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| Iran nuclear report divides reporters | Iran nuclear report divides reporters |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| President Ahmadinejad called the report a "great victory" for Iran. | President Ahmadinejad called the report a "great victory" for Iran. |
| World media reaction to the US intelligence report suggesting that Iran had suspended any nuclear weapons programme is divided. | |
| Jomhuri-ye Eslami | Jomhuri-ye Eslami |
| The report proves that Iran's nuclear activities are totally clear and peaceful, so the act of sending Iran's nuclear dossier to the UNSC was totally illegal and happened for political not technical reasons. The report stresses that Iran had sought nuclear weapons until 2003 and then halted its activities because of diplomatic pressures. This is the point that [US President George W] Bush is trying to use in order to increase pressure on Iran. | The report proves that Iran's nuclear activities are totally clear and peaceful, so the act of sending Iran's nuclear dossier to the UNSC was totally illegal and happened for political not technical reasons. The report stresses that Iran had sought nuclear weapons until 2003 and then halted its activities because of diplomatic pressures. This is the point that [US President George W] Bush is trying to use in order to increase pressure on Iran. |
| Iran | Iran |
| The release of certain parts of the intelligence report regarding Iran's nuclear activities has weakened the position of anti-Iran countries at the 5+1 talks, and instead it has strengthened the position of China and Russia. This situation will create an atmosphere in which keeping Iran's nuclear dossier on the UN Security Council agenda will be very difficult. However we cannot believe that America will drop its hostile policies against the country because it is obviously controlled by the Zionists. | The release of certain parts of the intelligence report regarding Iran's nuclear activities has weakened the position of anti-Iran countries at the 5+1 talks, and instead it has strengthened the position of China and Russia. This situation will create an atmosphere in which keeping Iran's nuclear dossier on the UN Security Council agenda will be very difficult. However we cannot believe that America will drop its hostile policies against the country because it is obviously controlled by the Zionists. |
| Qods | Qods |
| One point in the report that we cannot close our eyes to is the allegation that Iran sought nuclear weapons until 2003. It means that Iran has the intention of and knowledge to build nuclear weapons and has halted its programmes because of international pressure. Although the report explicitly confirms the [International Atomic Energy Agency] IAEA reports, it implicitly tries to follow previous objectives against the country. | One point in the report that we cannot close our eyes to is the allegation that Iran sought nuclear weapons until 2003. It means that Iran has the intention of and knowledge to build nuclear weapons and has halted its programmes because of international pressure. Although the report explicitly confirms the [International Atomic Energy Agency] IAEA reports, it implicitly tries to follow previous objectives against the country. |
| Sharl Kamlah in Arabic-language Al-Vefagh | Sharl Kamlah in Arabic-language Al-Vefagh |
| Tehran never sought these weapons. It does not need a US report to acquit it. The latest CIA report was enough to say that Iran's credibility is clear. However, the US intelligence report with its accurate facts did not only embarrass Bush's administration but also dealt a painful blow to the policy of this administration at a very critical and harmful time. In spite of this, it is obvious that Bush will only use the report to attest to his viewpoint that says that pressure has borne fruit. And hence more pressure should be applied to make Iran halt its programme once and for all. | Tehran never sought these weapons. It does not need a US report to acquit it. The latest CIA report was enough to say that Iran's credibility is clear. However, the US intelligence report with its accurate facts did not only embarrass Bush's administration but also dealt a painful blow to the policy of this administration at a very critical and harmful time. In spite of this, it is obvious that Bush will only use the report to attest to his viewpoint that says that pressure has borne fruit. And hence more pressure should be applied to make Iran halt its programme once and for all. |
| Tabnak news website political review blog. | Tabnak news website political review blog. |
| The harm caused by the IAEA report is less than that of [National Intelligence Estimate] NIE report. The agency has never presented any evidence that shows Iran's deviation from a peaceful nuclear programme. | The harm caused by the IAEA report is less than that of [National Intelligence Estimate] NIE report. The agency has never presented any evidence that shows Iran's deviation from a peaceful nuclear programme. |
