North Korea’s nuclear program more advanced than Iran: US

N Korea's nuclear program

Washington: The US intelligence department in an important revelation has said that North Korea has more advanced nuclear technology compared to Iran. North Korea’s new nuclear plant to enrich nuclear fuel technology is so much advanced that the countries working on this technology may take more than two decades to match the advancement.

According to intelligence officials. After assessing North Korea’s advancement on the nuclear front, US and South Korean officials have viewed that the new nuclear plant could not have been so enriched without sophisticated networking of certain factors and a full-fledged uranium enrichment plant, elsewhere in the country.

The nuclear capability of North Korea has come as a surprise to many since the country has been facing economic sanctions and a ban on sea and air shipments, executed in the Bush era and made stricter after the UN Security Council resolution passed last year in the aftermath of second nuclear test by North Korea.

The recent intelligence reports have been a cause of concern for the US administration especially when its officials are making an all-out effort to devise a common strategy with China and other Asian countries to contain North Korea’s nuclear advancements.

Gary Samore, chief nuclear adviser in the Obama administration, has conceded for the first time that North Korea’s nuclear program is much more ahead than Iran, which is currently struggling to make further advancement.

Amidst the talk of more sanctions on North Korea, Chinese officials have made a point in which they argued that further sanctions can be counterproductive as largely failed in the past.

US ‘Not Rushing’ To Military Option Against Iran

US- Iran Diplomatic relation are changing

Washington: The Obama government’s chief nuclear advisor, Gary Samore, has stated that the United States may impose new sanctions on Iran very soon in order to check its nuclear program advancement. Samore, the US coordinator for Counter-terrorism and arms control, has revealed that the US will keep mounting diplomatic pressure on Teheran and take additional measures considering the upcoming meeting next month between Iran, the US and other world powers to direct nuclear talks.

While addressing a conference on security and defense, he stated that the United States would increase sanctions as Iranian leaders kept avoiding detailed negotiations on the nuclear issue. He further said that the sanctions would not be lifted until all concerns are fully addressed. Samore did not give details about the exact roadmap over the Iran issue but it has been said that several members of Congress are considering a new legislation to limit Iran’s crude oil export and pressurize firms to publicly disclose their deals with Teheran. In addition, many Congress members want more stern sanctions which include punishing foreign companies engaged in business deals with Iran.

He said that Iran had more successful missile program as compared to its nuclear program; so, the United States would like to have a serious strategy to prevent arms sales taking place from Iran.

So far, sanctions imposed on Iran have had significant outcomes since the global ban on acquiring nuclear equipment and technologies for its nuclear program, Samore said. He further said that the United States would not rush to military option against Iran and first resort to diplomatic efforts.

‘Super Powers’ fail to negotiate with Iran on nuclear issue

six nations meeting with Iran over nuclear issue

The Istanbul meeting ended without reaching any conclusion over Iran’s nuclear issue. Six world powers could not make Iran agree with their except for the next meet in the coming month. The meeting involved representatives from the US, Britain, Russia, China, France and Germany beside Iran.

The US officials revealed that the meeting could not draw any conclusion over the issue due to contradictory expectations from both sides.

EU foreign policy chief, Catherine Ashton, stated that the two parties agreed to talk in January to discuss alternatives for cooperation and to find a resolution over the nuclear issue.

However, Iran declared the meeting as ended with ‘vague’ suggestions. The Iranian negotiator Saeed Jalili stated that the next meeting between the six nations and Iran would be towards finding a platform for cooperation, which also he said was not something Iran proposed. It was Lady Ashton, EU foreign minister who said this and other members of the meeting agreed.

Jalai said that Iran was ‘absolutely’ not ready to negotiate over uranium enrichment. The six nations wanted to pressurize Iran to follow the UN resolution that demanded suspension of uranium enrichment.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad had mentioned while addressing people in Tehran that Iran would talk further only if the international sanctions against her are dropped.

In the Geneva press conference, Jalali faulted nuclear scientist Shahriari’s murder and indirectly blamed the UN security council. The UNSC had declared four scientists including Shahriari as being involved in ‘banned nuclear activities.’