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Gold9472
02-16-2005, 06:00 PM
Powerful blast in Iran

By Siavosh Ghazi in Tehran
February 17, 2005
From: Agence France-Presse

A POWERFUL blast occurred near Iran's Gulf port of Daylam today and witnesses reported seeing a missile being fired from an unidentified plane, local television reported.

The blast came at a time of high tensions between the US and Iran, which is under intense international pressure over its nuclear activities.

Local officials have been dispatched to the site to identify the cause of the explosion in an uninhabited area in the south of the country, according to Arab-language television Al-Alam.

A government source told the television the explosion could have been the result of a fuel tank falling from an Iranian plane, contradicting reports that it was a missile.

Daylam is about 150km from Bushehr, where a controversial nuclear plant is being built with Russian help.

The United States has warned of possible military action over Iran's nuclear activities, charging that its efforts to develop nuclear fuel are a cover for an atomic weapons program.

News of the blast sent the US stock market lower.

US media reports have said the US has been flying drones over Iran since April 2004, seeking evidence of nuclear weapons programs and probing for weaknesses in Iran's air defences.

Earlier today, Iranian Intelligence Minister Ali Younessi confirmed the presence of "American spying instruments" in the skies over Iran and warned that they would be hit. However, he spoke of satellites rather than spy planes.

"We have the means to hit them (these instruments) and if (they) get near, our anti-aircraft defence systems will attend to it," said Younessi.

"Americans have been conducting spying activities in Iranian sky for a long time."

Washington, which accuses Iran of being a prime sponsor of terrorism, claims Iran's nuclear program is a cover for plans to build atomic weapons.

However, Iran has staunchly denied the allegations and the head of the UN nuclear watchdog, Mohamed ElBaradei, said in an US interview published today there was no evidence that Tehran was developing nuclear weapons.

Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom claimed during a visit to London that Iran was six months away from having the knowledge to build a nuclear bomb, and said the problem must be tackled by the entire world.

Relations between Tehran and Washington have deteriorated since US President George W. Bush took office for the second time in January, caused principally by the nuclear standoff and Iran's alleged interference in Iraq.

Mr Bush has refused to exclude the possibility of military strikes should Iran continue with its alleged atomic armaments program.

To stave off the threat of UN sanctions, as demanded by Israel and the US, Britain, France and Germany are trying to convince Iran to stop uranium enrichment in exchange for economic and political rewards.

Gold9472
02-16-2005, 06:07 PM
What Michael Ruppert Has To Say About This Story

[A Note of Caution – Conflicting early reports indicate that this reported blast may have been either from a falling fuel tank (not likely), the result of an airborne missile assault, or Iranian overreaction to blasting at a large earthworks project near Daylam, a Persian Gulf port. Obviously a missile attack on Iran would have originated from only the US or Israel and would signal the start of a possible superpower nuclear confrontation. But until there is more clarity on the issue readers should not conclude that an actual missile attack has occurred until there is absolute confirmation. -- MCR]

Gold9472
02-16-2005, 06:21 PM
From MSNBC

Iran blast report scares markets, underscores fearsBy Amir Paivar and Christian Oliver

Updated: 1:39 p.m. ET Feb. 16, 2005TEHRAN - Iranian television sent waves through world financial markets on Wednesday when it reported an explosion along the coast from Iran's only nuclear plant, but officials calmed fears saying the blast was part of construction work.

The Al-Alam state satellite channel, which broadcasts in Arabic, quoted witnesses as saying the explosion may have been caused by an aircraft firing a missile in a deserted area near the town of Dailam, 100 miles (160 km) from the nuclear plant, or by a fuel tank falling from a plane.

The report caused the U.S. stock market to drop briefly and sent oil prices higher, underscoring world jitters over Iran's nuclear programme, which Washington says conceals an effort to build an atomic bomb. Iran says its nuclear programme is for electricity generation only.

"This explosion basically sent chills down the spines of futures traders," said Phil Flynn, senior market analyst at Alaron Trading Corp in Chicago.

But Iranian officials settled fears by saying the blast was made by construction workers building a road at the site of a dam at Kowsar, near Dailam.

"What happened was only a natural part of building work. These were heavy blasts carried out for the construction of the dam," Ali Reza Afshar, deputy to the chief of staff of the armed forces, told state television.

Earlier on Wednesday, Israel's Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom said Iran was six months away from having the knowledge it needed to produce a nuclear bomb.

Israel has hinted in the past at possible military action to stop Iran acquiring the bomb. But senior Israeli security officials quickly denied any military involvement in the blast.

An Israeli air strike on the Iraqi reactor Osiraq in 1981 dealt a severe blow to Saddam Hussein's nuclear programme.

