New York Times: A Pakistani official said Thursday that his country’s disgraced nuclear scientist, Abdul Qadeer Khan, had given centrifuges to Iran, but not with the government’s consent. It was Pakistan’s first specific public declaration of the nuclear technology that had been sold to Iran, though it stopped short of saying what else had been supplied by Dr. Khan’s black-market network. The official, Information Minister Sheik Rashid Ahmed, did not discuss sales to other nations and he reiterated Pakistan’s refusal to let foreign investigators interview Dr. Khan.
Pakistan Admits Scientist Sold Centrifuges to Iran’s Atom Program
Khan gave Iran machines useable for A-bomb – Pakistan
Reuters: Pakistan acknowledged on Thursday for the first time that a disgraced Pakistani scientist at the centre of a nuclear black market gave Iran centrifuges which can be used to make atomic weapons.
Centrifuges purify uranium for use as fuel in atomic power plants
or bombs. Washington believes Iran’s centrifuge programme, which it concealed from U.N. inspectors for nearly two decades, is at the heart of clandestine atom bomb plans.
U.S. and EU Strategy on Iran Converging – Rice
Reuters: Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said on
Thursday U.S. and European views on how to deal with Iran’s nuclear program are converging, a sign Washington may be closer to backing incentives for Tehran. “I think we are really coming to a common view of how to proceed,” Rice said when asked about European diplomatic efforts to persuade Iran to give up its suspected nuclear arms program.
Iran to show off captured British boats
AFP: Iran’s hardline Revolutionary Guards are to put on public display three boats seized from British troops last year, state media reported on Thursday. In a move likely to revive British anger over the incident, the report said the captured boats — which Britain has been trying to get back — would be shown off to the public near where they were captured.
Pakistan admission of centrifuges to Iran proves Tehran ‘lies’: opposition
AFP: An Iranian opposition group said Thursday Pakistan’s admission its disgraced nuclear hero Abdul Qadeer Khan had sold centrifuges to Iran proved the Iranian regime lied about its nuclear intentions. “Todays acknowledgement by the
government of Pakistan once again reveals the clerical regimes pattern of lies and deception to the world community and as the Iranian resistance had reiterated earlier, leaves no doubt that the mullahs are in pursuit of nuclear weapons,” the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) said in a statement.
EU lawmakers urge Iran to reaffirm commitment to nuclear deal
AFP: European lawmakers Thursday urged Iran to stop making “confusing and contradictory” statements about its nuclear programme and reaffirm its commitment to suspend uranium enrichment. The motion was approved at the European Parliament as Iranian and officials from three key EU countries were deadlocked in talks pressing Tehran to give up uranium enrichment, a fuel process that can also be used in making
nuclear bombs.
Pakistan’s nuclear hero Khan provided centrifuges to Iran: minister
AFP: Pakistan’s disgraced nuclear hero Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan provided Iran with centrifuges but the government was in no way involved in the deal, a cabinet minister said Thursday. “Dr Qadeer has provided Iran with centrifuges but the government of Pakistan had nothing to do with it. He gave them from the black market. Pakistan government was not involved,” Information Minister Sheikh Rashid told AFP.
Iran puts British gunboats on public display
Financial Times: Iranian state radio reported on Thursday that three gun-boats seized from British forces in June were to be put on public display. The radio said the boats – which were being delivered to the Iraqi river police – would go on show in Arvand-Kenar, in Khuzestan province.
U.S. tells India concerned over Iran pipeline – report
Reuters: The United States has reminded India about its concerns over Iran, as New Delhi prepares for talks on a $4 billion pipeline to bring Iranian natural gas to South Asia, a newspaper said on Thursday. U.S. ambassador to New Delhi David Mulford told the Oil Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar that Washington faced serious difficulties with Iran because of its nuclear programme, and there appeared no immediate solution, the Indian Express said.
1,000 women demonstrate in Iran capital
Iran Focus: Tehran, Mar. 09 – On the event of International Women’s Day, 1,000 women staged a demonstration at
central Tehrans Laleh Park yesterday afternoon.
Clashes erupted between the protesters and State Security Forces (SSF) as local residents reported tight security in the vicinity of the park since daybreak.
