Bush administration says it is willing to hold off on Iran sanctions
The administration's sanctions strategy is to impose a series of increasingly potent penalties against Iran.
By The Associated PressThe Bush administration said Wednesday it was willing to defer seeking UN sanctions against Iran for a few weeks if there is a chance for a diplomatic resolution of a long-running dispute over Iran's nuclear programs.
The United States had demanded Iran suspend its uranium processing as a precondition to negotiations.
State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said whether Iran was agreeable to a temporary suspension would not be known until European diplomat Javier Solana met with Iranian nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani.
"Their disposition to this point has not been to give clear answers" and it may require several meetings to find out, McCormack said. And yet, the spokesman said, "There may be an opportunity here, there may be a little opening if we just give the Iranians a little time and space."
Senior administration officials warned Iran after it did not meet an Aug. 31 deadline to suspend uranium enrichment that the United States would seek sanctions against Iran in the UN Security Council, possibly by the end of September. But McCormack said Wednesday that Solana saw an "opportunity" in his meeting with Larijani "if we give the Iranians a little time and space."
"Our response was, 'absolutely, if it's a matter of a few days, a few weeks here to see if there is a possibility of keeping open a negotiated diplomatic solution?we want to give that every opportunity to succeed," McCormack said.
The administration's sanctions strategy is to impose a series of increasingly potent penalties against Iran, beginning with curbs on technology that could be used in military programs.
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The fix is in, Israel. Unless you can come up with proven oil reserves - or anything else that might be useful to America - you are now officially yesterday's news. Uncle Sam only likes a winner and he is blowing you off, big time. Look forward to substantial cuts in your future military aid. Iran's star is rising, while yours is setting.
I sense this is more about Russia and China using Iran as their mouth piece. The only problem is the logical answer is to start arming the countries that they do not like with nukes. (eg nukes to Taiwan). As for Israel the answer is to go into rocket technology themselves. Israel can build and early warning system and a system of silo based rockets. Unfortuneately Iran did win this particular round. Unfortuneately the west has a loud mouth idiot for a leader. It is additionally unfortuneate that this madness never ends. As with all conflicts they never seem to end the way the participants plan for them to end.
I agree with you that mutual assured destruction protects the world, but that's only when the bombs are in the hands of stable responsible countries. Iran is quite stable, I don't see the current government being overthrown anytime soon and their actions have been responsible in the past, not all good actions but not extreme enough to destroy their own country and the rest of the world. Where MAD collapses is when unstable countries like Afghanastan and Pakistan which are at threat of being overthrown have Nuclear Weopons. The biggest problem with MAD is that in our world today with information available to anyone anywhere, it is possible for a group to build, more likely buy, a bomb, which they would use anonymously as a proxy for a cause or country. Basically, MAD is not 100% foolproof, or more like extreme proof.
May regret this sanctimoniously sarcastic bravado. Iran will not stop at the Jews. And Israel may not stop with blinking.
Jefrey that fake tan must be seaping into your brain. This is the real world and not Star Wars. I feel safer with regards to Iran's nuclear ambitions than Israel's, a 'state' that has lambasted the UN and the IAEA throughout its very existence.
Mutual Assured Destruction. I was born in 1924, served in WWII in the U.S. Army. Most of my life I have been protected by MAD, and will continue to be protected. You too. It matters not whether Iran gets the bomb. Relax all you youngins'
THE IRANIANS ARE SMART THEY KNOW HOW TO PLAY THE WORLD,THEY'LL GET THE BOMB AND NUKE THE WEST
It is obvious that the Iranian are good negotiater and they made their stand and stood their ground t get as much as possible from the west and the US for their suspension. It is also obvious that the day of bullying are gone. Finally someone has the guts to stand up to injustice. I am against any N. weapon in the world but Iran got an A in dealing with this stupid Bush.
the bush adm. has done enough damage in the middle east that is good for another 50 years. Iran issue should be shelved for the moment or should be given to europeans to handle. By the way love the picture Story of the year where you have Olmert and nasrallah almost kissing each other...