 5-megawatt Tehran [Research] Reactor from abroad if the sanctions are lifted," he said.

Strelnikov_

(7,772 posts)
21. Since when is "20% purity" a "short step from building a nuclear device"
Sun Nov 4, 2012, 12:54 PM
Nov 2012

Based on my understanding, this is reactor grade, and the work required to enrich from reactor to bomb grade is enormous.

 

JackRiddler

(24,979 posts)
22. Obviously this will have no impact on the election.
Sun Nov 4, 2012, 12:58 PM
Nov 2012

But anyway, it's a good sign. (If true, given denials, etc. etc.)

hughee99

(16,113 posts)
23. I suspect the announcement was done internally like this...
Sun Nov 4, 2012, 01:49 PM
Nov 2012

"Okay guys, you've all been working pretty hard. Why don't you take a few weeks vacation and we'll see you all back here in December, okay"

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