Nach den verhassten Franzosen nun auch die Amerikaner. Niger has fallen. Nulands letzter Fehlschlag.
Nach den verhassten Russen nun auch die Iraner:
https://www.wsj.com/world/afri…ds-military-ties-7db66dbe
ZitatNiger Termination of U.S. Military Ties Followed Accusation of Iran Uranium Deal
Senior U.S. officials raised alarm with junta over deal that would give Iran access to Nigerien uranium
Niger’s decision to end its counterterrorism alliance with Washington came after senior U.S. officials accused the country’s ruling junta of secretly exploring a deal to allow Iran access to its uranium reserves, Nigerien and U.S. officials say.
Getroffene Hunde bellen dich aus dem Land, oder so.
ZitatAlles anzeigenIn recent months, however, U.S. and other Western officials say they had obtained intelligence indicating that the junta in Niamey was also considering a deal with Iran that would give Tehran access to some of Niger’s vast uranium reserves. The U.S. concern was that discussions on such an agreement proceeded in January, when Niger’s junta-appointed prime minister, Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine, met with President Ebrahim Raisi and other senior Iranian officials in Tehran.
Western officials said in February that talks between Niger and Iran had reached a very advanced stage. A person familiar with the matter said that the two parties had signed a preliminary agreement that would allow Tehran to obtain uranium from Niger. Two officials said that the deal wasn’t finalized.
Those concerns came to a head over the past week, when Molly Phee, U.S. assistant secretary of state for African affairs, traveled to Niamey [...]
[...]
During the meetings, Phee raised Washington’s alarm with officials in Niger about an agreement with Iran, according to officials in the U.S. and Niger, who described the meetings as very tense. Phee also criticized the lack of progress in returning Niger to an elected government and raised U.S. concerns about the imminent arrival of Russian military trainers and equipment.
Wobei:
ZitatIn a statement broadcast on state television, Col. Maj. Amadou Abdramane, the junta spokesman, accused the U.S. of trying to prevent Niger from choosing its own diplomatic and military partners, saying that Phee had displayed a “condescending attitude” during the talks. He also said that Niger had never entered a uranium deal with Iran.
“The government of Niger rejects the false allegations of the head of the American delegation to maintain that it has signed a secret agreement on uranium with the Islamic Republic of Iran,” Abdramane said.
Vielleicht ist das hier so ein Fall, wo die USA mit Anschuldigungen gezogen aus geheimdienstlichen Erknenntnissen arbeiten, um die andere Partei zu Zugeständnissen zu bewegen. Dann vermutlich auf der Basis irgendwelcher Kontakte zwischen Niger und Iran, die sie mitbekommen haben.
Da der Sprecher der Militärregierung den mutmaßlichen Vorwurf selbst darlegt, müssen keine konkreten Vereinbarungen im Raum gestanden haben, vielleicht war das nicht mal ein Thema bei solchen Gesprächen. Könnte damit nach hinten losgegangen sein.
Der Sprecher hat auch nochmal an die Yellowcake-Story unter Bush erinnert:
ZitatThe U.S. has a delicate history with intelligence relating to Niger’s uranium reserves. While making its case for an invasion of Iraq, the George W. Bush administration cited intelligence, which later was discredited, that the government of Saddam Hussein had tried to buy uranium oxide, also known as “yellowcake,” from Niger to use for its nuclear-weapons program.
Abdramane referenced this history when rejecting U.S. allegations that the junta had struck a deal with Iran. “This cynical approach, usually used to discredit, demonize and justify threats against states, doesn’t pass without recalling the example of the second Iraq war,” he said. “Indeed, Nigeriens and the entire international community still remember the false evidence brandished by the American secretary of state before the Security Council to justify the American aggression against Iraq.”
Vielleicht waren es die gleichen geheimdienstlichen Informationen von damals und jemand hat Iran statt Irak gelesen.