| Jorgeh satirical blog | Jorgeh satirical blog |
| Instead of spending millions of dollars on CIA spy games, you could have asked us from the start. | Instead of spending millions of dollars on CIA spy games, you could have asked us from the start. |
| London's Al-Quds Al-Arabi | London's Al-Quds Al-Arabi |
| A strike against Iran is still probable... US antagonism towards Iran will not subside completely. What worries Washington and Tel Aviv is Iran's growing expertise in the field of nuclear technology. The line between military and peaceful use of enriched uranium is very narrow. | A strike against Iran is still probable... US antagonism towards Iran will not subside completely. What worries Washington and Tel Aviv is Iran's growing expertise in the field of nuclear technology. The line between military and peaceful use of enriched uranium is very narrow. |
| Yasir al-Za'trah in Jordan's Al-Dustur | Yasir al-Za'trah in Jordan's Al-Dustur |
| The report will certainly have a negative effect on Bush's efforts to mobilise US public opinion to support a decision for war [against Iran]. But this does not mean that war has become a marginalised possibility. In brief, as long as Bush is in the White House, it will be difficult to disregard the possibility of war, regardless of its form, content and duration. This also does not mean that a Democrat president will be lenient in handling the issue. | The report will certainly have a negative effect on Bush's efforts to mobilise US public opinion to support a decision for war [against Iran]. But this does not mean that war has become a marginalised possibility. In brief, as long as Bush is in the White House, it will be difficult to disregard the possibility of war, regardless of its form, content and duration. This also does not mean that a Democrat president will be lenient in handling the issue. |
| Hasan al-Barari in Jordan's Al-Ghad | Hasan al-Barari in Jordan's Al-Ghad |
| The release of the report will weaken his [Bush's] ability to make the international community proceed on the issue of imposing sanctions on Iran. However, it cannot be imagined that Bush will accept this relapse, because the decision to go to war is the most likely and because [Iranian President Mahmoud] Ahmadinejad keeps stating - all the time - that Iran has the right to produce nuclear energy. | The release of the report will weaken his [Bush's] ability to make the international community proceed on the issue of imposing sanctions on Iran. However, it cannot be imagined that Bush will accept this relapse, because the decision to go to war is the most likely and because [Iranian President Mahmoud] Ahmadinejad keeps stating - all the time - that Iran has the right to produce nuclear energy. |
| Ahmad Ziban in Qatar's Al-Rayah | Ahmad Ziban in Qatar's Al-Rayah |
| Not everything that US intelligence says is true. Therefore not everything that came out in the recent intelligence report on Iran is necessary 100% correct; i.e. there is nothing that proves that Iran had a programme for producing nuclear weapons that was halted in 2003. | Not everything that US intelligence says is true. Therefore not everything that came out in the recent intelligence report on Iran is necessary 100% correct; i.e. there is nothing that proves that Iran had a programme for producing nuclear weapons that was halted in 2003. |
| Hasan Madn in United Arab Emirates' Al-Khalij | Hasan Madn in United Arab Emirates' Al-Khalij |
| It shows how the current US administration despises the whole world. The Iranian president has the right to appear today happy and rejoicing because the intelligence report offered him a gift on a golden plate not only to present to his critics inside the ruling elite in Iran, but also to continue his hardline approach in managing the discord with Washington. | It shows how the current US administration despises the whole world. The Iranian president has the right to appear today happy and rejoicing because the intelligence report offered him a gift on a golden plate not only to present to his critics inside the ruling elite in Iran, but also to continue his hardline approach in managing the discord with Washington. |
| Sati Nur-al-Din in Lebanon's Al-Safir | Sati Nur-al-Din in Lebanon's Al-Safir |
| The report contained nothing new of which the entire world is not aware. Iran does not have a military nuclear programme. The bomb is forbidden by Islamic law and according to a clear fatwa by Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. | The report contained nothing new of which the entire world is not aware. Iran does not have a military nuclear programme. The bomb is forbidden by Islamic law and according to a clear fatwa by Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. |
| Adnan Ali in Syria's Al-Thawrah | Adnan Ali in Syria's Al-Thawrah |
