Iran plans to expand, not suspend, its nuclear program, position paper obtained by Times of Israel says

 

Iran's Chief Nuclear Negotiator Saeed Jalili at daylong talks with six world powers in Istanbul, on April 14, 2012. (photo credit: AP/Burhan Ozbilici)

A position paper obtained by The Times of Israel, understood to have been used by Iran’s negotiators at last week’s technical-level talks with the P5+1 powers in Istanbul, makes plain the Tehran regime’s unyielding rejection of international efforts to negotiate safeguards and restrictions that would prevent Iran attaining a nuclear weapons capability.

Far from indicating Iranian readiness for a suspension or scaling back of its nuclear program, indeed, the document, made available by an informed source on condition of anonymity, includes references to Iran’s expansion plans. “Facing constant threats, we need a back up facility to safeguard our enrichment activities,” it states at one point, when discussing the Fordow enrichment facility, the underground complex built beneath a mountain near Qom where Iran carries out its 20% uranium enrichment.

A later point, related to the Tehran Research Reactor (TRR), refers to the need “for at least 4 other research reactors because of the territorial extent of Iran and the short lifetime of medical isotopes.” The next clause in the document declares an Iranian ambition “to sell fuel complexes to other countries.”

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Iran again threatens Strait of Hormuz closure

TEHRAN, Iran — The chairman of the Iranian military's Joint Chiefs of Staff on Saturday said Tehran will block the strategic Strait of Hormuz if it determines that the Islamic Republic's interests are seriously threatened.
Gen. Hasan Firouzabadi's comments to Iranian media come less than a week after the European Union imposed an embargo on Iran's vital oil-sector to pressure Tehran over its disputed nuclear program.

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US Court Fines Iran $813M for 1983 Lebanon Attack

A US federal judge has ordered Iran to pay more than $813 million in damages and interest to the families of 241 US soldiers killed in the 1983 bombing of a Marine barracks in Lebanon.
"After this opinion, this court will have issued over $8.8 billion in judgments against Iran as a result of the 1983 Beirut bombing," Judge Royce Lamberth wrote in a ruling this week, a copy of which was seen Friday by AFP.

"Iran is racking up quite a bill from its sponsorship of terrorism," the Washington judge added, noting that "a number of other Beirut bombing cases remain pending, and their completion will surely increase this amount."
On October 23, 1983, 241 American soldiers, including 220 Marines, were killed in Beirut when a truck packed with explosives rammed through barricades and detonated in front of the US barracks near Beirut's international airport.
The attack was one of the deadliest ever against Americans.
The same day, in a coordinated attack, 58 French paratroopers were killed by a truck bomb at the French barracks in Beirut.

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Iran plans to sell oil via consortium, evade ban

The EU put into effect a ban on the importation, purchase, or shipping of Iranian oil on July 1, and the Islamic Republic will see its oil exports fall by more than 50 percent this month from last year’s regular levels. (Reuters)

 

Iran has reached agreements with European refiners to sell some of its oil through a private consortium, an official said on Saturday, a move designed to circumvent sanctions intended to put pressure on Tehran to halt its disputed nuclear program.

The head of the oil products exporters’ union said the agreement between the exporters’ union, Iran’s central bank, and the oil ministry would get round a European Union ban on shipping insurance for tankers carrying Iranian oil, though he gave few details and did not name the refiners involved.

The EU put into effect a ban on the importation, purchase, or shipping of Iranian oil on July 1, and the Islamic Republic will see its oil exports fall by more than 50 percent this month from last year’s regular levels, costing it billions of dollars a month in revenue.

“There have been discussions with European refiners, and a final agreement has even been reached,” said Hassan Khosrojerdi, the exporters’ union head, according to Iran’s Mehr News Agency.


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Israelis, Not MEK, Killed Iranian Scientists, New Book Says

Israelis, not Iranians working for Israel, killed five Iranian scientists connected to Iran’s nuclear program between 2007 and 2011 according to a new book by veteran US and Israeli journalists.

