Arms in Iran; sanctions push

April 16, 2010

THE US is pressing the United Nations Security Council to impose a comprehensive arms embargo on Iran, allow foreign states to seize Iranian ships suspected of carrying materials linked to its nuclear program, and curtail Tehran's ability to raise new investment in the country's energy sector.

US ambassador to the UN Susan Rice outlined her country's proposal on Wednesday in a meeting with the five other powers seeking to negotiate with Iran - China, Russia, France, Britain and Germany.

Iran announced on Wednesday that it had produced five kilograms of 20 per cent-enriched uranium, defying Security Council demands to stop enrichment.
US Joint Chiefs of Staff vice-chairman James Cartwright told the Senate Armed Services Committee that Iran could build a bomb in a year, although it would probably take three to five years.

China has said the issue is not as urgent as Washington claims, and that there is still time for diplomacy.

US officials hope a sanctions resolution will be adopted before the end of this month, but some council officials said it was more likely it would pass in June. The text has been written by the US, with input from Washington's European partners.
It has been crafted to target senior officers in Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps and a network of Iranian companies and financial institutions the Guard controls.
It includes a full arms embargo, more restrictions on Iranian banks, curbs on international shipping insurance for Iranian freight, asset freezing and travel restrictions on members of the Guard.

China objected strenuously to the US proposal for sanctions on energy investments during a big-power meeting on the text last week in New York, and insisted it would not accept any provisions that challenged its commercial interests in Iran, according to council diplomats.
A Chinese state oil company has sent two recent shipments of petrol to Iran, according to Reuters news agency. The sale by Chinaoil was the first by a Chinese company since January last year of refined oil products to Iran directly, rather than through intermediaries.
Another Chinese company, Sinopec, is about to sell petrol to Iran for the first time in six years, filling a gap left by European and Russian companies that left the Iranian market amid fears of punitive action by Washington.

Iran-China trade has more than doubled to about $US30 billion ($A32.1 billion) over the past decade.

But Beijing has offered suggestions this week on how the US should modify its text.
Russia's UN ambassador, Vitaly Churkin, voiced frustration with Iran. ''I don't think any of us wants to impose sanctions; what we want is to have a diplomatic solution,'' he said. But ''if Iran wants to negotiate, it should start negotiating''.
At one point in his Senate testimony, General Cartwright cast doubt on the idea that any sanctions by the UN would change Iran's reasoning in pursuing its nuclear program. Asked if a military strike would wipe out the program, he said: ''Military activity alone is not likely to be decisive, either.''

WASHINGTON POST, AGENCIES

Jawatankuasa Agama-agama Malaysia

The Cabinet should reconsider the establishment of Jawatankuasa of Interfaith Relations. It should be replaced with a friendship committee. Islam is associated with rules. Rules that have to be obeyed. There is no compromise. In the constitution, Islam is the official religion. Only execute and follow the constitution. Malaysians are always and have always been happy with this since it allows other religions to be practiced in peace.

Is there a religion that teaches its followers to do evil.

Is there a religion that teaches its followers to do evil. We are guided by our obedience to the teachings of religion. If we comply with the teachings of our religion, there would not be any bad behavior among human beings. Therefore, the committee proposed by the government to coordinate and create unity among religions in Malaysia is actually not necessary if all of us really adhere to the teachings brought by our own religion.

What should be organized so that our adherence to religious teachings be maintained. Thus, there would be no more hatred among the different races in our beloved Malaysia. In fact, the Malays, Chinese and Indians and other races have for a long time been of mutual respect. And "Alik Abang" condition has long existed. Only recently it became quite damaged when we do not adhere to the teachings of religion. So who is cheating us. Correct ourselves. Insha'Allah, all will be fine.