| The position of US President George Bush on the report submitted by his intelligence agencies, which asserts the peaceful nature of the Iranian nuclear programme, attracts one's attention and cannot be explained except from two perspectives: either President Bush, as with his case over the Iraq war, is setting escalation with Iran as a target, or else Bush, and this is the second possibility, wanted to camouflage a possible change that might be under way in his administration's management of the crisis with Iran; and wanted once more to use intelligence agencies to pass this change. | The position of US President George Bush on the report submitted by his intelligence agencies, which asserts the peaceful nature of the Iranian nuclear programme, attracts one's attention and cannot be explained except from two perspectives: either President Bush, as with his case over the Iraq war, is setting escalation with Iran as a target, or else Bush, and this is the second possibility, wanted to camouflage a possible change that might be under way in his administration's management of the crisis with Iran; and wanted once more to use intelligence agencies to pass this change. |
| Talal Awkal in Palestinian Al-Ayyam | Talal Awkal in Palestinian Al-Ayyam |
| The US-Iranian tension is subsiding after the statement made by the national security adviser, which was compatible with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) report, stating that Iran had frozen its military nuclear programme in 2003. The United States, despite Israeli instigation, is starting to say that it prefers a diplomatic solution in dealing with Iranian nuclear dossiers. | The US-Iranian tension is subsiding after the statement made by the national security adviser, which was compatible with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) report, stating that Iran had frozen its military nuclear programme in 2003. The United States, despite Israeli instigation, is starting to say that it prefers a diplomatic solution in dealing with Iranian nuclear dossiers. |
| Palestinian Al-Quds | Palestinian Al-Quds |
| US President George Bush stands alone in the United States in warning against the Iranian nuclear danger while the US intelligence reports stress the opposite. So where does he get his information and evaluations. It is noteworthy that Israel is the only country in the world that stands with Bush and stresses the Iranian nuclear danger. So is this a coincidence, or do they have common reasons to heat up the front with Iran? | US President George Bush stands alone in the United States in warning against the Iranian nuclear danger while the US intelligence reports stress the opposite. So where does he get his information and evaluations. It is noteworthy that Israel is the only country in the world that stands with Bush and stresses the Iranian nuclear danger. So is this a coincidence, or do they have common reasons to heat up the front with Iran? |
| Nahid Munir al-Rayyis in Palestinian Filastin | Nahid Munir al-Rayyis in Palestinian Filastin |
| Sixteen US intelligence agencies took part in drafting the report which admitted that Iran had stopped its military nuclear programme back in 2003. This report compliments the report presented by the IAEA's chief [Mohamed] ElBaradei. Only two people in the world, Bush and [Israeli Prime Minister Ehud] Olmert, did not like that and insist the report is not correct. They still see the Iranian nuclear programme as very dangerous, and would like to mobilise the entire world to exact vengeance on Iran. | Sixteen US intelligence agencies took part in drafting the report which admitted that Iran had stopped its military nuclear programme back in 2003. This report compliments the report presented by the IAEA's chief [Mohamed] ElBaradei. Only two people in the world, Bush and [Israeli Prime Minister Ehud] Olmert, did not like that and insist the report is not correct. They still see the Iranian nuclear programme as very dangerous, and would like to mobilise the entire world to exact vengeance on Iran. |
| Ha'aretz | Ha'aretz |
| The American intelligence report has changed nothing fundamental - except that Israel's strategic importance has decreased regarding the Iranian threat. The report establishes that if Iran wants to produce a bomb it can do so, and if it doesn't want to, it won't. This evaluation may have a restraining effect in internal American politics. But in Israeli politics it should cause the opposite reaction, because any weakness in the American approach, which is bound to affect Europe, endangers Israel. | The American intelligence report has changed nothing fundamental - except that Israel's strategic importance has decreased regarding the Iranian threat. The report establishes that if Iran wants to produce a bomb it can do so, and if it doesn't want to, it won't. This evaluation may have a restraining effect in internal American politics. But in Israeli politics it should cause the opposite reaction, because any weakness in the American approach, which is bound to affect Europe, endangers Israel. |