Dan Raviv, a well-known reporter for CBS, and Yossi Melman, a former intelligence correspondent for Ha’aretz, write in “Spies Against Armageddon” that contrary to published reports — which link the killings to members of the Mujaheddin-e Khalq, an Iranian opposition group — Israel would not have contracted out such controversial and difficult work.
Instead, the authors say, the killings by motorcycle riders who affixed sticky bombs to their victims’ cars in Tehran traffic were “blue and white operations” — a reference to the colors of Israel’s flag.
“For such a sensitive dangerous and daring mission as a series of assassinations in Iran’s capital, the Mossad would not depend on hired-gun mercenaries,” Raviv and Melman assert. “They would be considered far less trustworthy and there was hardly any chance that the Mossad would reveal to non-Israelis some of its assassination unit’s best methods.”
An update of previous works by the authors, this very readable account depicts Israeli intelligence triumphs and fiascoes.Read More..............

Printable Version Send to a friend Iran Exports $50bln Worth of Non-Oil Products in One Year

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iran exported $50 billion worth of non-oil products in the last Iranian year (March 21, 2011 to March 19, 2012), a senior Iranian economic official announced on Saturday.

"We had $50bln of non-oil exports last year," Deputy Minister of Industry, Mine and Trade Abbas Qobadi said, addressing a conference in Iran's Western city of Sanandaj. The official further reminded that Iran's imports stood at $60bln during the same period.

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Iran to Stage Air Defense Drills Tomorrow

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iran's Air Defense Unit will start three days of tactical drills in the country's Northwestern regions tomorrow, a senior Iranian air defense commander announced on Saturday.

Lieutenant Commander of Khatam ol-Anbia Air Defense Base Brigadier General Alireza Sabahifard said that the drills are in line with the mission of the air defense unit for defending the Islamic Republic of Iran's vital national interests and national security. He said that the drills will cover an area about 50,000 square kilometers, and will include radar, missile, wiretapping and artillery phases. Sabahifard noted that drills will comprise exercising operational plans and assessing the air defense systems. The commander said that a study of the effects of civil defense capabilities on the country's defensive power in operational zones and sustainability in battlefield, and assessment of the Iranian air defense unit's capability in electronic warfare are among the other objectives of the drill. In February, Iranian Army and Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) reviewed their latest air defense tactics during the drills in the Southern province of Bushehr. Iran's Air Defense Unit conducted massive air defense drills, codenamed 'Sarallah', in the country's Southern regions to test and assess the latest versions and productions of home-made radar and missile defense systems.

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Iran Demands $4 Bln From Russia Over Canceled Missile Deal

S-300 air defense missile system

Iran’s Defense Ministry and The Aerospace Industries Organization have launched a $4 bln law suit against Russia’s state arms corporation Rosoboronexport in an international court in Geneva over a deal to buy missiles suspended by Russia, Rosoboronexport said in its annual report.
“The case was started on April 13, 2011. The subject of the case is “Possible damages of $3,985,159,773.32 to fulfil obligations for delivery of special property,” the report says in reference to ongoing legal cases.
The case has not yet been heard, the report says.
In June 2010, the UN Security Council passed a resolution imposing sanctions on Iran, including suspension of arms deliveries. Russia responded by saying it would cancel a contract to deliver S-300 missiles to Iran, and subsequently returned a $166.8 million deposit.
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U.S. Warships in Gulf ‘Sitting Ducks’ Says Iran

Iran conducted a three-day missile drill, codenamed Great Prophet 7

U.S. naval ships in the Persian Gulf are within reach of Iranian missiles should the United States consider an offensive against the Islamic Republic, an Iranian expert said on Wednesday.
“The United States knows that its ships in the Persian Gulf are sitting ducks when it comes to Iranian missiles,” Dr. Mohammad Marandi, a professor at Tehran University, said in an interview with Press TV.
“If missiles are fired at American naval ships they will hit their targets very quickly.”
He warned that Western countries would face severe consequences in case of a military attack against Iran.

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Iran says France, Germany help kill its nuclear scientists

 Iran (AP) — Iran’s spy chief is accusing French and German intelligence services of cooperating with the CIA to kill Iranian nuclear scientists. Heidar Moslehi said Friday that intelligence services in the region have also taken part in the campaign. He did not name other countries. In the past, Iran has blamed the US, Britain and Israel over the killing of five nuclear scientists. The last assassination was in January. The US. and Britain have denied involvement. Israel has not commented. Moslehi said Western intelligence agencies share sources and information in their operations against Iran. The West suspects Iran is aiming to produce nuclear weapons and demands limits on Iran’s program. Iran insists its nuclear development is aimed at peaceful purposes like power generation.