NUCLEAR REACTOR

The early Al-Alam report said: "A powerful explosion was heard this morning on the outskirts of Dailam port, north of Bushehr province in southern Iran. Witnesses said the explosion was caused by a missile fired from an unknown plane 150 km (90 miles) from the city of Bushehr, where Iran's nuclear reactor is located."

"A local source said the explosion could have been the result of the falling of an empty fuel tank from an Iranian plane," it added.

Al-Alam later dropped any reference to a missile strike from its news bulletins.

Iran's Russian-built 1,000-megawatt nuclear reactor, its only nuclear power plant, is due to start operating in late 2005 and will reach full capacity in 2006.

Russian Atomic Energy Agency chief Alexander Rumyanstev is due to travel to Iran next week to finalise the technicalities of the plant's start-up.

Tehran on Wednesday accused the United States of using satellites "and other tools" to spy on its nuclear sites and threatening to shoot down any aerial surveillance craft.

Reacting to the blast report, a U.S. Defense Department spokesman told Reuters: "It is U.S. policy to deal with Iran in a diplomatic manner." The State Department also said it had no information on the blast report. (Additional reporting by Andrew Hammond in Dubai)

© Reuters 2005. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by caching, framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters and the Reuters sphere logo are registered trademarks and trademarks of the Reuters group of companies around the world.

somebigguy
02-16-2005, 06:23 PM
world jitters over Iran's nuclear programme, which Washington says conceals an effort to build an atomic bomb.

Everyone isn't falling for this lie again are they?

Gold9472
02-16-2005, 06:24 PM
I love fishing for news... "Which is real?, etc..."

Gold9472
02-16-2005, 06:25 PM
Everyone isn't falling for this lie again are they?

Yep.

Good Doctor HST
02-16-2005, 08:32 PM
Very interesting bit of news. Of course, items like the following correspond with explosions in Iran.

From today's Washington Post:

CIA, FBI Warn Panel on Top Threats to U.S.

"The United States faces a broad array of global threats, ranging from North Korean and Iranian missiles to a Sept. 11-scale attack by Islamist militants inspired by Osama bin Laden and hardened by their experience in Iraq, top U.S. intelligence officials warned Wednesday

In his first public appearance as U.S. spymaster, CIA Director Porter Goss told the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence there was an emerging terrorist threat from experienced fighters now battling U.S.-led forces in Iraq later joining international militants."

Just amazes me. If Iran flew drones over the U.S. to check on our nuclear programs, we'd have a shit-fit. But it's okay when the U.S. spies on everyone. All this after becoming notorious for pre-emptive striking other countries.... how has this become justified behavior? Nobody even blinks when they're told the U.S. fires a missile in Iran. "Hey, they had it coming! That'll teach those Ragheads to start trouble!" I don't get it.

Gold9472
02-16-2005, 08:40 PM
Very interesting bit of news. Of course, items like the following correspond with explosions in Iran.

From today's Washington Post:

CIA, FBI Warn Panel on Top Threats to U.S.

"The United States faces a broad array of global threats, ranging from North Korean and Iranian missiles to a Sept. 11-scale attack by Islamist militants inspired by Osama bin Laden and hardened by their experience in Iraq, top U.S. intelligence officials warned Wednesday

In his first public appearance as U.S. spymaster, CIA Director Porter Goss told the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence there was an emerging terrorist threat from experienced fighters now battling U.S.-led forces in Iraq later joining international militants."

Just amazes me. If Iran flew drones over the U.S. to check on our nuclear programs, we'd have a shit-fit. But it's okay when the U.S. spies on everyone. All this after becoming notorious for pre-emptive striking other countries.... how has this become justified behavior? Nobody even blinks when they're told the U.S. fires a missile in Iran. "Hey, they had it coming! That'll teach those Ragheads to start trouble!" I don't get it.

We have been trained VERY WELL to think of things in terms of "US" vs. "THEM". "THEM" being people less than human.

somebigguy
02-16-2005, 09:31 PM
I like how a blast caused by some contruction worker causes the whole world to stop and contemplate if the U.S. has bombed someone.

And yet we are to believe the Muslims are the terrorists.

Gold9472
02-16-2005, 09:36 PM
I like how a blast caused by some contruction worker causes the whole world to stop and contemplate if the U.S. has bombed someone.

And yet we are to believe the Muslims are the terrorists.

EXCELLENT POINT

danceyogamom
02-17-2005, 12:16 AM
We have been trained VERY WELL to think of things in terms of "US" vs. "THEM". "THEM" being people less than human.

no one would be able to even fathom war if we didn't think that way ...

not saying its right or even justified. I believe (hope) that dehumanizing the enemy is the only way humanity can tear itself to pieces ... and hold grudges that last for centuries.