Reuters fast and informative on Iran
02.02.2010
Reuters was fast, informative and analytical when Iran unexpectedly offered to ship its uranium overseas, apparently going some way to meeting the demands of the United States and its allies, then did an abrupt about face by announcing it would start enriching its nuclear fuel to a higher grade at home. When Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Feb 2 Iran was ready to ship its uranium abroad, Reuters was more than one hour ahead of the nearest competition with the news. Reuters correspondents in Tehran and at the United Nations in New York worked together to produce a piece that explained Iran’s announcement would not halt western powers’ drive for tougher sanctions on the Islamic republic. On Feb 6, Reuters reported on U.S. and German doubts that Iran’s nuclear offer was genuine. Sure enough, one day later President Ahmadinejad told Iran’s atomic energy organisation to begin enriching uranium - a major expansion of its nuclear plan. Reuters was again ahead of the pack, issuing the news as Ahmadinejad spoke in a televised speech. Tensions with Iran have been a driving factor in oil prices. Regional instability could also have far wider impact on investment flows.
