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Iran\'s peaceful nuclear programme has grabbed media attention since nuclear talks between Iran and the five permanent UN Security Council members plus Germany started in Geneva. Russia\'s official position is that Iran is entitled to use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. This is a position that has been reaffirmed by Russian President Vladimir Putin. Russia is one of Iran\'s major energy partners and has been in charge of building of Bushehr nuclear power plant. But do ordinary Russians share the same view as their politicians? Press TV took to the streets of Moscow to find out. While most Russians questioned by Press TV believe that Iran should be able to use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, there are some people who think it\'s not a simple issue. The next round of nuclear talks is seto to be held in November in Geneva, should shed more light on whether diplomacy can prevail in this situation. The majority of people here believe that Iran is entitled to use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. This notion is also reflected in the Russian government which says that a diplomatic path should be pursued to resolve the nuclear issue.

A number of British MPs want Israel to come clean on its nuclear weapons program and to destroy its nuclear arsenal. The lawmakers said Israel keeps talking about the threat of nuclear weapons in the Middle East while it possesses hundreds of nuclear warheads itself. The MPs expressed their views to Foreign Secretary William Hague in parliament as he was giving a briefing on the recent nuclear deal between Iran and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany. Despite the international community\'s concerns over the years, Israel has refused to acknowledge it has a nuclear arsenal or sign the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

Iran and the P5+1 resume nuclear talks some three months after reaching an interim deal. Iran says the dismantling of its nuclear facilities is not on the agenda. Just a few days ago, the country\'s leader, Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei said he was \"not optimistic\" about the negotiations but would not oppose them. Does Iran have good reasons to distrust the US? Is a final agreement within reach? I\'m Homa Lezgee and you\'re watching the Debate. Guests: -Press TV Newsroom Director, Hamid Reza Emadi (Tehran). - American Institute for Foreign Policy, Michael Linn (Washington). Subjects: 1) In Geneva both parties agreed that \"the Iranian nuclear program will be treated in the same manner as that of any non-nuclear weapon state party to the non-proliferation treaty\". Yet Wendy Sherman, the US nuclear negotiator, told Congress she believes that Iran has no need for either a heavy water reactor or the second enrichment facilities in Fordo. She added that Iran should give up some centrifuges. All these demands go beyond the requirements of the NPT. How do you explain the duplicity? 2) Iran has announced it won\'t suspend activities in the Arak heavy water reactor, will not reduce the number of its centrifuges or stop RD-related projects...so is there going to be major disagreements about the agenda of the talks? 3) American insistence on \"zero enrichment in Iran\" is one reason for the failure of past talks. Last November\'s deal was only possible because the US was prepared to be more realistic. 4) Measures that go beyond the NPT may be required for a time to build confidence. 5) As long as the US keeps repeating its threat that \"all options are on the table\", including military action, compromise seems uncertain... 6) What is a compromise? Iran will probably have to accept temporary limitations on its nuclear program and submit to extra inspections. In return, world powers must respect the country\'s right to the peaceful use of nuclear technology, including enrichment. 7) How do you interpret the recent remarks by Iran\'s leader that he is \"not optimistic\" about the negotiations? Does Tehran have good reasons to distrust the US? 8) Is a final agreement within reach?

[2] Israel And assassination of Iranian nuclear scientists - 20 July 2012 - English Iran condemns the US and Israel for the strings of deadly attacks mounted against its nuclear experts. Iranian nuclear scientist Mostafa Ahmadi Roshan was assassinated in January 2012 after an unknown motorcyclist attached a magnet bomb to his car in Tehran. On November 29, 2010, Professor Majid Shahriari and Dr. Fereydoun Abbasi were targeted by terrorist attacks; Shahriari was killed immediately and Dr. Abbasi, the current head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization, sustained injuries. In November 2011, some of the US presidential hopefuls called for conducting covert operations ranging from assassinating Iranian nuclear scientists to launching a military strike on Iran as well as sabotaging Tehran's nuclear energy program.

Ira Helfand, the co-president of the group International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War, says there are more than 17 000 nuclear warheads which have been ignored since the Cold War ended in 19 91. He says modern nuclear weapons are far more powerful than the US bombs used against Japan in 19 45. Nine countries are believed to possess nuclear weapons with Russia and the US holding the vast majority of them. Israel is the Middle East\'s sole possessor of nuclear weapons. The US pledged in 2009 to work toward the abolition of its nuclear weapons but said it would keep them so long as others keep theirs.

