Iran News and Discussions

svinayak · Post by **svinayak** » 13 Feb 2012 12:17

JE Menon wrote:>>If United States and European Union can give similar business to India as an incentive in their domestic markets Indian companies may consider this as an option.

Whether they do or not is a matter for those governments. GoI will not be involved in such horse-trading; Indian businesses might, and let's wish all success to them in that.

But it is hard for GoI to square the circle of why the US just supplied F16 jets to a country that has in word and deed demonstrated its violent intentions towards India, is nuclear armed, and is far less stable or predictable than Iran has ever been. The US, together with the EU and their Arab vassal states, have provided the financial and military oxygen to keep our western neighbour, both alive and violently kicking - and kicking only India until recently.

This is combined effort of the private companies and GOI since this is about national security
India has all the right to ask for market access in those countries. How about at least $100 B new market in EU and the same in USA to start with. The lawmakers in these countries may understnd this better.

sanjeevpunj · Post by **sanjeevpunj** » 13 Feb 2012 19:52

http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/top-1 ... ast-175935
Look at this report, looks as if the magnetic car bombs are here to stay, Iran's undercover agents in India showing their ugly face in New Delhi now.One of the Israeli diplomats travelling in the Toyota Innova, is seriously injured and hospitalised,while three others (one driver of the car, and two others who were Indians found nearby the blast scene,perhaps street walkers) are also being treated for wounds. The photos of the car showed that the explosion occured behind the car,possibly from a device attached by a passerby biker, as witnesses claim.All this near dr Man Mohan Singh's office.Wake up call for slueths.

JE Menon · Post by **JE Menon** » 13 Feb 2012 20:40

>>India has all the right to ask for market access in those countries.

Of course, but that is through the trade talks and the various related rounds. GoI will not request access on behalf of companies, but in general terms. Companies can exploit this negotiated access, that's a different story. So in such a context asking for $100bn or more or less is beside the point. It depends on what the companies can do. It is highly unlikely that India will ask for quantifiable market access in exchange for throwing Iran under the bus. More likely, we will want other things...

It seems we've just lost a little of that leverage. Thanks to the Iranian regime's tactical idiocy.

pgbhat · Post by **pgbhat** » 13 Feb 2012 20:55

x-post ..
As per WaPo ...
Bombs target Israeli diplomats in India, Georgia; 2 injured

The attack in New Delhi bore eerie similarities to the Jan. 11 killing of Iranian nuclear chemist Mostafa Ahmadi-Roshan, a 32-year-old deputy head of procurement at the Natanz enrichment facility. The scientist was killed in an explosion after an unknown assailant on a motorcycle slapped a magnetic bomb on his car as he commuted to work.

Agnimitra · Post by **Agnimitra** » 13 Feb 2012 21:11

U.S. Navy: Iran prepares suicide bomb boats in Gulf

Feb 12 (Reuters) - Iran has built up its naval forces in the Gulf and prepared boats that could be used in suicide attacks, but the U.S. Navy can prevent it from blocking the Strait of Hormuz, the commander of U.S. naval forces in the region said on Sunday.

[...]

"They have increased the number of submarines ... they increased the number of fast attack craft," Vice Admiral Mark Fox told reporters. "Some of the small boats have been outfitted with a large warhead that could be used as a suicide explosive device. The Iranians have a large mine inventory."

"We have watched with interest their development of long range rockets and short, medium and long range ballistic missiles and of course ... the development of their nuclear programme," Fox, who heads the U.S. Fifth Fleet, said at a briefing on the fleet's base in the Gulf state of Bahrain.

Iran now has 10 small submarines, he said.

A_Gupta · Post by **A_Gupta** » 14 Feb 2012 07:55

http://www.presstv.ir/detail/226573.html

ran has rejected the Israeli allegations that it was involved in Monday’s attacks on Israeli embassy staff in Georgia and India.

Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said on Monday night that the accusations are baseless and noted that they are a part of Tel Aviv’s psychological warfare campaign against Iran.

"We categorically reject the accusations made by the Zionist regime. They are part of a propaganda war," Mehmanparast said.

BTW, wouldn't Mehmanparast mean "devoted to guests"? What a suitable name for a Foreign Ministry spox.

abhishek_sharma · Post by **abhishek_sharma** » 14 Feb 2012 08:10

Closing the gulf: Vikram Sood

Murugan · Post by **Murugan** » 14 Feb 2012 15:59

Two blasts reported from Bangkok with alleged Iranian connection

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/thai- ... ok/911975/

shyamd · Post by **shyamd** » 14 Feb 2012 16:04

The IRanian threw the bomb at the police. Hit the tree and bounced back and exploded on the culprit.... took his legs off per eyewitness. Ironic!

