IAEA defiance, hope in Iran press

Conservative papers in Iran argue that Tehran has done all it can to gain the world's confidence ahead of the International Atomic Energy Agency meeting on its nuclear programme, pointing out that "confidence building is a bilateral process."

Some editorials accuse the US of having double standards on the nuclear issue and of trying to "manipulate" the IAEA, with one commentator warning that the meeting is "the IAEA's last opportunity to redeem its reputation" as an independent body.

Reformist dailies, however, are more optimistic about the possible outcome, with one arguing that "diplomacy is still breathing", and that even a referral of Iran to the UN Security Council need not mean the end of talks.

IRAN

" America is firing on all cylinders to sabotage the direction of the negotiations. Confidence building is a bilateral process. Iran has done whatever it can to reassure the international community about its peaceful nuclear activities. "

RESALAT

" Iran's referral to the UNSC not only fails to solve any problems, but could even create more trouble. These problems could be Iran's withdrawal from the NPT, the resumption of uranium enrichment by Iran and the [endangering] of the world's energy security. "

HASSAN HANIZADEH IN TEHRAN TIMES

" Measures were taken to gain the confidence of the international community, but it seems that the US and the EU intend to manipulate the IAEA and the UN Security Council in order to get even with the Islamic Republic at this critical juncture... Therefore, the IAEA Board of Governors should ignore the US pressure and make an independent decision in order to prove that the international community can still differentiate between right and wrong. This is the IAEA's last opportunity to redeem its reputation. "

JAM-E-JAM

" The US-Indian nuclear agreement, which expands the two countries' nuclear relations, was another scandal in the history of America's hypocritical nuclear policies. America's double standards on nuclear issues is a serious warning to Europe, Russia, China and others. "

HAMSHAHRI

" Iran cannot accept any proposal that humiliates its sovereignty and snubs its legitimate rights. Since these proposals are strategic, they have to be decided in a very calm and quiet manner. This is true about the Russian proposal, and if Russia is trying to fish in troubled waters it should go ahead without Iran. "

E'TEMAAD-E-MELLI

" Diplomacy is still breathing. The doors for negotiations are open. Iran's insistence on the continuation of talks with European and non-European countries proves that Iran seriously believes in the influence of negotiations on today's Vienna meeting. Even if Iran's dossier is referred to the UNSC... it won't be the end of diplomatic strategies. "

AFTAB-E-YAZD

" Fortunately there are certain great figures in Iran [Mohammad Khatami] that can see problems from different angles, and they believe that Iran can make use even of its enemies to solve its nuclear problem. "

BBC Monitoring selects and translates news from radio, television, press, news agencies and the internet from 150 countries in more than 70 languages. It is based in Caversham, UK, and has several bureaux abroad.

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