On a peaceful day in front of the White House there was a group focused on US aggression of nuclear proportions. Nearly 30 years ago William "Doubting" Thomas started the White House Anti-Nuclear Peace Vigil. He died in 2009. But since then, his supporters such as “Concepcion” who's a fixture here--have been carrying out his legacy of urging the US government to redefine its nuclear development and nuclear aggression against other countries. Thomas' widow Ellen says more nuclear weapons don't make the population safer. The vigil in front of the white house couldn't come at a more poignant time. With nuclear reactor failures in Japan after a massive earthquake and the us participation of strikes over Libya after a un-mandated no-fly zone, activists say the us government is headed in the wrong direction regarding nuclear development and military activity.

The French President has arrived in Israel on a three-day visit aimed at fortifying Paris-Tel Aviv ties. Upon arrival, French president Francois Hollande said he will not tolerate the proliferation of nuclear arms. Hollande added that his country will continue with sanctions on Iran, saying he\'s not certain if Tehran has decided to give up on its nuclear weapons. France was the first country to give Israel nuclear arms. Tel Aviv is the sole possessor of nuclear weapons in the Middle East, with an estimated 400 nuclear warheads. It\'s so far refused to sign any regulatory international nuclear agreement. Iran on the other hand is a signatory to the NPT with its facilities under regular inspection. The International Atomic Energy Agency has once again in its recent report verified the non-diversion of Iran\'s nuclear energy program.

The US Congress says President Barack Obama\\\'s plans for the country\\\'s nuclear arsenal will cost 355 billion dollars over the next decade. The Congressional Budget Office has issued a report saying the expenses will cover the modernization of nuclear weapons, their delivery systems, and nuclear weapons production laboratories. The CBO report also said the cost is nearly one hundred and 50 billion dollars more than the administration\\\'s initial request last year. The US president claims the nuclear modernization plan is needed to boost the security of the US military and give political leaders enough confidence in nuclear talks with other world powers. The new nuclear budget request comes as US officials continue to wrangle over the country\\\'s rising budget deficit.

During his television show on Press TV, George Galloway expresses his views on Iran saying "If I was Iran, I'd get Nuclear Weapons". The comments come as Iran Meets US and Allies for Nuclear Talks in Geneva to review Iran's nuclear package. Iran has repeatedly denied they are developing nuclear weapons. Iran says it still has one month to report the Qom enrichment facility to the IAEA and that the U.S. did not "foil" anything. All of Iran's religious leaders denounce the creation of nuclear weapons, including the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic. Washington and Europe however, claim that Iran secretly has a nuclear weapons program.

Ayatollah Khamenei\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\'s speech basically stresses Iran\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\'s serious pursuit of peaceful nuclear energy program and that Tehran will not accept any limitations, a university professor tells Press TV. Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has called for the destruction of nuclear weapons across the world, saying Iran never plans to build such arms. \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\"We believe that nuclear weapons must be obliterated, and we do not intend to make nuclear weapons, but if we had not had this belief and had decided to possess nuclear weapons, no power could have prevented us,\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\" Ayatollah Khamenei said in an address to thousands of clerics, officials and people of the northwestern Iranian city of Tabriz on Saturday. Press TV has conducted an interview with Dr. Mohammad Marandi, from the University of Tehran, to further discuss the Leader\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\'s speech on Iran\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\'s nuclear energy program.

The UN General Assembly has unanimously adopted a resolution on nuclear disarmament which includes proposals by the Iranian president. The UN called on nuclear-armed states to make more efforts to reduce and ultimately eliminate all types of atomic weapons. Last month, the world body\'s Disarmament Commission voted on a draft resolution proposed by the Non-Aligned Movement, which included President Hassan Rouhani\'s suggestions. During the last UN General Assembly meetings, the Iranian president laid down his proposals on nuclear disarmament, which were welcomed by many countries. An urgent formation of a convention on the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons; holding a high-level international conference on nuclear disarmament no later than 20-18; and declaring September 26 as the International Day for the total elimination of nukes were among Rouhani\'s suggestions in that draft.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has made fresh allegations about Iran\'s nuclear energy program, claiming that it is the biggest threat to global security. The Israeli prime minister made the remarks during a press conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who is on a two-day trip to Tel Aviv. He added that he wants to hold discussions with the German chancellor on ways to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon. Israel itself possesses at least 200 nuclear warheads. In contrast, Iran is a signatory to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, and the International Atomic Energy Agency has conducted numerous inspections of its nuclear facilities but has never found any evidence of diversion.

