Sevak Sarukhanyan: Iranian-Turkish deal to alleviate tensions around Iran’s nuclear programMay 17, 2010 - 19:02 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - The nuclear swap deal signed by the Foreign Ministers of Iran, Brazil and Turkey will just alleviate tensions around Iran and its nuclear program for a while, according to Armenian expert Sevak Sarukhanyan. “However, in two or three months Iran can again declare its intention to produce nuclear fuel in its territory,” he told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter. “Despite being strategic partners, Iran and Turkey pursue their own regional interests, which do not coincide. It specifically refers to Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh.” “Improving relations with Iran, Turkey just wants to cement positions as one of the leaders of Muslim world,” Sarukhanyan concluded. Iran's nuclear program Iran's leaders have worked to pursue nuclear energy technology since the 1950s, spurred by the launch of U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower's Atoms for Peace program. It made steady progress, with Western help, through the early 1970s. But concern over Iranian intentions followed by the upheaval of the Islamic Revolution in 1979 effectively ended outside assistance. Iran was known to be reviving its civilian nuclear programs during the 1990s, but revelations in 2002 and 2003 of clandestine research into fuel enrichment and conversion raised international concern that Iran's ambitions had metastasized beyond peaceful intent. Although Iran has consistently denied allegations it seeks to develop a bomb, the September 2009 revelation of a second uranium enrichment facility near the holy city of Qom -constructed under the radar of international inspectors - deepened suspicion surrounding Iran's nuclear ambitions. Top stories President of the Armenian parliament Alen Simonyan met with the Speaker of the Azerbaijani Milli Majlis Sahiba Gafarova. Achieving stable peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan remains a priority of the OSCE, said Ian Borg. The Cabinet of Ministers decided on Thursday, November 9 to allocated AMD 120 million to arrange the gathering. Michael Roth believes sanctions must be put on the table after Baku‘s ethnic cleansing in Nagorno-Karabakh. Partner news | Armenian Economy Minister to make trip to UAE May 20-22 A delegation led by Minister of Economy Gevorg Papoyan will travel to the UAE capital of Abu Dhabi on May 20-22 Armenian PM sends condolences to Iran Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan sent a message of condolence to the Supreme Leader Seyyed Ali Khamenei. Armenia, Turkey discuss restoration of historic bridge The meeting took place on May 17 in Ashgabat on the sidelines of an international conference of ministers of culture. India wants Armenia’s proposals on use of Chabahar port India is expecting proposals from Armenia regarding the use of Chabahar port in Iran, Indian ambassador says. |