MOSCOW, November 10 (Itar-Tass) —— IAEA published on Wednesday a new report on Iran’s nuclear programme, which said that Teheran had actively worked on the development of nuclear weapons since 2003. Moreover, it is probable that the work is still going on. The West is threatening Iran with unprecedented sanctions. An armed attack of Israel on Iran cannot be ruled out. A war in the Middle East will be disastrous for the markets of commodities and raw materials.
According to the report, the Islamic Republic of Iran secretly exerted efforts for creating a potential, needed for the production of a nuclear bomb, the Nezavisimaya Gazeta writes. IAEA reported with reference to the information, received from the security services of the IAEA member countries, that Iranian specialist designed a detonator for a nuclear bomb. Besides, Iran continues to stockpile low-enriched uranium, which could be used for stuffing nuclear bombs after its enrichment to the level of 90 per cent or more.
Iranian officials described the report as politically motivated and said that it had been drafted under the U.S. pressure, Nezavisimaya Gazeta writes. Teheran pointed to the dubious origin of the information, supplied by IAEA, and stressed that their nuclear programme was of a peaceful nature.
The international response, triggered by the IAEA report, was so great that Russia opposed its open publication for the public, because the kindling of anti-Iranian hysteria may put an end to the negotiating process, the newspaper stresses.
The world community was divided over the interpretation of the IAEA report. Some people demand the urgent taking of tough measures against Iran, while others oppose the increase of pressure exerted on Teheran, Kommersant writes. Russia and China, which regard the IAEA report as inopportune and oppose another resolution of the U.N. Security Council on Iran, are of the opinion that the tough sanctions, suggested by the West, will ruin once and for all any hope for the resumption of a dialogue between Teheran and The Six. An official of the Russian Foreign Ministry told The Kommersant that “Moscow just cannot allow the situation around Iran to develop into an open conflict.” “A catastrophe would be an alternative to the diplomatic efforts. A diplomatic process is difficult and long. Iran sometimes skilfully takes advantage of differences in IAEA. Anyway, the situation around its nuclear programme did not deteriorate over the past few years, and signals are coming from Teheran about its willingness to start talks,” he said.
The publication of the IAEA report at this particular moment stripped Moscow of an opportunity to take upon itself the initiative in the solution of the Iranian nuclear problem, while Iran is trying to deepen the split between the world powers, using differences between them, Kommersant writes.
Investors are worried by the aggravation of the crisis around the Iranian nuclear programme, The RBK Daily writes. After the publication of the latest IAEA report they do not rule out a possibility of sanctions imposed on Iran, or even of a combat operation. In this situation the oil prices may exceed 200 dollars per barrel. Repeated appeals of the Israeli authorities to strike air blows at the nuclear facilities of Iran, as well as criticism of Teheran’s stand coming from Washington, upset world energy markets.
Political scientists believe, however, that a U.S. combat operation in Iran is hardly probable today. The U.S. economy is too weak for waging a large-scale war. Moreover, this would ruin the chances of President Barack Obama for re-election.