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Iran Test Fires Anti-Ship Missiles

Iran's elite Revolutionary Guard test-fired anti-ship missiles on Wednesday as part of its Great Prophet 7 war games, Iran's FARS news agency said.
The Guard fired several Khalid Farzh (Persian Gulf) missiles, but the location of the tests was not revealed.
The Khalid Farzh missile, which entered service in 2011, can hit targets traveling at high speed and is capable of flying at Mach-3, according to Arab language TV channel Al Alam. The weapon has a 650-kilogram (1,430-pound) warhead and range of 300 kilometers (180 miles).
Revolutionary Guard Navy commander Vice Admiral Ali Fadavi told scientists the weapon was highly accurate, FARS reported.
On Tuesday, the Revolutionary Guard carried out a series of ballistic missile test firings as part of the exercises.

Iran Test Fires Anti-Ship Missiles

Source :en.rian.r

All 35 nearby US bases are in reach of our missiles, Iran declares

The Iranian military on Wednesday fired several of its new Khalij-e Fars (Persian Gulf) missiles at naval targets, according to the semi-official Fars News Agency.

A report by the public relations office of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) claimed that the new missile contains high-precision systems, can carry a 650-kilogram (1,433 lb.) warhead, and is immune to interception.

The missiles were fired on the final day of a three-day military exercise titled “The Great Prophet 7,” during which the IRGC has tested dozens of short-, medium- and long-range rockets as part of a major drill aimed at simulating attacks on foreign targets, Iran’s IRNA news agency said.

On Wednesday, the commander of the IRGC Aerospace Force, Brigadier General Amir Ali Hajizadeh, was quoted by Fars as saying that if Iran is attacked, the response would be immediate. He noted that there are 35 US bases near Iran, all of which “are within the reach of our missiles.” Hajizadeh added that “the occupied lands [Israel] are good targets for us as well.”

“Measures have been devised to set up bases and deploy missiles within the first minutes of an attack to obliterate all these [US] bases,” he said.

Hajizadeh said that the current exercises differed from previous ones in that all missiles were fired at a single target from different locations.

According to Fars, in April, IRGC Navy Commander Rear Admiral Ali Fadavi said cryptically that the “Khalij-e Fars missile has been developed somehow different from the usual trend and can change the equations on which the enemy most relies.”

Fadavi also said at the time that Iran now had missiles that can be mounted on high-speed boats and have a firing range of over 200 kilometers (120 miles).

Israel is about 1,000 kilometers (600 miles) away from Iran’s western borders, while the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet is based in Bahrain, some 200 kilometers (120 miles) from Iranian shores in the Persian Gulf.

The Iranian commander quoted by Fars said Iran used both unmanned and manned bombers in the war games and was firing a variety of other missiles. Tehran says the drills aim to assess the accuracy and effectiveness of its warheads and weapons systems.

IRNA said the missiles targeted and destroyed mock positions of “ultra-regional forces” set up in a desert region in central Iran.

The range of missiles being tested included some that Iran has supplied to Hezbollah in Lebanon, Israel Radio said.

On Sunday Hajizadeh said that the three-day missile exercise should be seen as a message “that the Islamic Republic of Iran is resolute in standing up to… bullying, and will respond to any possible evil decisively and strongly.”

“If they take any action, they will hand us an excuse to wipe them off the face of the earth,” said Hajizadeh, evidently referring to Israel.

Hajizadeh also said Iran has produced an anti-radar missile called “Arm” that can hit any source of radar. He said the weapon could travel at several times the speed of sound, had an estimated range of 300 kilometers, and could “damage” missile shields in Turkey and Gulf countries.

Source :http://www.timesofisrael.com

Iran test-fires ballistic missile able to hit Israel: media

US moves new forces to Gulf in sign to Iran: report

Iran on Tuesday test-fired in its central desert a ballistic missile capable of striking Israel as part of war games designed to show its ability to retaliate if attacked, media said.

Iran's Revolutionary Guard fired the medium-range Shahab-3 missile at a mock target in the Kavir Desert on the second day of its Great Prophet 7 exercise, which is due to end on Wednesday, Iran's Al-Alam television network reported.

The Shahab-3 has a range of up to 2,000 kilometres (1,200 miles), which means it is theoretically able to hit Israel, which is some 1,000 kilometres away.

Al-Alam said two short-range missiles, the Shahab-1 and Shahab-2, with ranges of 300 to 500 kilometres, were also launched.

