Uskowi on Iran - اسکویی در باره ایران

Iran Cuts Oil Exports to Six European Countries

2012-02-15T17:55:00.004-05:00

Oil Counter Sanction

Responding to the sanctions imposed by the EU against its oil and banking sectors, Iran today announced that it has cut oil exports to the Netherlands, Spain, Italy, France, Greece and Portugal effective immediately. The EU had given its members, including the six, a grace period until July to stop their import of Iranian oil.

The ambassadors of the six countries were summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Tehran late on Wednesday and were told of Iran’s decision [Fars News Agency, 15 February].

Iran-Built Nuclear Fuel Rod Inserted into Reactor

2012-02-15T10:40:00.003-05:00

Final Step in Nuclear Fuel Production Cycle

The Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad today oversaw the insertion of the first Iranian domestically made fuel rod into a research reactor in Tehran. Meanwhile, the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran announced that the new generation of also domestically made high-speed centrifuges have been installed and have gone into operation at Natanz uranium enrichment plant in central Iran [IRNA and Fars News Agency, 15 February].

The manufacturing of nuclear fuel rod is reportedly the final step in the entire cycle of nuclear fuel, from extracting uranium ore to producing the finished rods.

Today's events represent major progress in the development of the country’s nuclear technology. Iran insists its nuclear program is for civilian use only, while the Western powers suspect it is aimed at producing nuclear weapons.

Routine Iran naval surveillance of USN carrier force transiting the Straight of Hormuz

2012-02-14T20:11:00.002-05:00

According to the Associated Press:

Iranian patrol boats and aircraft shadowed a U.S. aircraft carrier strike group as it transited the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday.

[...]

But officers onboard the USS Abraham Lincoln said there were no incidents with Iranian forces and described the surveillance as routine measures by Tehran near the strategic strait, which is jointly controlled by Iran and Oman.

[...]

[J]ust after the Lincoln rounded the "knuckle" — the nub of Oman jutting out at the southern end of the strait — an Iranian patrol plane buzzed overhead. Another patrol boat was waiting further down the coast, said Rear Adm. Troy Shoemaker, commander of the Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Force.

[...]

He predicted before the transit that the Iranians would likely keep a close eye on the Lincoln throughout its passage, including with ground-based radars. He wasn't surprised by the attention from Iranian forces.

"We would do the same things off the coast of the United States ... It's more than reasonable. We're operating in their backyard," [USN Rear Adm. Troy Shoemaker said].

File photo: Rear Adm. Troy Shoemaker

File photo: USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72)

Photos: World News and United States Navy