Philip · Post by **Philip** » 14 Feb 2012 17:37

Iran assures

SLof oil

supply despite

US threats
Sri Lanka,under intense US pressure to dump Iranm in dire trouble over petro price hikes with demos countrywide,teragassing in Negombo,etc.

http://www.island.lk/

by Zacki Jabbar

Iran said yesterday that regardless of various threats and pressures being applied by America, it would ensure that Sri Lanka gets an uninterrupted oil supply at reasonable prices.

The Iranian Ambassador to Sri Lanka Dr. Nabi Mohammad Hassan Pour told The Island, in an interview that his country’s nuclear programme was for peaceful purposes, and it had achieved rapid advancement in scientific research and the fact that Iran was the first Muslim country to put a satellite in space, had irked "Uncle Sam", resulting in a new wave of economic sanctions.

The US was creating unnecessary problems to the world by blackmailing the developing world, but Iran would not allow a friendly country such as Sri Lanka to suffer, Ambassador Hassan said, adding that Washington should stop policing the world, by insisting oil purchases be done in US dollars.

Diplomacy not force and threats should be the modern way of sorting out issues, but the US and the EU whose economies had taken a tumble, were using subtle methods to hide their true aggressive intentions, the ambassador said.

Asked how Iran would deliver oil to Sri Lanka amidst the economic sanctions it had to contend with, Ambassador Hassan said that there were several options at hand and the Lankan government had been adequately briefed.

The Ambassador said that he had already requested "Mahan" an airline

company in Teheran to commence direct flights to Colombo and they were looking at the proposal very favourably.

Direct air links could sort out many issues that had been created by the West and give Iran and Sri Lanka the space to develop its trade, investment and tourist ties without too much interference.

Meanwhile, financial anaylysts said that Iran was increasingly accepting gold bullion for its oil exports and also making payments in the Chinese Yen and Brazilian Reals.

According to unconfirmed reports, India has bought Iranian oil using gold. Annual trade between the two countries had been placed around US$ 12 billion.

Agnimitra · Post by **Agnimitra** » 15 Feb 2012 01:15

Iran's hostile relations with Shi'ite Azerbaijan will easily be used to undermine its claim to be protector of Shi'as worldwide. In the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Iran took the side of Armenia against Azerbaijan, because it feared being encircled by Turkic peoples, not least because there is some restiveness in its own Azerbaijan province. By it hostility with Shi'ite Azerbaijan, Iran's opponents point out that it is all about Persian nationalism rather than devout Shi'ism.

Tehran takes issue with Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan's support for Israel and the United States is viewed with strong suspicion by Tehran's ruling elite, which may resort to offensive measures inside Azerbaijan to retaliate against Israeli aggression.
- Kaveh L Afrasiabi

arun · Post by **arun** » 15 Feb 2012 08:47

Iran could hit back. But why would they do it in Delhi: Dr Trita Parsi:

Are we seeing a shifting of theatre of the Israeli-Iran brinkmanship from familiar stages like Gaza, Damascus and Beirut to neutral grounds like Delhi?

Unrelated to all this, there was a sort of hyphenation happening with India and Iran for a few days now ever since the latest tightening of sanctions on Iranian oil exports.

The Economic Times had reported on Friday that India may barter wheat for Iranian oil to swim through the sanctions, a news item that went viral among international media culminating in a NYT story titled 'India Explores Economic Opportunities in Iran, Denting Western Sanctions Plan'.

Now what do you make out of all this?

Very little incentive for Iran to play on Indian ground and antagonise one of its last-standing major trading partners, isn't it?

sum · Post by **sum** » 15 Feb 2012 09:14

^^ Either Iran is really dumb and TSP like( which i doubt) when it uses its own citizens( which is almost like a smoking gun) to target Israel in 3rd countries( like Thai, India etc) instead of using proxies or there are a load of wheels within wheels here with multiple false flag ops also getting into the picture.

Philip · Post by **Philip** » 15 Feb 2012 18:17

Iran responds to the EU's blackmail.More oil now available for India and Sri Lanka at a discount too!

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldne ... tries.html

Iran cuts oil to six EU countries
Iranian state TV says Tehran has cut oil exports to six European countries in response to European Union sanctions, which include a boycott of new oil contracts with Iran

No details were immediately made available on the Press TV report on Wednesday, including which six nations were affected by the decision.

The move comes days after Iran's oil minister, Rostam Qassemi, said Tehran could cut off oil exports to "hostile" European nations as tensions rise over the Islamic Republic's nuclear program.

Iran argues that the EU oil embargo will not cripple its economy, claiming that the country already has identified new customers. European sales account for about 18 percent of Iran's total crude exports.