[13 July 2014] The Debate - Iran Nuclear Talks (P.1) - English

[13 July 2014] The Debate - Iran Nuclear Talks (P.2) - English

[Documentary] The Covert War on Iran (West’s Hidden Agenda to Halt Iran’s Peaceful Nuclear Advancement) - English

[25 April 2015] Next round of Iran nuclear talks in NY on sidelines of NPT conference - English

Now what is this rhetoric? Think deep. Is it just another setup? How practical is it? What are the objectives behind this move? WITHOUT Nuclear Weapons mean NO Nuclear Weapons at all or does it mean that we and our allies get to keep our Nuclear Weapons and no one else gets to create even nuclear fuel and nuclear energy? I think the move is very loud and clear!!!

[07 June 2012] 'Russia, China back Iran nuclear rights' - English Moscow has issued a statement supporting Tehran's right to the peaceful use of nuclear energy, and will shore up its efforts to ensure the international recognition of Iran's right. Foreign policy advisor Yuri Ushakov noted that the issue will also be discussed during a Thursday meeting of Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Beijing. Press TV has conducted an interview with Christopher Walker, political analyst from London, to further discuss the issue.

On the nuclear talks between Iran and the permanent members of the UN, known as the P5+1, A breakthrough seems to be on the horizon after years of negotiating. Iran\'s new nuclear negotiating team, headed by FM Mohammad Javad Zarif, may be able to get Iran what it was always entitled to based on international law: its inalienable right to civilian nuclear technology, without giving up its right to nuclear enrichment. In this debate, we\'ll discuss the possibilities of reaching this deal, and its political ramifications, both regionally and beyond. But how serious and sincere are the US and its European allies in the talks as they derailed at least two earlier agreements?

Iran\'s president says threats of a military option can not derail the process of nuclear talks between Iran and the permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany. Hassan Rouhani said Iran is after a win-win situation in the Geneva talks. Speaking at a cabinet meeting, the president added that Iran seeks peace and stability in the Middle East, and that all nations will benefit from successful talks on Iran\'s nuclear program. He said differences over the nuclear program should be resolved through international regulations, adding that Tehran will NOT give up its nuclear rights or cross the red lines set by the Islamic Republic. Regarding the previous round of talks in Geneva, President Rouhani said the two sides had made progress, but unfortunately irrelevant expectations derailed the negotiations, leading to no agreement there.

US President Barack Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu talk on the phone to discuss the nuclear deal with Iran. The White House spokesman says the two leaders have re-emphasized the shared goal of preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons. He says the call shows consultation continues between the two leaders regarding efforts to negotiate a comprehensive solution regarding Iran\'s nuclear energy program. Israel which is the only possessor of nuclear weapons in the Middle East, has called Tehran\'s interim nuclear deal as a historic mistake.

US Secretary of State John Kerry says any new sanctions on Iran would send a wrong message to the countries involved in the nuclear negotiations with Tehran. Kerry made the remarks in a briefing to US Congressmen about the recent nuclear deal between Iran and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany. Kerry said that new sanctions would eventually lead to the removal of all sanctions because the other negotiating partners would not follow suit. He said that decades of sanctions have failed to make any impact on the Iranian nuclear program. He added that President Barack Obama is committed and needs the help of Congress to resolve the nuclear issue, which he called QUOTE the most urgent, critical, and pressing. At one point, Kerry also said the military option against Iran is not off the table. But he stated he hopes the Iran nuclear issue can be resolved in less than six months

Iran\'s President Hassan Rouhani says Tehran wants to enrich uranium on its soil within the framework of the recent nuclear deal with the P-five-plus-one countries. He says Iran is committed to its peaceful nuclear program. During a meeting with visiting Russian Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, President Rouhani also said the Geneva agreement recognizes all Iran\'s rights including the right to enrich uranium. He added efforts by some countries to interpret the agreeement in other ways would damage efforts aimed at building mutual trust. The Iranian president also discussed Tehran\'s cooperation with Moscow on a range of issues, mainly regional peace and security, fight against terrorism, and the Syrian crisis. Lavrov, in turn, said that under international law all countries should have access to a peaceful nuclear program including uranium enrichment. He said Iran and Russia have a similar take on the nuclear deal struch in Geneva. Earlier, the top Russian diplomat held separate talks with his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif over the conflict in Syria and Iran\'s nuclear program.

[17 June 2014] Iran, P5+1 continue talks over Tehran\'s nuclear program - English

[27 Mar 2015] Iran\'s nuclear chief Salehi \"optimistic\" about outcome of nuclear talks - English

[02 Apr 2015] The Debate - Nuclear Negotiations (P.1) - English

[02 Apr 2015] The Debate - Nuclear Negotiations (P.2) - English

[04 April 2015] The Debate - Nuclear Negotiations (P.1) - English