| Jerusalem Post | Jerusalem Post |
| If one were looking for a new definition of chutzpah, it would be hard to do better than the latest US National Intelligence Estimate on Iran. This document declares that Iran successfully hid its military nuclear programme from the US for years, while claiming "moderate confidence" that Iran is not hiding such a programme now. The NIE may obscure but does not change the fact that the Iranian menace will grow and the world will become a more dangerous place, until the regime falls or is forced to back down. Through a politically tainted effort to sow unwarranted complacency, the agencies charged with advancing America's security and interests have delivered a terrible blow to their own mandates. | If one were looking for a new definition of chutzpah, it would be hard to do better than the latest US National Intelligence Estimate on Iran. This document declares that Iran successfully hid its military nuclear programme from the US for years, while claiming "moderate confidence" that Iran is not hiding such a programme now. The NIE may obscure but does not change the fact that the Iranian menace will grow and the world will become a more dangerous place, until the regime falls or is forced to back down. Through a politically tainted effort to sow unwarranted complacency, the agencies charged with advancing America's security and interests have delivered a terrible blow to their own mandates. |
| Kommersant | Kommersant |
| Kommersant has learnt from its sources in Washington that the US intelligence report which repudiated the White House's position on the Iranian problem was the result of a struggle between factions in the Bush administration. According to our sources, the report was essentially inspired by former President George Bush Sr, who was keen to outplay Vice-President Richard Cheney's faction and protect his son from fresh failures. However, there has been no softening in the US position on the Iranian problem. Yesterday the White House confirmed that a draft document on fresh sanctions against Iran would be tabled at the UN Security Council in the very near future... It's worth noting that the UN Security Council's working schedule for the rest of the year, which was released on Tuesday, includes the issue of nuclear non-proliferation, focusing on the "Iranian nuclear file". However, at the same time there is no specific date in the Security Council's work plan for consideration of the Iranian issue. That means that any member of the UN Security Council could initiate a discussion at any moment, presenting its partners in the Security Council with the necessity of making a final choice. | Kommersant has learnt from its sources in Washington that the US intelligence report which repudiated the White House's position on the Iranian problem was the result of a struggle between factions in the Bush administration. According to our sources, the report was essentially inspired by former President George Bush Sr, who was keen to outplay Vice-President Richard Cheney's faction and protect his son from fresh failures. However, there has been no softening in the US position on the Iranian problem. Yesterday the White House confirmed that a draft document on fresh sanctions against Iran would be tabled at the UN Security Council in the very near future... It's worth noting that the UN Security Council's working schedule for the rest of the year, which was released on Tuesday, includes the issue of nuclear non-proliferation, focusing on the "Iranian nuclear file". However, at the same time there is no specific date in the Security Council's work plan for consideration of the Iranian issue. That means that any member of the UN Security Council could initiate a discussion at any moment, presenting its partners in the Security Council with the necessity of making a final choice. |
| Igor Kryuchkov in Gazeta | Igor Kryuchkov in Gazeta |
| The US president believes that it is important that, according to the report, Iran abandoned nuclear research for military purposes because of increased international pressure. | The US president believes that it is important that, according to the report, Iran abandoned nuclear research for military purposes because of increased international pressure. |
| Vadim Markushin in Krasnaya Zvezda | Vadim Markushin in Krasnaya Zvezda |
| The visit to Moscow by Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council Saeed Jalili, the US intelligence report on Iran's nuclear programme, as well as President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's participation in the summit of the Persian Gulf countries - all these extraordinary facts as a whole have created a new perspective on the relations between the world community and the Islamic republic. | The visit to Moscow by Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council Saeed Jalili, the US intelligence report on Iran's nuclear programme, as well as President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's participation in the summit of the Persian Gulf countries - all these extraordinary facts as a whole have created a new perspective on the relations between the world community and the Islamic republic. |
