Subscribe to Print Edition | Mon., November 12, 2007 Kislev 2, 5768 | | Israel Time: 18:55 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Print Edition Diplomacy Defense Arts & Leisure Real Estate Jewish World National Advertising Magazine Week's End Business Opinion Rosner's Domain Anglo File Books Travel

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad addressing a crowd in the city of Birjand east of Tehran last week. (Reuters) del.icio.us Digg It!  new Last update - 02:07 12/11/2007 Saudis propose Mideast consortium to defuse Iran nuke issue By Zvi Bar'el, Haaretz Correspondent tags: Iran, Saudi Arabia  Saudi Arabia has proposed that countries in the Middle East establish a consortium for enriching uranium as a possible way to defuse the nuclear crisis with Iran. The proposal calls for peaceful nuclear projects by a consortium of Middle Eastern countries including Iran but excluding nuclear enrichment. The actual processing of the material, according to the Saudi proposal, would take place in a neutral country such as Switzerland. The enrichment process would be carried out at an installation to be built by the consortium, and its activities would be monitored by the International Atomic Energy Agency. Advertisement King Abdullah's proposal is similar to the Russian offer that uranium enrichment for Iran's nuclear reactors be carried out in Russia, and that shipments of the fissile material be made whenever that is necessary. The Russian proposal also called for a gradual return of enrichment activities to Iran, following a period agreed upon by both sides, and in line with plans that would have to be approved by the IAEA. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad rejected the offer. This rejection was one of the reasons Iran's nuclear negotiator, Ali Larijani, stepped down last month. Larijani's resignation shed further light on the depth of disagreement within the Iranian leadership surrounding the country's nuclear program. On one side of the spectrum stands Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, who heads the Assembly of Experts and the Expediency Council, two powerful bodies in Iran's political structure. Rafsanjani, a former president of Iran and a political rival of Ahmadinejad, is opposed to the confrontational approach of the current president on the nuclear issue. For his part, Ahmadinejad believes that the United States is too preoccupied with other international commitments and drained by its military effort in Iraq and Afghanistan to seriously consider striking Iran. The Saudi king would like to leverage this internal Iranian debate to further his proposal, which met with opposition in Iran and Moscow, but which is supported by Washington, Paris and London. Related articles: Defense Min. to Knesset panel: Talks won't make Iran nukes go away Bush warns nuclear Iran could spur 'World War III' Putin says a nuclear Iran would be a strategic threat to Russia Military Intelligence: Iran will cross nuclear threshold by 2009 Bookmark to del.icio.us Evangelists' warning Christian power-broker Gary Bauer warns of the dangers of 'islamofascism.' Iran is not afraid Iran's FM says Israel poses no threat to Iran and aggression will spark retaliation.   1.   Hallelu Yah!!! God speed, 02:18  |  Virginia 12/11/07   2.   Hello, may I suggest Congo, please! 02:39  |  Stephen. 12/11/07   3.   What a joke from the alcoholic Saudis 03:24  |  Drunks! 12/11/07   4.   Iran will not agree 03:55  |  Dan 12/11/07   5.   Saudi plan is a good plan and open door 03:55  |  abu yusuf 12/11/07   6.   A curious twist and spin 04:18  |  Mark Lincoln 12/11/07   7.   Saudi consortium 04:23  |  geoff 12/11/07   8.   Stephen 04:27  |  geoff 12/11/07   9.   Iran`s Nuclear Issue 06:55  |  Ziggy 12/11/07   10.   Terrorist Saudies,etc. want their own nukes to counter Iran 06:58  |  Susanna/Shoshanna 12/11/07   11.   saudi deception 07:17  |  ron 12/11/07   12.   # 4 09:03  |  Adel 12/11/07   13.   DENUCLEARIZE ISRAEL FIRST, THEN CONSORTIUM 10:09  |  indrajaya 12/11/07   14.   Corrupt Saudis as terrified of Iran as Israel 10:36  |  Clickfool 12/11/07   15.   The mockery, the cynicism that is Israel`s nuclear stockpile 10:39  |  Clickfool 12/11/07   16.   another monday joke! saudi proposals ! 10:54  |  victor hardman 12/11/07   17.   good idea. Iran is stuck now... 11:00  |  Joey 12/11/07   18.   Which of the mice will bell the Iranian cat? 11:12  |  Natallie Durson 12/11/07   19.   Refuseniks 11:14  |  Anton 12/11/07   20.   IT IS CLEAR THAT SAUDI ARABIA WONT`S IRAN TO BE BOMBED.......... 11:27  |  IL supporter 12/11/07   21.   to Curious new twist 14:40  |  Ari 12/11/07   22.   Thank you Ziggy you`r absolutely right 14:48  |  Ari 12/11/07   23.   Mideast Folly 16:04  |  joebhed 12/11/07   24.   Clickfool, you forgot something. 17:28  |  Wiktor 12/11/07   25.   Anton & Israel`s nuclear monopoly in the M.E. 17:42  |  Wiktor 12/11/07   26.   The bigotry is appalling 18:25  |  Camino 12/11/07   27.   # 8 Geoff. Chocolate Truffels. 18:43  |  Stephen. 12/11/07

Today Online Israel to free up to 400 jailed Palestinians before summit Responses: 72 Erekat: Palestinians will not accept Israel as 'Jewish state' Responses: 218 Five said killed as Hamas, Fatah clash at rally for Arafat Responses: 87 Religious or secular, regulars mourn end of Jerusalem's gay bar Responses: 27 Haaretz.com TV: Arab family takes in homeless Jews Responses: 129 Rosner's Domain GA 2007: Oy vey, no catastrophe to talk about The Ahmadinejad of the year (WTR) Ahead of summit, N.Y. Congressman fears for Mideast stability Rosner's Guest: Vanessa Ochs More Headlines 17:23 At least 6 dead as Hamas, Fatah clash at Arafat rally 18:33 Erekat: Palestinians will not accept Israel as 'Jewish state' 15:10 IDF reservist dies in armored vehicle crash during Golan drill 15:39 Turkish President to Peres: Syria is interested in peace with Israel 18:23 VIEWPOINT / 'Israel Lobby' book may have sinister impact in U.K. 18:06 Court lifts gag on arrest of men suspected of killing Galilee man 18:25 Top Israeli officials tour Europe to urge tougher sanctions on Iran 16:34 Arab ministers to meet in Cairo ahead of Annapolis conference 13:39 Netanyahu lobbies Ovadia Yosef in bid to stymie peace summit 16:48 Mazuz backs Lebanon war panel's decision not to warn individuals Previous Editions Select Day 11 nov 09 nov 08 nov 07 nov 06 nov 05 nov 04 nov 02 nov 01 nov 31 oct 30 oct 29 oct

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