Beirut (AsiaNews) - Iran has been touting UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon’s positive response to Tehran’s proposal for a resumption of negotiations over its controversial nuclear program, contained in a letter to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The UN Secretary General seems to contrast yesterdays decision by the European Union to impose fresh sanctions on Tehran.
In fact, the spokesman for Ban Ki-moon, Martin Nitschke, stated that the United Nations Secretary has always been favourable to a resumption of talks and seeking agreement. Regarding the letter he limited himself to “Let’s wait and see what they have to say”. Similarly, the IAEA, confirming the receipt of the document, refused to comment on its contents.
Therefore there have been cautious reactions to Iran’s latest move, given precedents. Tehran is also seeking the support of Turkey and Brazil, the two countries with which they agreed to exchange 1,200 kilograms of uranium enriched to his 3.5% with 120 kilograms of fuel enriched to 20% for a reactor for medical research. In fact on Sunday, the Turkish foreign minister, Ahmet Davutoglu, following a tripartite meeting with Iran and Brazil, called for a resumption of negotiations with the 5 +1 group (the members of the Security Council, namely the U.S., Russia, China, Britain and France, plus Germany).
Instead yesterday, the Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman, Ramin Mehman-Parast, having condemned the European Union, diminished its scope, arguing that "Iranian companies and our experts are able to develop projects for oil and gas” . He was referring to the fact that European sanctions include a ban on selling equipment, technology and services for the energy sector to Iran, in addition to the contract relations with banks affiliated with the Revolutionary Guard.
These decisions are essentially identical to those adopted by the United States and Canada, and aim target the nerve centre of the Iranian economy. The country’s one of the leading global oil and gas producers, but lacks refineries, so is forced to import fuel, which is sold by law at a very low price, constituting a heavy expenditure of the government budget. On the other hand, the empty spaces left by the Americans and Europeans are being quickly occupied by the Chinese, already major users of Iranian oil.
The Iranian nuclear issue is, however, only postponed. If the claim by the Iranian representative to the IAEA Ali-Asghar Soltaniyeh, for "negotiations without preconditions" proposed for" after the end of the holy month of Ramadan”, ie the second week of September, is to be believed, then many hypothesize possible Israeli attacks on Iranian nuclear plants in August. (PD) 