State television reported earlier on Wednesday that Iran has made advances in its nuclear programme, building new uranium enrichment centrifuges and producing its own nuclear reactor fuel plates.

The announcement, to be confirmed by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad later on Wednesday, was likely to further unsettle the United States and allies who believe Iran is also forging ahead with atomic weapon development.

PS: The timing of the three global attacks is no coincidence.If it wasa fake op by Israel,then the MOssd would've had to know of one or two of the plots and timed to pefection one of its own (Georgia)! If it indeed then knew of aplot,would it allow an Israeli to be exposed to such a threat...of death from the attack? No way.

The likeliest scenario is that the attacks were planned by the Iranian counterpart of Mossad,and perhaps "outsourced",as there are any number of willing suicide bombers,etc., just waiting to meet their 72s. The style of the attack clearly shows that it was a "tit-for-tat" attack in revenge fo the several Iranian nuclear scientists who have been murdered in Iran,strongly suspected by international intel agencies to be by the Israelis.
I'm afraid here we have to be tough with both nations and tell them to take their spat elsewhere and not abuse Indian soil.Whoever is responsible for the attack in Delhi,if found,and traced to a particular nation,must bear the diplomatic fallout.Thus far,Israel has not abused Indian territory and is the victim.

Indo-Israeli and Indo-Iranian diplomatic relations must stand on their own separate foudations.They cannot and must not be connected.INdia has its own interests with each nation and they must stand supreme.The US is prime example of hypocrisy when it comes to Pak,see how they are now going to give Pak another $2.5 in aid so that the Pakis can cointinue their terrorist perfidy against India! Yet they want us to cut of relations with Iran and cut our own throats by doing so.A plague upon all the slimeballs of the State Dept. and White House!

Agnimitra · Post by **Agnimitra** » 15 Feb 2012 20:59

Trita Parsi said in an interview yesterday that he thinks India may join up with Turkey to create a successful mediator role between Iran and the US. Japan failed, Turkey wasn't able to get a 'yes' from the US, but India+Turkey may be able to.

From an Indian PoV I don't understand how involving Turkey in our relations with Iran computes in the larger scheme of things.

Meanwhile:
Iran to announce new nuclear projects Wednesday

gakakkad · Post by **gakakkad** » 15 Feb 2012 21:11

Carl wrote:Trita Parsi said in an interview yesterday that he thinks India may join up with Turkey to create a successful mediator role between Iran and the US. Japan failed, Turkey wasn't able to get a 'yes' from the US, but India+Turkey may be able to.

From an Indian PoV I don't understand how involving Turkey in our relations with Iran computes in the larger scheme of things.

Meanwhile:
Iran to announce new nuclear projects Wednesday

We need a bunch of decent negotiators to achieve something of that sort .

Prem · Post by **Prem** » 15 Feb 2012 22:58

http://www.csmonitor.com/Commentary/Opi ... rship-role
India's support for Iran threatens its US relationship and global leadership role
Nicholas Burns

The Indian government’s ill-advised statement last week that it will continue to purchase oil from Iran is a major setback for the US attempt to isolate the Iranian government over the nuclear issue. The New York Times reported Sunday that Indian authorities are actively aiding Indian firms to avoid current sanctions by advising them to pay for Iranian oil in Indian rupees. It may go even further by agreeing to barter deals with Iran – all to circumvent the sanctions regime carefully constructed by the United States and its friends and allies. According to the Times, India now has the dubious distinction of being the leading importer of Iranian oil.
This is bitterly disappointing news for those of us who have championed a close relationship with India. And it represents a real setback in the attempt by the last three American presidents to establish a close and strategic partnership with successive Indian governments.The Indian government’s defense is that it relies on Iran for 12 percent of its oil imports and cannot afford to break those trade ties. But India has had years to adjust and make alternative arrangements. Ironically, the US has had considerable success on the sanctions front in recent months. The European Union has decided to implement an oil embargo on Iran, the US is introducing Central Bank sanctions, and even the East Asian countries, such as China, have imported less Iranian oil in recent months.
That makes India’s recent pronouncements seem so out-of-step and out-of-touch with the new global determination to isolate and pressure Iran to negotiate in order to avoid a catastrophic war.There is a larger point here about India’s role in the world. For all the talk about India rising to become a global power, its government doesn’t always act like one. It is all too often focused on its own region but not much beyond it. And it very seldom provides the kind of concrete leadership on tough issues that is necessary for the smooth functioning of the international system.Presidents Obama and Bush have met India more than halfway in offering concrete and highly visible commitments on issues India cares about. On his State Visit to India in November 2010, for example, Mr. Obama committed the US for the very first time to support India’s candidacy for permanent membership on the UN Security Council. Like many others who wish to see India become a close strategic partner of the US, I supported the president’s announcement.Unfortunately, India has made no corresponding gesture in return for the big vision that Obama and Mr. Bush have offered the Indian leadership. It is time that India speak much more clearly about the priority it places on its future with the United States. Most important, India must begin to provide the kind of visible leadership on difficult issues such as Iran that its many friends in the US and around the world had expected to see by now.

svinayak · Post by **svinayak** » 15 Feb 2012 23:01

An ex beuracrat talking to India like this.

