Key U.S. allies consider partial freeze on Iran's nuclear program

"After all, just as with Iran, Israel refuses to be inspected or sign any NTB treaties." - Don Camillo Iran is currently complying with all normal IAEA requirements. Israel, unlike Iran, is not a signatory to the NPT (not NTB) and is thus not required to submit to IAEA inspections.

Indrajaya, it is too soon to say who "won." The goal of the Iranian government may just be a nuclear fuel cycle, or it might be atomic weapons. The technical evidence at this time argues strongly that their goal is to switch Iran to nuclear power. If it is not, then the mere fact that they are under IAEA safeguards and inspections means that Iran has lost. From the American side the goal of the Bush junta has always been war. There is great opposition to the US starting another war, and it is very probable that the efforts by the US to get an international consensus to justify an attack is just a sham as the overtures to the UN were in 2002. As this crisis was started by the Bush regime, if it has not conquered Iran by the time he leaves office then he and the neocons will have lost. If Iran has a tightly inspected and controlled nuclear power program with no weapons program, and the US avoids another unnecessary war, it is possible for both to win.

will pass it to the right people, how did you get these infos which are not shared in some form or another

...........Israel is falling away. Israel should make a land for peace deal before it is too late.

The United States and Israel are acting like spoiled brats. "Play by my rules, or I'll beat the crap out of you." What a way to gain respect! What is needed is for all countries to play by the SAME rules. We must never forget that the United States is the only country that has used nuclear weapons in the past. And let's not forget, that Israel has made several "preemptive strikes" against their neighbors, including Iraq.

At a time when it became known that Iran was cheating about its nuclear program, European countries stepped up their trade with the mullahs in Tehran. They were misleading the US by conducting hoax negotiations with Iran for years. It is well known that Europe provided the equipment for the bomb of the mullahs. Interrogated on German TV, the managers admitted that they knew the parts were delivered for the bomb and they also acknowledged that they knew against whom the bomb would be used. Everything happened with the knowledge of the respective governments. Already the Clinton administration protested against it in Bonn, to no avail. The new Holocaust that has been announced, is an European business again.

"Iran is behind all the terror in the world for the last 28 years" - Sarah Are you actually that ignorant, or are you quite insane?

"I sometimes wonder whether this humbling of America and the destruction of its machinations on the world stage is desirable for lasting world peace." - Clickfool The national suicide of America is so far advanced that the question is not that it will be diminished, but when. It is an ultimate irony of World War II that while Germany and Japan learned to live with the world, use diplomacy as their primary means of achieving national goals, and balance the needs of their people with the lust for power of their leaders, the US and Soviet Union learned only raw military power. Their power struggle eventually bankrupted the Soviet Union and America's love of military power is rapidly bankrupting it. There is still a chance that the US will attack Iran. Dick Cheney is quite insane, and Shrub Bush listens to him.

If Iran's is bombed, should the same bomber force take out: Dimona Kfar Zekharya Nahal Zoreq Yodefat and last but not least, the tactical warhead assembly Unit at Eilabin? After all, just as with Iran, Israel refuses to be inspected or sign any NTB treaties.

Don;t forget the EU/Israel Association Trade Agreement. Israel does very nicely out of that financially.

Let alone the muslims world, even the US inner circles in Europe see that a total freezing of Iran nuclear program is UNREALISTIC. TWO CHOICES of THE US: BE REALISTIC or LETS THE CRACK BECOME WORSE. Whatever the policy, the Iranians are already WON this diplomatic battle. They just have to decide: they want a total victory or a little compromize for the sake of long time battle with Israel.

Are verbal or implied contacts less obliging than 'written' ones? Upon creation in 1948, Israel had 5 conditions it had to follow... All of them had to do with the treatment of the Palestinians living within the new land of Israel... Israel 'agreed' not to evict them and to other constraints which were design ed to protect the palestinians from Israeli abuse etc. All of the five 'obligations' were very quickly contemptuously ignored in the following assault on a land and people... Israeli membership of UN??? Israel is free from obligations to obey the rules they 'signed up to'? MYOPIC SELF-SERVING HYPOCRISY PERSONIFIED

It is an unlikely event, but there is still an outside chance that a final hurrah of the Bush administration might be an attack on Iran. The economic, military, financial and social consequences of any such attack are so cataclysmic that they would, in my opinion, destroy America's status as a dominant world power and lower it to that of, say, Russia. I sometimes wonder whether this humbling of America and the destruction of its machinations on the world stage is desirable for lasting world peace.

Israel fits perfectly the definition 'terroism'.

Israel's leaders know perfectly well that their stock of 200-400 nuclear weapons (and the capacity to survive a first attack) give them total protection from any Iranian nuclear threat. What they don't like is the breaking of their nuclear monopoly in the area, and the fact that their only significant advantage over the Iranians would be cancelled. This is the reason they are campaigning to get America to do their dirty work for them. There is no real "existential" threat. This is a useful fiction.

In the game of poker a person on a bad run of luck, playing with very little money in front of him, is said to have "glass money". This is what the EU and America are playing with in the case of Iranian nukes. They have few options, all unattractive and, if truth be told, should simply fold their cards. Instead, they are now making small, timid bets ("we'll let you do SOME nuclear research"). In practice it makes very little difference. The Iranians have clearly taken a major strategy decision to acquire a nuclear deterrent to cancel Israel's only significant advantage in the region. They won't back down from this now. America's only remaining option is to attack and begin an even messier, more dangerous, more costly and more unpredictable war than that in Iraq.