The Fars news agency said "dozens" of different types of missiles were fired from different parts of Iran at a single target in the Kavir Desert.

"In these exercises, we used missiles with a range of 2,000 kilometres, but the plan called for them to be fired only 1,300 kilometres," Fars quoted the head of the Guards aerospace division in charge of missile systems, Brigadier General Amir Ali Hajizadeh, as saying.

The ISNA news agency said the last day of the drill would see Revolutionary Guard "bomber drones" also used.

Although the Islamic republic has test-fired its Shahab missiles before, and frequently holds military manoeuvres, it says these war games are aimed at sending a message to Israel and the United States to think twice on their threats of possibly attacking Iran.

"The message of these Grand Prophet 7 manoeuvres is to show the determination, the will and the power of the Iranian people in defending their national interests and core values," the number two of the Revolutionary Guards, General Hossein Salami, said, according to the official IRNA news agency.

"It's a reaction to those who are politically discourteous to the Iranian people by saying 'all options are on the table'," he said.

He added that the launches were "100 percent successful"

The exercise targeted a replica military base set up in the desert and made to look like a foreign facility, similar to those the United States has in neighbouring countries such as Afghanistan.

The launch of the Shahab-3 missile coincided with the day experts from Iran and world powers were to hold talks in Istanbul to discuss the West's push to have Tehran scale back its sensitive nuclear programme.

Israel, which is not part of the talks, and its ally the United States have both said they reserve the option of military action against Iran if diplomacy and sanctions fail to convince it to curb its atomic activities.

US President Barack Obama has said several times that "all options" remain on the table.

Iran's test-firing of its missiles also occurred on the anniversary of the July 3, 1988 shooting down of an Iranian commercial airliner by a US warship towards the end of the Iran-Iraq war.

All 290 passengers and crew on the plane died in the attack, which Washington said was the result of erroneously identifying the civilian aircraft as an Iranian fighter jet.

Source :http://www.spacedaily.com

Iran acknowledges oil exports down 20-30 percent

Customers in Europe and Asia have been scaling back purchases of Iranian crude ahead of European Union bans on imports and tanker insurance for ships carrying Iranian crude that are due to come into effect on July 1. (File photo)

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Iran acknowledged for the first time on Wednesday that its oil exports have fallen sharply, down 20-30 percent from normal volumes of 2.2 million barrels daily.

A National Iranian Oil Company official in Moscow denied exports had been hit by sanctions against Iran’s nuclear program, saying that oilfields were under maintenance and crude production was being diverted for refining.

But the admission that exports have fallen substantially is a change of tack from Tehran which until now has denied that the U.S. and European measures have had much or any impact.

“It was 20 to 30 percent we reduce regarding to our export,” NIOC official Mohammad Ali Emadi said in English. “Some part of the reduction is shifting for the refinery internally.”

Customers in Europe and Asia have been scaling back purchases of Iranian crude ahead of European Union bans on imports and tanker insurance for ships carrying Iranian crude that are due to come into effect on July 1.

Emadi said Iran’s normal crude exports were 2.2 million bpd, in line with external estimates. A 20-30 percent fall would put Iranian exports at 1.54-1.76 million bpd, off 440-660,000 bpd.

That is still above most third-party estimates which put Iran’s crude exports in June at about 1.3 million bpd.

“We gradually started to reduce, It is not because of the sanctions but sometime regarding overhaul maintenance of the wells,” said Emadi.

The NIOC official said Iran wanted to export more gas to India and Pakistan to make up for the fall in crude exports. Iran has long aspired to export gas east but would require heavy investment in a pipeline or liquefied natural gas facilities to do so.

Source :Reuters Moscow

Iran acknowledges oil exports down 20-30 percent

Customers in Europe and Asia have been scaling back purchases of Iranian crude ahead of European Union bans on imports and tanker insurance for ships carrying Iranian crude that are due to come into effect on July 1. (File photo)

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Iran acknowledged for the first time on Wednesday that its oil exports have fallen sharply, down 20-30 percent from normal volumes of 2.2 million barrels daily.

A National Iranian Oil Company official in Moscow denied exports had been hit by sanctions against Iran’s nuclear program, saying that oilfields were under maintenance and crude production was being diverted for refining.

But the admission that exports have fallen substantially is a change of tack from Tehran which until now has denied that the U.S. and European measures have had much or any impact.