Prem · Post by **Prem** » 15 Feb 2012 23:37

US bid to crimp Iranian oil sales to Asia stumbles
Iran is about the Lamentation over Limitations.
Whiteman's Burden. West Vs East. Gora vs Asians

American attempts to get major Asian importers of Iranian oil to rein in their purchases are faltering as allies South Korea and Japan give U.S. officials a polite brushoff. Emerging giants India and China may even increase their purchases, further complicating Washington's efforts to force Iran to curtail its nuclear program.
In 2011, Japan, South Korea, India and China accounted for 60 percent of Iran's oil sales, and the U.S. initiative - backed up by financial sanctions - is meant to dig away at the $100 billion in oil revenues Tehran earned last year.
Iran will likely suffer some losses when a planned European Union oil embargo kicks in July, and those could be deepened by the discounted prices it may have to offer to Asian buyers in the face of the sanctions. That adds to the pressure on Iran's budget but seems set to fall short of the bruising blow that Washington hoped to land.
Neither South Korea nor Japan appear willing to cut back their Iranian purchases by very much, and both China and India might actually step up their imports as Iran's increased isolation as a supplier forces it to lower prices.
"These consumers depend on Iran for a good portion of their oil, particularly India and China," said Singapore-based oil analyst Victor Shum of consultants Purvin & Gertz. "It's very difficult for them to switch."The Foreign Ministry in Seoul says that no decision has yet been made on the U.S. request, apparently out of fear that the country would be hard pressed to find alternative suppliers to fill in the gap left by Iranian crude.
The picture in Japan is similar. On Friday, Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda said "the trend is we'll cut oil imports from Iran" amid continuing efforts to secure alternative supplies from other Middle Eastern countries.However, Japanese authorities also pressed the U.S. to permit them exemptions from President Barack Obama's Feb. 6 executive order, which imposes sanctions on foreign institutions involved in helping finance Iranian oil sales. That suggests a determination to continue buying Iranian oil to a significant degree.Japan, which in 2011 sourced 10 percent of its 3.4 million barrels per day of oil imports from Iran, has been gradually cutting back on Iranian oil, paring imports by about 40 percent over the past five years.As a close Iranian ally, China has also dug its heels in - in fact, far deeper than either South Korea or Japan. Beijing turned a blind eye to efforts by American Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner to get it to cut back on Iranian imports during a January visit and earlier this month the Communist Party newspaper People's Daily described Western efforts to pressure Iran with an oil embargo as "casting a shadow over the global economy."China is a massive purchaser of Iranian oil, averaging about 550,000 barrels per day in 2011, about 10 percent of its total imports. While purchases have declined over the past several weeks, oil analyst Mark Pervan of ANZ Bank in Melbourne attributes that to Chinese efforts to pressure Tehran to reduce prices in the face of the U.S. pressure.Shum said that Chinese purchases of Iranian oil could increase substantially in coming months, particularly if Iran offers Beijing a discount on its oil sales."China wants to build its strategic reserve of crude and the Chinese are now in a good negotiating position as far as securing supplies," he said.The reserve, which presently stands at 102 million barrels - 21 days of imports - is scheduled to add another 168 million barrels of storage facilities by early 2013. In a report earlier this month, the Paris-based International Energy Agency said that new Chinese storage centers "could materially affect Chinese crude oil demand in 2012," suggesting that if they were filled at a steady pace China would need to secure an additional 220,000 barrels per day. That does not take into account any additional accretion for economic growth or from falling domestic production.India, China's competitor in the Asian high growth sweepstakes, ramped up its purchases of Iranian crude to 550,000 barrels per day in January, largely on the back of additional supply availability stemming from the cutback in Chinese acquisitions. In 2011 it averaged around 340,000 barrels per day in Iranian oil purchases, accounting for some 12 per cent of its imports.While it is uncertain whether the country can sustain the January level over the long term, a booming economy will keep overall oil imports high. And with many Indian refineries designed specifically to process Iranian crude, it seems likely that it will continue to source a major portion of its oil from Iran, notwithstanding objections from the United States.To cope with the new sanctions, the Iranian ambassador to India announced last week that India and Iran have reached a deal allowing Indian oil companies to pay for 45 percent of their imports in Indian rupees, reducing the need for dollar-handling foreign banks as facilitators.Some reports - unconfirmed by Indian authorities - have also suggested that India may consider a barter arrangement in lieu of oil payments, including exports of wheat and other grain as shortages of food commodities begin to bite in Tehran.

shyamd · Post by **shyamd** » 15 Feb 2012 23:44

Acharya wrote:An ex beuracrat talking to India like this.

