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Posted By Uri Friedman
Thursday, March 15, 2012 - 5:06 PM
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Today's news paints a picture of an Iran increasingly hemmed in by sanctions. SWIFT, a Belgium-based organization that facilitates banking transactions, announced that it will block Iranian banks targeted by EU sanctions, effectively cutting Iran off from the global financial system. Reuters reports that Iran has been frantically stockpiling wheat to blunt the impact of sanctions, while the Obama administration is threatening to impose sanctions on India if it keeps buying Iranian oil. These developments have been accompanied by spurts of tough talk from Tehran; Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi, for instance, declared that an Israeli attack on Iran's nuclear sites would spell "the end of the Jewish state."
And yet, out of the headlines of isolation, comes a surprising glimmer of cooperation: Israel and Iran are actually collaborating on something. Haaretz reports:
In an extraordinary act of regional cooperation, Israel, Iran, Jordan, and Turkey are to jointly provide funds for a particle accelerator as part of their commitment to a UNESCO-sponsored scientific project, it was announced on Wednesday.
Each of the four countries has pledged $5 million toward the SESAME facility, which is being built near Amman. SESAME stands for Synchrotron-light for Experimental Science and Applications in the Middle East. According to the UNESCO website, the project aims to "foster scientific and technological excellence in the Middle East and neighboring countries (and prevent or reverse brain drain) by enabling world-class research," and to "build scientific and cultural bridges between neighboring countries."
If the $100 million SESAME center, which is slated to go online in 2015, succeeds, the Middle East will get its first synchrotron.
Iran meter: Could science be both central to the nuclear dispute and key to resolving it peacefully? Sadly, the SESAME project has been as much a source of tension as teamwork. Last year, the Financial Times noted that two Iranian scientists who had worked at the center -- Massoud Ali Mohammadi and Majid Shahriari -- had died under mysterious circumstances in the course of a year.
Some speculate that their involvement in SESAME "exposed the scientists to suspicion that they were complicit in sabotaging Iran's nuclear program," the FT explained. "In Tehran's political and diplomatic circles, the killing of Ali Mohammadi was seen as a possible act of revenge by the regime" (at the time of Ali Mohammadi's death, an Iranian researcher who was also involved in the project maintained that there were no direct meetings between his delegation and the Israelis). Iranian news outlets and officials blamed both deaths on Israel and the West.
Beyond particle physics, Israeli-Iranian contacts are very limited, but they're not nonexistent. Last May, Ynet reported that dozens of Israeli companies trade with Iran secretly through third parties in countries such as Dubai, Jordan, and Turkey.
Israeli exports to Iran focus on agricultural production means: Organic fertilizers, pierced irrigation pipes, hormones boosting milk productions, and seeds.
The Iranians sell the Israelis pistachio, cashew nuts, and mainly marble -- one of Iran's biggest industries.
The news today about cooperation on SESAME is heartening, of course. But we have a long way to go between particles and peace.
I do not think our power is waning However I do feel our well to use our power is to help out other countries I have returned state side and was a bit taken back by the anti brit anti euro mind set Many just as i have had gut full of them let them take care of themselves.
"Is rio orange war always comparateur forfait mobile inevitable ?"
MaximB
Eventually the US will induce civil unrest in within the republic of the Congo to make it easier for the siphoning or their natural resources.
"Is rio orange war always comparateur forfait mobile inevitable ?"
MaximB
Um...the Democratic nominee is just as inexperienced in foreign policy. She is only running for VP, he is running for POTUS. You do the math..
"Is rio orange war always forfait sosh inevitable ?"
MaximB
Neither have a foreign policy. They're not respected oversees...Most people in America & around the world want Obama to be next president.
"Is rio orange war always forfait b and you inevitable ?"
MaximB
he's traveled around the world. he seen different people and different cultures. W. had never been out of the country before he was elected..
"Is rio orange war always forfait bloque inevitable ?"
MaximB
The President proposes but the Congress disposes! Mostly, through the Senate's constitutional power of "Advising and Consenting.".
