Monday, 6 March, 2006

Details of tonight's programme
Sign up for our daily e-letter from the Newsnight presenters
Gavin Esler's biography

DETAILS OF TONIGHT'S PROGRAMME

From Gavin Esler:

IRAN SPECIAL

The biggest international story of 2006 and the biggest potential flashpoint is likely to be Iran. We're going to devote much of our programme tonight to exploring this remarkable, extraordinary, frustrating, wonderful, beautiful, and occasionally worrying country.

Today the head of the UN's nuclear watchdog, Mohammed el Baradei of the IAEA, expressed optimism that there could be an agreement between western powers and Iran over the Iranian nuclear programme - an agreement which could avert punitive UN sanctions. Well, maybe. Dr El Baradei is, by necessity, professionally optimistic. But is he right?

Newsnight's Diplomatic Editor Mark Urban will explore from the United States the various diplomatic and military possibilities in the months ahead. Tim Whewell will report on that most difficult of stories - alleged dissension within the Iranian regime.

If the Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmedinejad angers and worries many in the West, he has a similar effect - according to well-informed Iranian sources - within Iran itself.

Though details are difficult to come by, there have been reports of assassination attempts and worries by some Iranians that President Ahmedinejad would even like to increase tension with the United States in order to solidify his power in a divided country.

We hope to hear from Iranian and western diplomats on how the impasse with Iran might be resolved and I will have an exclusive interview with the Prime Minister of Pakistan, a neighbouring country, an Islamic country, and a nuclear power. How much does he worry that the mess in Iraq could become the mess in Iran?

TESSA JOWELL

We'll also have the latest developments on the Tessa Jowell story.

---

Don't forget that you can watch Newsnight online via this website. The programme is available in broadband either live or on demand for 24 hours after originally broadcast.

Click here to launch the Newsnight media player

---