He wants to deliver a message and get heard
------------------------------------------
Wow, I said tthe exact same thing!!

Iranian Nuclear TV imagery and meaning

Posted on February 15, 2012

Indian TV channels are carrying television coverage of Iran President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad inspecting certain nuclear installations publicly revealed for the first time. But the careful coverage was limited to showing uranium centrifuges — which the Iranian TV commentator claimed were “4th generation”, and a pool to store spent fuel from a boiling water type LEU reactor, run on indigeneously-produced fuel rods, able to output, it was repeatedly stressed, isotopes for medical use, especially for radiotherapy to cure ”850,000″ cancer patients in the country. All this is very well. But it is plutonium that is really relevant for weapons making and, in this respect, there was a “no show” of any related facilities, such as pu reprocesing, pu heavy water moderated reactors, etc. By stressing peaceful N-uses, Tehran is trying to rally international support against a preemptive strike, and may have prevented such an attack for the nonce, any way by Israel assisted by US sensors and terminal guidance paraphernalia. It has bought Iran some time. Even so, this time element may be crucial, because there’s no doubt Iran, which has been on the cusp for several years, has about reached the weapons threshold. I remember what a senior scientist at the heavy water plant in Arak told me when I was taken around that installation, along with a few other Indian visitors a couple of years back on a conducted tour. In response to my question about Iran’s N-intentions, he replied: “We are following the Indian model”!

Prem · Post by **Prem** » 16 Feb 2012 00:05

They need to provide full access to Kurdistan/Iraq oil fields to India to replace Iranian oil supply.

shyamd · Post by **shyamd** » 16 Feb 2012 00:08

Mired in politics and unlikely to happen given you need baghdad approval but Maliki is Iran's man

Prem · Post by **Prem** » 16 Feb 2012 00:17

shyamd wrote:Mired in politics and unlikely to happen given you need baghdad approval but Maliki is Iran's man

Baghdad approval not necessary any more ,Massa controls the Knobs. In the meantime.
India to go ahead with Iran trade visit
http://www.dawn.com/2012/02/15/india-to ... visit.html

ISLAMABAD: Indian Commerce Minister Anand Sharma said Wednesday that an Indian business delegation would still visit Iran despite a string of bomb attacks blamed on the increasingly isolated Islamic republic.
Sharma told AFP during a trade visit to Pakistan that terrorism and trade were “separate issues,” adding that the perpetrators behind Monday’s bomb attack on an Israeli diplomat’s car in New Delhi had yet to be established.“I am sure that our investigating agencies will identify and bring to justice the perpetrators,” said Sharma.Israel said Tehran was responsible for the attack which badly injured an Israeli woman, but Sharma insisted the matter had to be dealt with through the legal process.“Let’s be very, very clear, an act of terrorism has to be dealt as per the law,” he said.India said last week it would send a “huge” trade mission by the end of this month to Iran to explore business opportunities created by sanctions imposed by the West over the Islamic republic’s disputed nuclear programme.ran is India’s second-largest oil supplier after Saudi Arabia, providing around 12 per cent of the fast-growing country’s crude needs.ndia says it will abide only by UN sanctions, and will not implement those by individual nations or groupings.The country has been examining ways to step up trade with Iran amid trouble in settling its oil bills from Iran as a result of the sanctions campaign that is drying up banking routes.A leading Indian trade body said the attack may have soured the atmosphere, but that business between India and Iran is unlikely to be affected.

shyamd · Post by **shyamd** » 16 Feb 2012 00:20

^^ Bhai, I hope so too but I know the region pretty well. KRG don't have their own pipeline yet, Iraqi govt control the pipelines.

Virupaksha · Post by **Virupaksha** » 16 Feb 2012 00:29

shyamd wrote:Mired in politics and unlikely to happen given you need baghdad approval but Maliki is Iran's man

Then the transfer of Soudi oil fields.

SwamyG · Post by **SwamyG** » 16 Feb 2012 00:34

Lots of pressure on India.

Delhi is turning out to be the mullahs' last best friend.

The world's most notorious theocracy is desperately looking for a friend with deep pockets. It has found an unlikely candidate: the world's biggest democracy.

