It's sometimes hard to figure out why certain subjects get much more news coverage than others. Is it simply a matter of giving audiences what they want? Does it come down to the personal tastes and perspectives of editors and reporters? Or does it stem from the pressure being exerted by various interests, including those with a political agenda?
Regardless, Iran seems to be in the mainstream media's crosshairs nowdays. Maybe that has always been the case. Then again, as I read through the lines of the following collection of reports, the cynic in me can't help but wonder whether this steady flow reflects a grand geopolitical plan:
"U.S. to Test Missile Shield vs. Iran-Style Strike" (Reuters)
The United States will test its core missile defenses for the first time in January against a simulated long-range Iranian attack, a top Pentagon official said on Monday, amid tensions with Tehran.
Speaking at the Reuters Aerospace and Defense Summit in Washington, Army Lieutenant General Patrick O'Reilly, the head of the Missile Defense Agency, said the roughly $150 million test was a departure from the more standard scenario of a North Korean attack.
It also would be more difficult testing the U.S. Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD) system against a missile that would be faster and more direct as it races toward the United States than a simulated strike from North Korea.
"Previously, we have been testing the GMD system against a North Korean-type scenario," O'Reilly said.
"This next test ... is more of a head-on shot like you would use defending against an Iranian shot into the United States. So that's the first time that we're now testing in a different scenario."
"Secret Document Exposes Iran’s Nuclear Trigger" (The Times)
Confidential intelligence documents obtained by The Times show that Iran is working on testing a key final component of a nuclear bomb.
The notes, from Iran’s most sensitive military nuclear project, describe a four-year plan to test a neutron initiator, the component of a nuclear bomb that triggers an explosion. Foreign intelligence agencies date them to early 2007, four years after Iran was thought to have suspended its weapons programme.
An Asian intelligence source last week confirmed to The Times that his country also believed that weapons work was being carried out as recently as 2007 — specifically, work on a neutron initiator.
The technical document describes the use of a neutron source, uranium deuteride, which independent experts confirm has no possible civilian or military use other than in a nuclear weapon. Uranium deuteride is the material used in Pakistan’s bomb, from where Iran obtained its blueprint.
“Although Iran might claim that this work is for civil purposes, there is no civil application,” said David Albright, a physicist and president of the Institute for Science and International Security in Washington, which has analysed hundreds of pages of documents related to the Iranian programme. “This is a very strong indicator of weapons work.”The documents have been seen by intelligence agencies from several Western countries, including Britain. A senior source at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed that they had been passed to the UN’s nuclear watchdog.
A Foreign and Commonwealth Office spokeswoman said yesterday: “We do not comment on intelligence, but our concerns about Iran’s nuclear programme are clear. Obviously this document, if authentic, raises serious questions about Iran’s intentions.”
Responding to The Times’ findings, an Israeli government spokesperson said: “Israel is increasingly concerned about the state of the Iranian nuclear programme and the real intentions that may lie behind it.”
The revelation coincides with growing international concern about Iran’s nuclear programme. Tehran insists that it wants to build a civilian nuclear industry to generate power, but critics suspect that the regime is intent on diverting the technology to build an atomic bomb.
"Hamas Says Will Unite With Iran if Israel Attacks" (Reuters)
Islamist militant groups will fight alongside Iran if the country is attacked by Israel, exiled Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal said on Tuesday.
Israel has not ruled out military action against Iran if diplomacy fails to end a dispute over Tehran's nuclear programme, which the United States and its allies suspect is aimed at building an atomic bomb. Iran denies such an ambition, saying it wants to generate electricity using nuclear power.
"All Islamist militant groups will form a united front with Iran against Israel if it attacks Iran," Meshaal, visiting Iran, told a news conference broadcast live on state television.
"We are all parts of the same body ... We all should fight against the mutual enemy. But how, the leaders will decide, based on our capacities."
Israeli officials have warned they could try to destroy Iran's nuclear facilities in the same way that Israel bombed Iraq's Osiraq nuclear reactor in 1981.
Iran has said it will retaliate if attacked, and security analysts believe it would mobilise militant allies such as Palestinian Hamas and Lebanese Hezbollah in its response.
"Iran Says it Will Strike Israel's Nuclear Sites if Attacked" (Associated Press)
Lebanon's Al Manar TV says Iran's defense minister has warned that his country will strike Israel's nuclear sites if the Jewish state attacks Iranian nuclear facilities.
The Wednesday report says Gen. Ahmad Vahidi made his comments to reporters while visiting Damascus, capital of neighboring Syria. Al Manar is the mouthpiece of Hezbollah, an Iranian-backed Lebanese guerrilla group and political party. Iran's English language Press TV also carried Vahidi's comments.
Israel has not ruled out a military strike against Iran's nuclear facilities. Israel, the United States and other Western nations say Iran is seeking to acquire nuclear weapons.
Iran denies the charge. It says its nuclear program is only for peaceful purposes.
"Iran Says Israel Cannot Stop Its Nuclear Work" (Reuters)
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Wednesday Israel could not do a "damn thing" to stop the Islamic state's nuclear programme, which the West suspects is a front to build bombs.
"The Zionist regime (Israel) and its (western) backers cannot do a damn thing to stop Iran's nuclear work," Ahmadinejad said in a televised speech in the central city of Isfahan.
"UN Nuclear Chief: Negotiations With Iran at 'Dead End'" (Voice of America)
Mohamed ElBaradei says there has been no movement by Iran for some time on issues of concern about its nuclear program.
The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency says the organization has reached a dead end in a probe into Iran's nuclear program. The IAEA's board is meeting to consider a resolution condemning Iran's nuclear program.
In remarks to the International Atomic Energy Agency's board, IAEA chief Mohamed ElBaradei expressed frustration over Iran's failure to cooperate with the Vienna-based agency. Mr. ElBaradei leaves office at the end of November, and his remarks have grown sharply more critical of Iran in recent months.
On Thursday, he said he was disappointed that Iran had not agreed on a deal to further enrich its uranium overseas. The deal has the support of the United States, Russia and France and it aims to provide a safeguard that Iran's uranium is not being used to make a nuclear weapon.
Comments