“It was 20 to 30 percent we reduce regarding to our export,” NIOC official Mohammad Ali Emadi said in English. “Some part of the reduction is shifting for the refinery internally.”

Customers in Europe and Asia have been scaling back purchases of Iranian crude ahead of European Union bans on imports and tanker insurance for ships carrying Iranian crude that are due to come into effect on July 1.

Emadi said Iran’s normal crude exports were 2.2 million bpd, in line with external estimates. A 20-30 percent fall would put Iranian exports at 1.54-1.76 million bpd, off 440-660,000 bpd.

That is still above most third-party estimates which put Iran’s crude exports in June at about 1.3 million bpd.

“We gradually started to reduce, It is not because of the sanctions but sometime regarding overhaul maintenance of the wells,” said Emadi.

The NIOC official said Iran wanted to export more gas to India and Pakistan to make up for the fall in crude exports. Iran has long aspired to export gas east but would require heavy investment in a pipeline or liquefied natural gas facilities to do so.

Source :Reuters Moscow

U.S. performs missile test in light of Iran’s, North Korea’s growing capabilities

At 11:15 p.m. Hawaii Standard Time on Tuesday (0915 GMT Wednesday), the target missile was launched from the Pacific Missile Range Facility, located on Kauai, Hawaii. (File photo)

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U.S. forces using a new Raytheon Co interceptor missile downed another missile in a high-stakes test of systems built to thwart what experts say are advancing capabilities of countries like North Korea and Iran.

The mission off Hawaii late Tuesday was against a medium-range, separating ballistic missile, the Pentagon’s Missile Defense Agency said. The mock warhead separated from the target’s booster section, presenting what is supposed to be a more “threat-representative” attack scenario.

“Initial indications are that all components performed as designed resulting in a very accurate intercept,” the agency said in a statement Wednesday.
Raytheon’s Standard Missile-3 Block IB is the U.S. Navy’s newest interceptor of weapons that could eventually be tipped with nuclear, chemical or biological warheads.

It is to be put in land-based launchers in Romania in 2015 as part of President Barack Obama’s push to defend NATO’s European territory from missiles that could be fired by Iran, which is at odds with many countries over its nuclear program.

The event was the second successful intercept test of the new Raytheon interceptor in less than six weeks after it had failed to knock out its target in the first attempt in September 2011.

It marked a “critical accomplishment” for the current, second phase of Obama’s so-called Phased Adaptive Approach to missile defense in Europe, the Missile Defense Agency statement said.

The test was the 23rd successful intercept in 28 flight test firings for the systems based on Lockheed Martin Corp’s Aegis ballistic missile defense system, the agency said.

At 11:15 p.m. Hawaii Standard Time on Tuesday (0915 GMT Wednesday), the target missile was launched from the Pacific Missile Range Facility, located on Kauai, Hawaii.

The USS LAKE ERIE, positioned off the coast of Hawaii, detected and tracked the missile with its onboard radar. The ship, equipped with a second-generation Aegis BMD weapon system, launched the SM-3 Block IB missile in response.

Using only the force of a direct impact, it collided with and destroyed the target in space in a so-called hit-to-kill intercept.

The SM-3 is used to destroy short- to intermediate-range ballistic missiles. The newest model, dubbed Block IB, incorporates an enhanced two-color infrared seeker and a mechanism that uses short bursts of precision propulsion to steer the missile toward incoming targets.

Source :Reuters Washington

U.S. performs missile test in light of Iran’s, North Korea’s growing capabilities

At 11:15 p.m. Hawaii Standard Time on Tuesday (0915 GMT Wednesday), the target missile was launched from the Pacific Missile Range Facility, located on Kauai, Hawaii. (File photo)

inShare1

U.S. forces using a new Raytheon Co interceptor missile downed another missile in a high-stakes test of systems built to thwart what experts say are advancing capabilities of countries like North Korea and Iran.

The mission off Hawaii late Tuesday was against a medium-range, separating ballistic missile, the Pentagon’s Missile Defense Agency said. The mock warhead separated from the target’s booster section, presenting what is supposed to be a more “threat-representative” attack scenario.

“Initial indications are that all components performed as designed resulting in a very accurate intercept,” the agency said in a statement Wednesday.
Raytheon’s Standard Missile-3 Block IB is the U.S. Navy’s newest interceptor of weapons that could eventually be tipped with nuclear, chemical or biological warheads.