"Is rio orange war always comparateur forfait bloque inevitable ?"
MaximB
It would have to be the invasion of Iraq because we had to do it all on credit blowing out the deficit and we pissed off most of the world..
"Is rio orange war always forfait illimite inevitable ?"
MaximB
None. Only Palin can see Russia from her home state. The only time Clinton could see anything like Russia was when he flew over California..
"Is rio orange war always forfait mobile illimite inevitable ?"
MaximB
It was called the Munich Agreement. It was basically put into place to try and stop Hitler from invading countries by giving him territory..
"Is rio orange war always forfait internet inevitable ?"
MaximB
humble in the face of what? when you represent the world's main force of security, and fiscal support, nobody can tell you to do anything..
"Is rio orange war always forfait internet mobile inevitable ?"
MaximB
I once heard of a man who stood atop the world's highest mountain and said..... "LET THERE BE WIKIPEDIA ARTICLE OF U.S FOREIGN POLICY..
"Is rio orange war always forfait mobile internet inevitable ?"
MaximB
Yes, I believe he will defiantly help Mother Africa's Economy as is his churches creed. How foreign do you want a American President to be?.
"Is rio orange war always forfait blackberry inevitable ?"
MaximB
America's Containment Policies: Marshall Plans and Truman Doctrine. It aimed to rebuild post-ww2 Europe and keep communism influences out..
"Is rio orange war always forfait mobile blackberry inevitable ?"
MaximB
They all support the false overzealous war against Islamists. I am not saying every Muslim is innocent, but I know 9/11 was an inside job..
"Is rio orange war always forfait sans engagement inevitable ?"
MaximB
Oh I dunno. I just hopped out of the shower and I gotta say I'm lookin pretty damn good. I just barely tore myself away from the mirror..
"Is rio orange war always sans engagement inevitable ?"
MaximB
The only thing Obama learned from the foreign policy thrashing McCain gave him was that he needs to work on his BS artist techniques more..
"Is rio orange war always forfait sms illimite inevitable ?"
MaximB
None-Zero-Zip........same for part two of the question....except for what he does in the name of "allah'. But he won't tell us that..
"Is rio orange war always sms illimite inevitable ?"
MaximB
It also borders Canada, which gives her double the foreign policy experience. I'd say she's ready for the big job (sarcasm mode enabled)..
"Is rio orange war always forfait mobile inevitable ?"
MaximB
She does not have foreign policy. She was a mayor of a small town. Does your mayor have foreign policy? She met with like one ambassador..
"Is rio orange war always comparateur forfait inevitable ?"
MaximB
It's all about money and power. The U.S. is all about itself and what benefits us. We have a government that is for the rich by the rich..
"Is rio orange war always comparateur forfait mobile inevitable ?"
MaximB
Um, weren't the Crusades like in the 12th century? America wasn't even a country yet. I'm not sure what you're asking in your question..
"Is rio orange war always forfait sosh inevitable ?"
MaximB
people should research the USS Liberty attack, the Lavin affair, or the Jonathan Pollard spy scandal, if they think israel is our friend.
"Is rio orange war always forfait b and you inevitable ?"
MaximB
The media influences the people, and the people influence the politicians (or at least, they should), and the politicians create policy..
"Is rio orange war always forfait mobile inevitable ?"
MaximB
She has supported President Bush's direction in Iraq, Afghanistan and the War on Terror, in general. I guess that counts as experience..
"Is rio orange war always comparateur forfait inevitable ?"
MaximB
Well, last week he mentioned a trip to Pakistan during college. And he was in the Senate for one whole year. So, I would say, not much..
"Is rio orange war always comparateur forfait mobile inevitable ?"
MaximB
FP should be ashamed of itself for such a report. The Iranian scientists did not die under mysterious circumstanced. They were killed by Israel using bombs in front of their families. In fact in all probability SESAME is the place where they were marked for murder and most probably is just a front for MOSSAD.
Passport, FP’s flagship blog, brings you news and hidden angles on the biggest stories of the day, as well as insights and under-the-radar gems from around the world.
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