| Teheran blames Paris, Berlin for scientists’ killings |
DUBAI Iran’s spy chief accused German and French intelligence agencies on Friday of involvement in assassinations of its nuclear scientists, sticking to a hard official line as sanctions imposed over its disputed atomic ambitions bite harder and a poll said majority opted for suspension of uranium enrichment.
Intelligence Minister Heydar Moslehi spread the blame to France and Germany.
“In these two networks (involved in the assassinations) we saw connections with the information services in Germany, France, Britain, Israel, the US and regional intelligence agencies,” the state news agency Irna quoted Moslehi as saying. He did not name the other countries.
At least four scientists associated with Iran’s nuclear programme have been assassinated since 2010, most recently in January this year. Washington has denied any role in the killings, while Israel has declined to comment.
Oliver Thraenert, head of the think-tank unit of the Zurich-based Center for Security Studies, said that by accusing western states of involvement in the assassinations, Moslehi could be signalling his opposition to any deal with them on the nuclear issue.
“It might be the case that behind these allegations is an internal fight about whether Iran should seek a compromise with the western countries,” Thraenert said.
In a poll conducted by the Islamic Republic of Iran News Network (IRINN) earlier this week, more than two-thirds of respondents opted for “the suspension of uranium enrichment in exchange for the gradual lifting of sanctions,” in answer to the question: “Which way do you prefer to confront the unilateral sanctions of the West against Iran?”
Nearly 20 per cent favoured closing the Strait of Hormuz in retaliation and another 18 per cent said Iran should resist the sanctions in order to safeguard its nuclear rights.
The number of respondents was not known. Analysing the results, IRINN said the poll “by no means can reflect the views of all or even the majority of the revolutionary people of Iran”.
Meanwhile, Turkey has steeply slashed Iranian oil imports in June, dealing another blow to Teheran’s stretched finances.
Loading data showed this week that Turkey imported only three 150,000-tonne cargoes with Iranian crude in June through its two key ports of Aliaga and Tutunciftlik, averaging 110,000 barrels per day.
That represents a big decline from an average of 180,000 bpd imported last year and a huge slump from 250,000-280,000 bpd Turkey imported during some months in early 2012.
In July alone, Iran’s oil export revenues may halve to $3.4 billion from last year, according to Reuters calculations. The Centre for Global Energy Studies estimates Iran will be able to generate $42 billion this year from oil revenues, a massive decline from an all-time high of $73 billion in 2008.
Agencies
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