It is to be put in land-based launchers in Romania in 2015 as part of President Barack Obama’s push to defend NATO’s European territory from missiles that could be fired by Iran, which is at odds with many countries over its nuclear program.

The event was the second successful intercept test of the new Raytheon interceptor in less than six weeks after it had failed to knock out its target in the first attempt in September 2011.

It marked a “critical accomplishment” for the current, second phase of Obama’s so-called Phased Adaptive Approach to missile defense in Europe, the Missile Defense Agency statement said.

The test was the 23rd successful intercept in 28 flight test firings for the systems based on Lockheed Martin Corp’s Aegis ballistic missile defense system, the agency said.

At 11:15 p.m. Hawaii Standard Time on Tuesday (0915 GMT Wednesday), the target missile was launched from the Pacific Missile Range Facility, located on Kauai, Hawaii.

The USS LAKE ERIE, positioned off the coast of Hawaii, detected and tracked the missile with its onboard radar. The ship, equipped with a second-generation Aegis BMD weapon system, launched the SM-3 Block IB missile in response.

Using only the force of a direct impact, it collided with and destroyed the target in space in a so-called hit-to-kill intercept.

The SM-3 is used to destroy short- to intermediate-range ballistic missiles. The newest model, dubbed Block IB, incorporates an enhanced two-color infrared seeker and a mechanism that uses short bursts of precision propulsion to steer the missile toward incoming targets.

Source :Reuters Washington

India allows use of Iran ships for oil imports

Among other Asian buyers of Iran oil, Japan will provide sovereign guarantees for Iranian shipments, China has asked Iran to deliver the crude while South Korea will halt imports from July. (File photo)

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India has allowed state refiners to import Iranian oil, with Tehran arranging shipping and insurance, from July 1, keeping purchases of over 200,000 barrels per day (bpd) flowing after European sanctions hit insurance for the cargoes, government and industry sources said.

India, one of Iran’s biggest crude buyers, has just secured a waiver from U.S. sanctions which target Tehran’s nuclear ambitions by cutting imports over 20 percent.

But European sanctions that come into effect from July 1 ban insurers and reinsurers from covering shipments of Iranian oil, leaving buyers in Asia - Iran’s biggest market - struggling for cover.

Around 90 percent of the world’s tanker fleet is covered by Western-based protection and indemnity (P&I) clubs, which insure against personal injury and environmental clean-up claims.

Among other Asian buyers of Iran oil, Japan will provide sovereign guarantees for Iranian shipments, China has asked Iran to deliver the crude while South Korea will halt imports from July.

“Yes, we have allowed them to buy oil from Iran on CIF (Cost, Insurance and Freight) basis,” said a senior shipping ministry official.

Unlike private refiners, India’s state-run companies need government permission to import oil on a CIF basis as federal policy requires them to favor Indian insurers and shippers by buying only on a Free on Board (FOB) basis.

India aims to buy 310,000 bpd of oil from Iran under contracts during the fiscal year from April to March, which includes 100,000 bpd of purchases by Essar Oil, the only private customer.

The United States earlier this month extended exemptions from its tough, new sanctions on Iran’s oil trade to seven more economies including India but China remains vulnerable.

Indian state insurers led by General Insurance Corp (GIC) had agreed to provide $50 million of cover for the ships carrying Iran crude from July but this has been delayed as the insurance regulator has not yet given its approval.

The Shipping Ministry has said it has “no objection” to refiners buying oil from Iran on a delivered basis “ f or 6 months with effect from July 1, 2012 or until GIC provides P&I/H&M (Hull and Machinery) cover or U.S., EU sanctions are lifted; whichever occurs earlier,” said a source privy to the letter.

A source at a refining firm also confirmed receipt of the letter.

Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals (MRPL) had already switched to insuring the oil with Iran Insurance Company, as its policy lapsed and local insurance companies refused to extend the cover, wary of the sanctions.

It remains unclear, however, how much crude Iran can actually export as it is using most of its vessels for storing crude as exports decline ahead of the new sanctions. The International Energy Agency estimates Tehran’s exports have fallen 40 percent since the start of the year.

In addition, the Iranian tanker fleet is mostly Very Large Crude Carriers whose draught is too deep for Indian ports.

Indian state-refiners buy Iranian oil in Aframax and Suezmax tankers.