| Li Xuejiang in Renmin Ribao | Li Xuejiang in Renmin Ribao |
| The judgment made by the report that Iran suspended its nuclear weapons programme long ago is after all a good thing that will make people feel comforted. It will greatly ease the tense atmosphere which is nearing confrontation between the United States and Iran, as it has undoubtedly deprived the war-mongering US hawks of a reason and excuse to start war, and their clamour for war can only die down. If they "cry wolf" loudly again as before, not many people will pay attention even if they shout themselves hoarse. | The judgment made by the report that Iran suspended its nuclear weapons programme long ago is after all a good thing that will make people feel comforted. It will greatly ease the tense atmosphere which is nearing confrontation between the United States and Iran, as it has undoubtedly deprived the war-mongering US hawks of a reason and excuse to start war, and their clamour for war can only die down. If they "cry wolf" loudly again as before, not many people will pay attention even if they shout themselves hoarse. |
| Lao Ren in Renmin Wang | Lao Ren in Renmin Wang |
| The contents of the report can only make people ask: Why is the CIA always making mistakes on important issues? The Iraq war was also launched by the US government on the basis of CIA intelligence. The so-called intelligence that "Iraq possessed weapons of mass destruction" was proved wrong by the facts. Could the US intelligence agencies be worried that they will have to shoulder responsibility for the use of force against Iran? | The contents of the report can only make people ask: Why is the CIA always making mistakes on important issues? The Iraq war was also launched by the US government on the basis of CIA intelligence. The so-called intelligence that "Iraq possessed weapons of mass destruction" was proved wrong by the facts. Could the US intelligence agencies be worried that they will have to shoulder responsibility for the use of force against Iran? |
| Institute of American Studies' Yuan Peng in China Daily | Institute of American Studies' Yuan Peng in China Daily |
| It could provide a pretext for the administration to de-escalate tension and avoid a military conflict with Tehran... Currently, the Bush administration has neither enough troops nor adequate international support to launch such a war. | It could provide a pretext for the administration to de-escalate tension and avoid a military conflict with Tehran... Currently, the Bush administration has neither enough troops nor adequate international support to launch such a war. |
| China Foreign Affairs University's Gong Shaopeng in China Daily | China Foreign Affairs University's Gong Shaopeng in China Daily |
| US strategy towards Iran has always been changing dramatically... I've repeatedly warned that countries should think twice about negative consequences before deciding to follow US dealings with Iran. I believe people will take my advice this time. | US strategy towards Iran has always been changing dramatically... I've repeatedly warned that countries should think twice about negative consequences before deciding to follow US dealings with Iran. I believe people will take my advice this time. |
| Omid Nouripour in Germany's Der Spiegel | Omid Nouripour in Germany's Der Spiegel |
| The Apocalypse has been postponed for now. Given the time that has been won, there is no chance for Bush to set military action in motion against Iran in his last 12 months in office. Now the international community can plan further negotiations with greater care. | The Apocalypse has been postponed for now. Given the time that has been won, there is no chance for Bush to set military action in motion against Iran in his last 12 months in office. Now the international community can plan further negotiations with greater care. |
| The correct balance between incentives and pressure must be found. It was ever more difficult to maintain that balance in the last talks between the USA, Russia, China, France, Britain and Germany. | The correct balance between incentives and pressure must be found. It was ever more difficult to maintain that balance in the last talks between the USA, Russia, China, France, Britain and Germany. |
| France's Le Monde | France's Le Monde |
