LATEST: Association of Journalists Calls on Government to Lift Ban

UPDATE 1415 GMT: The plenary talks in Vienna opened this morning with a 35-minute session chaired by Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and the European Union’s Catherine Ashton:

IRAN VIENNA TALKS 07-14

Meanwhile, diplomats on both sides indicated that the number of Iranian centrifuges for uranium enrichment continued to be the main point of dispute.

A “senior Iranian official” told Reuters on Wednesday, “Iran needs at least 50,000 centrifuges and not 49,999. We will not compromise on that … The other party is talking about a few thousands and this is unacceptable for Iran.”

Western diplomats indicated today that the Iranians had come down from the 50,000 figure, put out by officials like the head of the Atomic Energy Organization, Ali Abkar Salehi; however, “the number is still unacceptably high”.

Iranian officials refused to confirm any step back from the 50,000 figure. However, one senior official indicated limited movement to get a deal.

We are ready to assure the world that we are not after the bombs. We have shown our goodwill but will not yield to demands that violate our rights.

A few thousand more or less centrifuges makes no difference. Our right to enrichment has been accepted by all parties involved in the talks….There are technical ways to assure both sides about securing their rights and removing concerns.

Iran currently has about 19,000 centrifuges, of which about 10,000 are operational.


Iran and the 5+1 Powers resumed talks on a comprehensive nuclear agreement in Vienna — the last set before a July 20 deadline for a deal — but little news emerged from the discussions.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and the European Union’s Catherine Ashton, the lead negotiator for the 5+1 Powers (US, Britain, Germany, France, China, and Russia), with plenary talks beginning on Thursday.

Beyond a PR video declaring “We Will Make History”, the Iranian team said they wanted a resolution before the expiry of November’s interim Joint Point of Agreement. However, they said that the West must acknowledge Tehran’s right to uranium enrichment and a program of research and development for civilian uses. Senior negotiator Majid Takht-Ravanchi said, “There will not be an agreement if Iran’s red lines aren’t taken into consideration.”

Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said, “We have instructions to wrap up (the talks)…but it’s still too early to predict the outcome.”

In the run-up to the talks, Western diplomats have said that Iran must reduce its stock of 19,000 centrifuges for enrichment. Tehran says that, to ensure self-sufficiency in uranium production, it needs to expand the stock and introduce advanced models.

The Russian delegation maintained on Wednesday that resolution was possible. “Much work should be done. But our joint efforts aimed at searching for compromises can allow us to work out a final document by July 20,” Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov assured.


Association of Journalists Calls on Government to Lift Ban

In a test case of the Rouhani Government’s promise to open up Iran’s media and culture, Mashallah Shamsolvaezin, the head of the banned Association of Journalists, has called on the Culture Minister to lift the suspension.

Jannati has said that his ministry sees no obstacle to reopening the Association.

The 4,000-member Association of Journalists was shut down in August 2009, amid mass protests over the disputed Presidential election.

Iranian Officials: US Company to Invest $1.2 Billion in Electricity Project

Iranian officials say the US company World Eco Energy plans to invest $1.175 billion in a project to generate electricity from solid waste in southwestern Iran.

Local companies in Chaharmahal-Bakhtiari will match the funding, in a deal signed between World Eco Energy’s representative and Provincial Governor General Malek-Mohammad Qorbanpour.

Qorbanpour said World Eco Energy has agreed to provide machinery and equipment, transfer technology, and employ 80% of the manpower from the local workforce, creating 650 direct jobs and 2,000 indirect jobs.

The project, which will be implemented in 2 to 3 years, will generate about 250 megawatts of electricity per day from 1,500 tons of solid waste.

Top Officials Link Iraqi Crisis to US & European Support of “Terrorism”

The regime’s top officials launched a new attack on the US and Europe over the Iraqi crisis on Wednesday, linking it to alleged Western support of “terrorism” and denial of human rights.

The head of the judiciary, Sadegh Amoli Larijani, proclaimed to his senior staff:

These countries call themselves as advocates of human rights, but they have brought human rights to a slaughterhouse. How can one believe that the Americans are advocates of human rights while they support the terrorists?

Larijani claimed that the US and Israel, displeased with “democratic elections” in Iraq and Syria, were “now happy” with “terrorist operations” in the two countries.

Larijani’s brother and senior judiciary official, Mohammad Javad Larijani, backed up the comments:

The western countries show a double-standard behavior towards the phenomenon of terrorism.

While the international laws consider fight against terrorism as an undertaking for all the world states, unfortunately, we are witnessing that the European countries have now turned into a safe haven for the terrorists.