India surpassed China last month to become the Islamic Republic of Iran's biggest customer for crude oil, undermining sanctions by the U.S. and European Union to starve the mullahs of oil revenue. Ties between Delhi and Tehran also came into focus after Israel blamed Iran for a terrorist attack on one of its diplomats in New Delhi Monday. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's government promptly began an investigation, but the question is why he hasn't already curtailed dealings with the Islamic Republic.

Instead, Mr. Singh is building new bridges. Last week, the Iranian ambassador to India said that New Delhi had proposed a trade agreement to circumvent sanctions, which an Indian trade official later publicly confirmed. The usual way Tehran is paid for its oil in international markets in dollars has been disrupted, so New Delhi will now pay for 45% of its crude oil imports in rupees. Other reports suggest it will also barter wheat.

Adding to this lifeline, India's Commerce Secretary Rahul Khullar announced a trade delegation to Iran at the end of the month. The plan is to market Indian products that Tehran can buy with its rupees. While other international companies are walking away from Iran for fear of sanctions or reputational damage, Mr. Khullar said he doesn't want to give up this "business opportunity."

So it's business as usual for India, no matter the risks. Mr. Khullar said this month's trade delegation will dutifully promote goods not proscribed by the United Nations. But the U.N. sanctions lists had to get Russian and Chinese approval; the U.S. and EU embargoes go well beyond U.N. requirements. Mr. Khullar told reporters, "If Europe and the U.S. believe they wish to sanction exports of a large number of items to that country, that is their choice. But for us we shall continue business."

No one's accusing India of ideological kinship with the mullahs. Mr. Singh's government has said that it doesn't want a nuclear Iran and has voted against Tehran in the International Atomic Energy Agency. Yet now he's effectively enabling those nuclear ambitions by failing to stand with the coalition of nations trying to force Tehran to change course. While other liberal democracies agree about the Iranian nuclear threat, New Delhi apparently only sees pushy Westerners telling it what to do.

Some of this is mental baggage from the days of the Non-Aligned Movement, though we thought New Delhi had outgrown that adolescent neurosis. The real question for India is whether it is prepared to take its place as a responsible keeper of the world order. Or does it prefer to cast its lot, for the sake of a handful of rupees, with the spoilers of Moscow and Beijing?

shyamd · Post by **shyamd** » 16 Feb 2012 00:35

Virupaksha wrote: Then the transfer of Soudi oil fields.

They guaranteed to replace iranian purchases

ShauryaT · Post by **ShauryaT** » 16 Feb 2012 00:38

Acharya wrote:An ex beuracrat talking to India like this.

Why not? He is being the bad cop, as he is the ex now and does not have to deal with our officials. This is cover for their officials, who will talk to us and provide the same message with sweeteners.

Quite frankly, it does not matter how they talk. What is frustrating is absolute Indian non action in any matter as if we are a fricking Ostrich!

You will hear more bitching, yelling and groaning by the US on a whole host of issues in this decade, if we do not get our act together.

SwamyG · Post by **SwamyG** » 16 Feb 2012 00:39

My earlier post was from WSJ(leans conservative side), now from NYTimes (leans liberal side); look at how the American system uses all sides to put its points across.

Iran’s Influence in UP: An American Diplomatic Cable

We’ve unearthed this cable from the Wikileaks archive of diplomatic correspondence from the United States Embassy in New Delhi, dated August 4, 2006 which alleges there was an active Iranian influence in Uttar Pradesh in the wake of heavy attacks that summer by Israel in Gaza and Lebanon.

The cable, titled “Indian Muslim Resentment Smouldering Over Lebanon and Gaza” cites two prominent Muslims in Uttar Pradesh who allege Iran was funding political rallies and propaganda in the state. Iran’s influence outside its own borders is being reexamined in the wake of explosions in New Delhi and Bangkok that some have linked to the country.

ramana · Post by **ramana** » 16 Feb 2012 01:16

And from within India

Penalize Iran

Penalize Iran
India mustn't downplay the attack on an Israeli diplomat in the Capital, says N.V.Subramanian.

15 February 2012: Police investigations are likely to implicate Iran in the attack on an Israeli diplomat in the heart of the Capital, a stone's throw from the prime minister's house. The magnetic bomb used in Delhi is similar to the ones which were to be employed in Bangkok against Israeli diplomats before an Iranian assassination team bungled. The same day as the Delhi attack, another attempt on Israeli diplomats in Georgia was foiled.

India's reflexive action would be to soft-pedal the attack as it faced away from the coup in Maldives. That won't do. Police must be authorized and pressured to crack the case soonest. And pending investigations, the Iranians must be put on notice that extreme diplomatic measures will be taken against embassy and consular staff found involved in the attack. India cannot become a battleground as countries settle scores amongst themselves.