| The US intelligence services' report on Iran published on Monday, 3 December, is sufficiently ambiguous not to allow the secret service to be accused of error or an attempt at massaging the information... Despite its nuances and even contradictions, the report confirms the strategy used hitherto by the West, and followed by Russia and China. It confirmed that the military programme was stopped by international pressure, and that enriching uranium in centrifuges would "probably" be the way Iran would choose to obtain the fissile material needed to make a bomb... The American report underlines the reasons for the mullahs' stubbornness over uranium-enrichment: thanks to enrichment, Iran does not rule out any assumptions for the future, including a nuclear weapon. | The US intelligence services' report on Iran published on Monday, 3 December, is sufficiently ambiguous not to allow the secret service to be accused of error or an attempt at massaging the information... Despite its nuances and even contradictions, the report confirms the strategy used hitherto by the West, and followed by Russia and China. It confirmed that the military programme was stopped by international pressure, and that enriching uranium in centrifuges would "probably" be the way Iran would choose to obtain the fissile material needed to make a bomb... The American report underlines the reasons for the mullahs' stubbornness over uranium-enrichment: thanks to enrichment, Iran does not rule out any assumptions for the future, including a nuclear weapon. |
| Sami Kohen in Milliyet | Sami Kohen in Milliyet |
| According to the report, Iran once worked on a nuclear weapons programme, but suspended this activity in 2003 due to international pressure... Bush started the Iraq war with the claim that [former Iraqi leader] Saddam [Hussein] had been producing weapons of mass destruction. It was later revealed that this was not true and that the CIA had misled or was itself misled. Now this report disproves the previous reports and claims about Iran's nuclear activities and consequently acquits Iran. | According to the report, Iran once worked on a nuclear weapons programme, but suspended this activity in 2003 due to international pressure... Bush started the Iraq war with the claim that [former Iraqi leader] Saddam [Hussein] had been producing weapons of mass destruction. It was later revealed that this was not true and that the CIA had misled or was itself misled. Now this report disproves the previous reports and claims about Iran's nuclear activities and consequently acquits Iran. |
| Soli Ozel in Sabah | Soli Ozel in Sabah |
| After the announcement of this report, it has become more difficult for the Bush administration and/or Israel to initiate a military operation against Iran. In fact, it has become impossible. Looking at it from this angle, it might even be claimed that this report, which was prepared by the intelligence institutions, aimed to prevent Bush and especially Vice-President [Dick] Cheney - the king of the hawks - from dragging the country into a new adventure. | After the announcement of this report, it has become more difficult for the Bush administration and/or Israel to initiate a military operation against Iran. In fact, it has become impossible. Looking at it from this angle, it might even be claimed that this report, which was prepared by the intelligence institutions, aimed to prevent Bush and especially Vice-President [Dick] Cheney - the king of the hawks - from dragging the country into a new adventure. |
| Ibrahim Karagul in Yeni Safak | Ibrahim Karagul in Yeni Safak |
| The report has been an enormous blow to the US administration. The Bush administration has taken the option of intervention against Iran off the table. This caused great joy in Iran. The world has come to the point of accepting Iran's thesis and Tehran has won the nuclear struggle. | The report has been an enormous blow to the US administration. The Bush administration has taken the option of intervention against Iran off the table. This caused great joy in Iran. The world has come to the point of accepting Iran's thesis and Tehran has won the nuclear struggle. |
| Pakistan | Pakistan |
| US President Bush has said that despite the consensus report of the US secret agencies, his viewpoint about Iran has not changed. Mr Bush's tenure as president is going to expire in a year, and the chances of success for his Republican party are decreasing day by day. This is a golden opportunity for Mr Bush to trust the reports of his intelligence agencies and resolve issues with Iran amicably. | US President Bush has said that despite the consensus report of the US secret agencies, his viewpoint about Iran has not changed. Mr Bush's tenure as president is going to expire in a year, and the chances of success for his Republican party are decreasing day by day. This is a golden opportunity for Mr Bush to trust the reports of his intelligence agencies and resolve issues with Iran amicably. |
| BBC Monitoring selects and translates news from radio, television, press, news agencies and the internet from 150 countries in more than 70 languages. It is based in Caversham, UK, and has several bureaux abroad. | BBC Monitoring selects and translates news from radio, television, press, news agencies and the internet from 150 countries in more than 70 languages. It is based in Caversham, UK, and has several bureaux abroad. |