In July, state-run Hindustan Petroleum Corp is planning to buy a Suezmax cargo while MRPL seeks to buy five Aframax cargoes. Purchase volumes fluctuate from month to month.

IOC, the country’s biggest refiner, was not planning to buy any cargo from Iran in July, a company source said earlier.

Source :http://english.alarabiya.net

India allows use of Iran ships for oil imports

Among other Asian buyers of Iran oil, Japan will provide sovereign guarantees for Iranian shipments, China has asked Iran to deliver the crude while South Korea will halt imports from July. (File photo)

inShare

India has allowed state refiners to import Iranian oil, with Tehran arranging shipping and insurance, from July 1, keeping purchases of over 200,000 barrels per day (bpd) flowing after European sanctions hit insurance for the cargoes, government and industry sources said.

India, one of Iran’s biggest crude buyers, has just secured a waiver from U.S. sanctions which target Tehran’s nuclear ambitions by cutting imports over 20 percent.

But European sanctions that come into effect from July 1 ban insurers and reinsurers from covering shipments of Iranian oil, leaving buyers in Asia - Iran’s biggest market - struggling for cover.

Around 90 percent of the world’s tanker fleet is covered by Western-based protection and indemnity (P&I) clubs, which insure against personal injury and environmental clean-up claims.

Among other Asian buyers of Iran oil, Japan will provide sovereign guarantees for Iranian shipments, China has asked Iran to deliver the crude while South Korea will halt imports from July.

“Yes, we have allowed them to buy oil from Iran on CIF (Cost, Insurance and Freight) basis,” said a senior shipping ministry official.

Unlike private refiners, India’s state-run companies need government permission to import oil on a CIF basis as federal policy requires them to favor Indian insurers and shippers by buying only on a Free on Board (FOB) basis.

India aims to buy 310,000 bpd of oil from Iran under contracts during the fiscal year from April to March, which includes 100,000 bpd of purchases by Essar Oil, the only private customer.

The United States earlier this month extended exemptions from its tough, new sanctions on Iran’s oil trade to seven more economies including India but China remains vulnerable.

Indian state insurers led by General Insurance Corp (GIC) had agreed to provide $50 million of cover for the ships carrying Iran crude from July but this has been delayed as the insurance regulator has not yet given its approval.

The Shipping Ministry has said it has “no objection” to refiners buying oil from Iran on a delivered basis “ f or 6 months with effect from July 1, 2012 or until GIC provides P&I/H&M (Hull and Machinery) cover or U.S., EU sanctions are lifted; whichever occurs earlier,” said a source privy to the letter.

A source at a refining firm also confirmed receipt of the letter.

Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals (MRPL) had already switched to insuring the oil with Iran Insurance Company, as its policy lapsed and local insurance companies refused to extend the cover, wary of the sanctions.

It remains unclear, however, how much crude Iran can actually export as it is using most of its vessels for storing crude as exports decline ahead of the new sanctions. The International Energy Agency estimates Tehran’s exports have fallen 40 percent since the start of the year.

In addition, the Iranian tanker fleet is mostly Very Large Crude Carriers whose draught is too deep for Indian ports.

Indian state-refiners buy Iranian oil in Aframax and Suezmax tankers.

In July, state-run Hindustan Petroleum Corp is planning to buy a Suezmax cargo while MRPL seeks to buy five Aframax cargoes. Purchase volumes fluctuate from month to month.

IOC, the country’s biggest refiner, was not planning to buy any cargo from Iran in July, a company source said earlier.

Source :http://english.alarabiya.net

Iran to Build 10 New Warships

Iran's first domestically made destroyer Jamaran. Archive

Iran will build 10 new frigates and destroyers, Navy deputy chief Rear Adm. Abbas Zamini said on Wednesday.

These include a Mowj-1 class destroyer, launched in 2010, and Velayat, a Mowj-2 class destroyer, whose construction is 70 percent complete and will finish by the end of the current year, he said, according to Press TV.

The new projects also include Mowj and Sina-class destroyers and guided missile frigates, Zamini said.

The Iranian Navy floated out its first domestically built destroyer, Jamaran, in February 2010.

The 1,420-ton destroyer is equipped with modern radar systems and other electronic warfare capabilities. It has a top speed of up to 30 knots and a helipad. It also features highly advanced anti-aircraft, anti-surface and anti-subsurface systems.

Source :AFP