Iran, Israel Hold Secret Nuclear Talks In Cairo: Haaretz

A representative of the Israel Atomic Energy Commission and a senior Iranian official met last month to discuss the chances of declaring the Middle East a nuclear-free zone, Haaretz has learned. This is the first direct meeting between official representatives of the two states since the fall of the Shah in 1979.

The Iranian Atomic Organization on Thursday denied that officials from Israel and Iran recently took part in the Cairo conference, calling the report "sheer lies."

"There has been no meeting in Cairo," the IAEO spokesman told the website of iRAN'S state television.

Haaretz learned that Meirav Zafary-Odiz, director of policy and arms control for the Israel Atomic Energy Commission, and Ali Asghar Soltanieh, Iran's ambassador to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), met several times over September 29 and 30 and, together with representatives of other countries, conversed, presented questions and gave replies.

The meeting was held at the Four Seasons Hotel in Cairo under the auspices of the International Commission on Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament. Also attending were representatives of the Arab League, Jordan, Egypt, Tunisia, Turkey, Morocco, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, along with European and American officials.

The ICNND was set up by Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, and it is chaired by a former foreign minister of Australia, Gareth Evans, and a former foreign minister of Japan, Yoriko Kawaguchi. Former foreign minister Shlomo Ben-Ami sits on the advisory committee of the organization.

Read the whole story: Haaretz.

Comments

[Aarky]

This story gets out to the world but really important stories from Haaretz from June 17 were sen sored world wide because the Israelis really didn't want that information out. "Mossad: Iran Will Have Nuclear Bomb by 2014" and "Israel Can't Make up it's Mind About Nuclear Timetable". check it out in Google.

[livnletlive]

wouldn't be the first time......­.remmember IRAN-CONTRA or Irangate...who was the middle man? Israel.

[lainey]

Having just returned from the ME, I can honestly say that the talks are highly probable. The people of these lands want this to end and maybe their leadership is finally taking notice. It is easy to sit here and hate Israel, Iran, Palestine, but it doesn't make anyone right. Any form of racism is wrong. The Israeli's are talking with Hamas right now--not at high levels yet--but they are talking. The President of Iran and his words of hate must be taken seriously, but at the same time, there is always room for negotiations. There is a real chance for coexistence if we--the outsiders--let the people and their leaders do their work. Living in endless war and hatred tires all...hopefully we are at that point too, and can lend words of hope, peace and good will rather than belittling the real struggles the people endure. How can we expect these nations and the people to act civilized when we can't even do it here? The only side to take is the side of peace. Get on board and ask your friends to join you.

[DissedBeliever]

fanned!

[dpiyjrtmfr]

Great news! I hope they get their differences settled. For those of you who do not believe this actually took place please refer to the high-level talks that have taken place between Israel and Syria. Even president Assad of Syria has referred to them.

[Greg285]

Why are people so quick to dispel that this meeting actually took place or that this report is false? What else did you expect Israel to say other than the report is false? Could it be that these folks don’t want Israel and Iran to agree on a nuclear pact because it would mean that President Obama’s approach to diplomacy is correct and the other World Leaders after willing to follow his road map for peace? What’s next? People are going to shot down any reporting that indicates that Israel and the Palestinians have agreed to come to the negotiating table to hammer out a peace accord? Why are people who have NEVER served in the military so quick to result to war, but are not willing to sacrifice their own blood in battle? Pathetic….

[brady61995]

because when the radicals find out that they are meeting with isreal they get all nutty. these talks are good and need to be kept quiet. the results are what matters. there are too many extremist that dont want peace ever, no matter what and they will do what they can to attack isreal and stop anything from going forward

[rissole]

I honestly don't think Iran would have sat down with Israel since the latter has never even admitted having nuclear weapons.

[MGarin]

According to my very reliable sources, the real story is that the Israeli's needed Ahmadinejad for a Minyan.

[StCuthbert]

Haha, I liked this.

[CigarGod]

That deserves a cigar.

[FHTB]

I find this highly unlikely...the Iranians would hold a meeting with a country Ahmadinejad wants to eliminate from the face of the Earth? Seems farfetched and the delusions of some very dewy eyed idealist...granted, it would be a welcome change for Iran and Israel to drop the feuding and the vitriol and engage each other, but I find this to be a bizarre story.

[ray01]

For the 1000th time, the President of Iran never said he wants to eliminate Israel from the face of the earth. Please provide your source & exact translation.

[TheLonelyGod]

http://www.iranfocus.com/en/terrorism/transcript-iran-president-s-speech-threatening-israel-04164.html

At a "World without Zionism" conference:

"Our dear Imam ordered that the occupying regime in Al-Qods be wiped off the face of the earth. This was a very wise statement. The issue of Palestine is not one on which we could make a piecemeal compromise… This would mean our defeat. Anyone who would recognize this state [Israel] has put his signature under the defeat of the Islamic world.

In his struggle against the World Arrogance, our dear Imam targeted the central and command base of the enemy, namely the occupying regime in Al-Qods. I have no doubt that the new wave that has started in dear Palestine and which we witness today all over the Islamic world will soon wipe this scourge of shame from the Islamic world. This can be done.

"I am hopeful that just as the Palestinian nation continued its struggle for the past ten years, it will continue to maintain its awareness and vigilance. This phase is going to be short-lived. If we put it behind us successfully, God willing, it will pave the way for the annihilation of the Zionist regime and it will be a downhill route."

If you want to mince words and claim that he doesn't hate "Jews," he just hates "Zionists," don't bother. The Muslim leaders have long been smart enough to switch the words to avoid people catching on.

[mamacat]

There is a chance for cooler heads to prevail, up until the moment a war is launched. For the sake of the civilians in all the countries of the Middle East, let their governments agree to live in peace.

[lainey]

thank you mamacat. let's give hope to the people who suffer. the time is right for peace.

[vascopyjama]

How can Iran possibly hold nuclear talks with Israel when Israel won't even admit they have nuclear weapons?

[lainey]

One must go to the ME to truly understand how things work. This is the time for peace. The people are ready. The land is quiet. And hopefully, their leadership has listened. Let's not put up barriers by making such comments from so far away from rockets, isolation and endless war. Let's join them in spirit and hope that stability and peace arrives soon.

[DAE]

Rapprochement between Iran and Israel is not out of the question. Its probably the key to settling the Palestinian problem.

[BLUEBIRD1234]

In brief to write the response on the published information regarding the Iran,Israel and other in Cairo I found it encouraging, and a deviation past practice of each other with unjustified rhetoric plunging the entire world in tension for nothing.

President Obama's policy of solving all small, big, critical and hazardous can be solved is very correct and is the only way world peace can be established.

The fact remains the broker of solving such case will have to be impartial and blunt in respect of the parties involved in dispute. Let it be clear that with squint eye brokering any issue will get further complicated and the leaving aside the parties involved in dispute the world will be the greatest loser.

Therefore, having observed the brokers of the past little hope the world community these days have should not be destroyed by any or else the consequence will be very serious and devastating in the future.

In drawing the conclusion I would be along with all my political analyst friends opine that the beginning seems to be positive, depends much on the people in the chair of Judges to ensure an unequivocal judgment is done irrespective of hate against race, religion and cast.

[EdwardMRoche]

Talk is good, but talk also can be cheap.

[lainey]

not always...

[derekc06]

So secret it made international news...

[KIVPossum]

A middle east liar's convention. How nice.

[Vimes]

Denying a positive meeting? The Iranian government strikes another high note

[alysheba 3]

Israeli sources denied it to.

The Israeli government strikes another high note.