Iran is a complicated case for India. India cannot blindly embrace Western sanctions against Iran since this country's energy security would be compromised. On the other hand, India is opposed in principle to Iran's weaponization programme. India cannot accept another nuclear weapons' power in the region. India cannot, of course, base its opposition to Iran's weapons' programme on its violation of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty since this country is not a signatory to it. But on grounds of its own security, India can oppose another Middle East weapons' power, and that is what India is doing. India has no reason to be embarrassed about it.

But complicated as these issues are, India cannot be stopped from establishing ground rules for diplomatic engagements in this country and a code of conduct for foreign missions accredited with their staff to operate here. It appears that Iran has engaged its own citizens living here or Pakistan-headquartered terrorist modules located in the country to carry out the attack on an Israeli diplomat. Iran's disclaimers have no takers anywhere in the world. Iran must be warned that its terrorism won't be tolerated.

If terrorist attacks such as this go unpunished, they will be repeated. It will provide a cover to the Al-Qaida, Lashkar-e-Toiba, etc, to carry out similar attacks. At least part of the 26/ 11 attack was directed against the Israelis. Iran may outsource further attacks against Israeli interests in India to the LeT, etc (if it hasn't done so yet), giving deniability to itself, and obscuring Pakistani militant involvement as well. It could lead Pakistan's terroristic military-intelligence establishment to join forces with Iran to attack India under cover of targeting the Israelis here, further tangling the terror war against this county. If Iran comes on the side of Pakistani terrorism like China does, it will embolden Pakistan to do worse against India.

The Manmohan Singh government may worry that acting tough against Iranian terrorism against Israelis in this country would anger the Muslim community. If there is such anxiety, it is misplaced. India is opposed to terrorism by whoever and whatever the cause. The Muslims cannot think otherwise. They are as much victims of terrorism as other communities. It is certainly possible that the issue could be exploited for political gain, as the CPI-M and the Samajwadi Party unfortunately did when India voted against Iran's weapons' programme. But that shouldn't stop the government from lowering the boom on the Iranians.

A section of the government will fret about angering Iran and jeopardizing India's energy security. Never mind. India stands more to lose by not firmly and exemplarily opposing Iranian terrorism on Indian soil. Iran's need for exporting oil and gas is as pronounced as India's requirement for them. Iran cannot change the rules of engagement unilaterally. If Iran does not forgo its weapons' programme, it will eventually be crippled by sanctions, and India's energy imports from it represent a small bailout package. So Iran's levers with India are rapidly eroding. But in the end, nothing justifies terrorism. Indeed, after this, Western pressure on India to go against Iran will grow.

But that is in the future. The most immediate task for India is to capture the bomber of the Israeli diplomat, take diplomatic action against Iran, and ensure that such attacks are not repeated. Terrorists in the region have been shown another way to cause mayhem, and they will employ magnet bomb technologies in their future attacks here. Law enforcement agencies have greater concerns now. Swift action against Iran will send the right message.

N.V.Subramanian is Editor, www.NewsInsight.net, and writes internationally on strategic affairs. He has authored two novels, University of Love (Writers Workshop, Calcutta) and Courtesan of Storms (Har-Anand, Delhi). Email: envysub@gmail.com.

Virupaksha · Post by **Virupaksha** » 16 Feb 2012 01:23

shyamd wrote:
Virupaksha wrote: Then the transfer of Soudi oil fields.
They guaranteed to replace iranian purchases

not purchases of oil at every day increasing prices shyamd, shifting ownership of fields itself, i.e. make IOC the new BP/Exxon in Soudi.

that is an offer to consider. If the only offer on table is lose a "friend" and all we get is the oil which was already being supplied at discounted prices that too in Indian rupees and now with this offer we get it at the inflated war prices in dollars

What exactly are the Soudis offering?

Prem · Post by **Prem** » 16 Feb 2012 02:13

India will need Iran for Afghanistan when Uncle hands over the key to Kabul to Talipakasur.
Unkil need to take Paoqland out of equation before making such demands on india.

SwamyG · Post by **SwamyG** » 16 Feb 2012 02:38

I do not know if all these Iran news is just because of an American election year. Seriously, if Israel can have it why not Iran or other Mullacrazies ? IMO, none of these crazy monotheistic religion based folks have an iota of tolerance towards others.

This is what I think is happening, behind the scenes.
(UK, France, US....the West plays with the region in West Asia. After their play...)
Israel: You all are morons.
Iran: No, you are a moron.
Israel: I will show you (grabs some land).
Iran: I will show you (wages proxy war).
Israel: Wait I will show you. (wages direct and covert war).
Iran: I will show (begins weaponization).
Israel: I will show you (buys weapons).

(somebody lights up crackers in India)
India: Seriously, dudes. Can't you take your fight elsewhere? Why involve me? I can't do much, you know.
Israel: (to India) No, You need me (and it needs India). Why don't you buy oil from elsewhere.
Iran: (to India) No, you need me (and it needs India).
USA: (to India)Can't you buy oil from Saudi Arabia? They are good guys, you know.
India: (to USA) huh?

India: (to Israel and Iran) Yeah, I understand we all need each other. Why don't you fight it out elsewhere in your lands, and leave me alone?
Israel: (to India) You are a Moron.
India: Huh?
Iran: (to India) See you need me.
India: Huh?

Meanwhile....the cops walk in to PMO:
Cops: Sahib, Humne patha karliya hain.
PMO: Kisne foda?
Cops: #@$#@$%##$
PMO: Teek hain, teek hain. Shukriya. Hum aage dek lenge.

ramana · Post by **ramana** » 16 Feb 2012 03:40

Cops: #@$#@$%##$

or

Doggy Singh: #@$#@$%##$

krisna · Post by **krisna** » 16 Feb 2012 04:24

looks like GOI and its head have grown some spine defying the souper powel.
incredible on one hand it grovels and on other hand it defies king uncle.

viv wrote:Rajiv Gandhi defied China in Sumdorong chu valley, PVN defied Arab nations and met up with Israel, ABV defied US/world at Pokharan, MMS defies reason before the world.

what is going on.
am konphused.

ramana · Post by **ramana** » 16 Feb 2012 04:40

AP Summary, 15 Feb 2012.....

..

UNCLE SAM STYMIED: U.S. attempts to squeeze Iran financially so that it ends its pursuit of nuclear weapons has run into some problems; allies of the United States. Asian countries are resisting U.S. entreaties to stop buying Iranian oil, which provided Tehran with revenue of $100 billion last year.

FRIENDS LIKE THESE: South Korea and Japan, which is still dealing with energy shortages after a nuclear disaster, are giving U.S. officials a polite brushoff. South Korea is meeting with U.S. officials, but they say there is no viable alternative for a country that relies on Iran for 10 percent of its supply.

A GLOBAL PROBLEM: Israel fears nothing more than a nuclear-armed Iran. It has threatened to strike nuclear facilities if sanctions fail. While sympathizing with Israel, the West fears that such an attack could upend the Middle East and potentially stall a fragile global economic recovery.

.

shyamd · Post by **shyamd** » 16 Feb 2012 04:43

Virupaksha wrote: not purchases of oil at every day increasing prices shyamd, shifting ownership of fields itself, i.e. make IOC the new BP/Exxon in Soudi.

What will tthat offer India and do Exxon/BP have fields in KSA?

-----------------------
‘Mathai told US snapping ties with Iran is difficult’

A week before Iran made claims of progress in its nuclear programme, Foreign Secretary Ranjan Mathai is learnt to have told US interlocutors that India’s energy needs, its population in the Gulf region and Iran being the only land access to Afghanistan were among the reasons for India’s nuanced position on the Islamic republic. However, sources said Mathai also said that India believed Iran — as an NPT signatory — has certain “obligations”.

Mathai reportedly had a “very frank exchange” with US officials at Capitol Hill. The officials allegedly asked Mathai why India’s cannot reduce ties with Iran, to which they were allegedly told that there are 6 million Indians in the Gulf region, whose welfare is an “enormous responsibility”. Iran also constitutes a “declining but significant” source of energy imports, and it provides the only land route access to Afghanistan.

Given this, Mathai said, it is not easy for India to make such “enormous decisions” of snapping ties with Tehran.

Dipanker · Post by **Dipanker** » 16 Feb 2012 06:01

Buying oil from Saudis will give them unnecessary leverage in the event of Indo - Pak war as they will side with their fellow ummah country like in the past.

On the other hand Iranians seems to have this inflated sense of worth and are punching far above their weight. India is unnecessarily getting sucked into the whole mess.

India should explore the possibility of buying oil from Iraq, the other shia country!

A_Gupta · Post by **A_Gupta** » 16 Feb 2012 06:02

Who all are afraid of Iran:
http://www.juancole.com/2012/02/active- ... sence.html

A_Gupta · Post by **A_Gupta** » 16 Feb 2012 06:28

While the Thai blasts directly point to Iran's involvement, people should be aware there is an Iranian terrorist group with prominent American spokespeople, that would work to undermine the current Iranian regime.

http://www.theatlantic.com/internationa ... up/252973/