Sarah said "Iran is behind all the terror in the world for the last 28 years." What a complete load of bull. Without even considering Spain's ETA, Ireland, or the whole continents of Africa and South America, Iran isn't even behind much of the Muslim terror in the last 28 years. Iran is ENEMIES of the terror groups who committed the 9/11, 7/7, and Madrid terror attacks. Iran has openly opposed both al-Qaida and the Taliban, even helping the US in their attack against the Taliban in Afghanistan. Iran arrested al-Qaida operatives after 9/11 and offered them to the US. Iran was the first and the loudest mideast nation to condemn the 9/11 attacks, holding vigils in stadiums while Bibi Netanyaho was saying the 9/11 attacks were "very good for Israel" We all remember when Israel was saying Iraq was behind all the terrorism because Saddam paid off the families. We fought that war for you already. Don't try the same bull again with Iran. Fight your own damn wars!

Lynn asked "can you figure out why Russia has backed off so big on delivery to Iran of rods?" Prices in the open market for yellowcake to make fuel rods has gone up 1,900%. Russia doesn't want to deliver on old contracts at much lower prices than the open market. In 2001 yellowcake was 7 USD/lb, and it is rocketing towards over 100 USD/lb by the end of 2007. Russia was flooding the market in the 90's. Now yellowcake is treated like gold in Russia. This is why Iran wants to mine their own uranium and do their own enrichment. They don't want to be stuck with open market prices when demand is expected to be double of supply within 10 years. And the EU+3 refused to lock prices in any of the deals they offered to supply Iran with fuel. They want to force Iran to lock into a deal with suppliers without locking the prices the suppliers would charge. Iran isn't stupid enough to be locked into suppliers who can keep raising prices at the amazing rate they are going up now

We in the US are not going to fight any more wars on any body's behalf, like we did in Iraq. If Iranians want nukes, let them have them. They may hate Israel, but they are not stupid. They know very well what nuking Israel would bring about: there country will be no more.

ISREAL WON'T COMMIT NATIONAL SUICIDE by allowing Iranian nukes. THAT is from the Isreali perspective. From the U.S. perspective no democrat or repuiblican President will allow a nuclear armed Iran. EVERY candidate has aleeady stated this (anyone with a chance of being elected).

The west, and even Russia and China want to see a nuclear Iran. The U.S.A.F. and/or the I.A.F. will have to do the "DIRTY WORK" , but most every country in the west WILL give their tacit approval.Isreal for certain can't allow Iran to have EVEN ONE nuke- as most certainly Iran would launch it at Isreal as soon as they could make it operational.

dear Atoo, the mossad controls already all of Iran, so do not worry zionism will forever like the state of ISRAL

Pity Israel is forced to save own worst enemies in order to survive.

America will be eclipsed by the European Union. It's a jaw-dropping phenomenon, accompanied by the spectacular incompetencies and betrayals of the American people and their culture by the country's leaders. If Bush bombs Iran, it will be the end of any pretense of constitutional Government within the U.S.A. And there has been a lot of pretense.

Talking of civilised nations/civilised people, I think you are very uncivilised if that's the way you talk to a guy who had the courage to write eventhough he lives in that frightening regime. How about changing places with him - you go live in Iran and Zoroaster will come to Essex in your place, then you will be able to kiss the ayatollahs' a---- from here to eternity!!!

"Ahmedinijad`s fate is to be voted out of office in the 2009 elections. He will follow Blair and Bush into the Ex-Leader`s retirement home." - Pablo B. I see much of Ahmedinijad's behavior as resembling Bush's. He seems to spend a great deal of time distracting people from his total failure to accomplish any of the things he promised them to get elected. "He doesn`t have any control over the military, and he doesn`t have the authority to declare war. He just doesn`t have the power to do anything." - Pablo The job of "President" of Iran is one of the less powerful. Hard for Americans to imagine a President who does not have almost dictatorial powers. "Every new verbal attack is rewarded with massive attention." - Pablo B. Mostly from people other than Iranians.

can you figure out why Russia has backed off so big on delivery to Iran of rods? That has puzzled me for a while now. I see nothing in any of the papers to give me even a hint.

Iran is behind all the terror in the world for the last 28 years. Its long hand has reached all the continents and targeted hundreds if not thousands of people. Now, this dangerous mafia style country wants to get nuclear power. What is the world supposed to do? O.K., I understand it is not a good idea to attack her, then what?

There is little reason to think, with Click and a few others, that disarming Iran would require a 'crazy middle east war' -- certainly nothing longer than a day or two, in view of the massive tonneage that can be delivered quite quickly by air. The mullahs will lose yet more readily and speedily than did Nasser and friends 40 years ago. (Just please warn the civilians long enough in advance, that they may evacuate areas near targeted military sites.) There accordingly seems little reason to suppose that any such fear would induce Brown, Sarko, Merkel and others not to take part.

Don said "ahmedinijad the modern haman -will share his fate too" Ahmedinijad's fate is to be voted out of office in the 2009 elections. He will follow Blair and Bush into the Ex-Leader's retirement home. Even the Mullahs have gotten sick of him. They moved up the date of the elections just to get rid of him sooner. Things that aren't in his future: 1) getting his hands on nuke weapons and attacking Israel. Ahmedinijad doesn't have a chance in hell of building a nuclear first-strike before he is voted out of office. 2) starting a war with Israel. He doesn't have any control over the military, and he doesn't have the authority to declare war. He just doesn't have the power to do anything. Ahmedinijad is a big loud-mouth who uses regular threats against Israel to try and boost his political standing in Iran and with Muslims abroad. Every new verbal attack is rewarded with massive attention. You and your like keep rewarding him. He will be gone soon. Ignore him.

I could name banks doing business in the UK with Iran, but Haaretz censors me. I do know there is a lot of financing going through one is particular.

"When you have attacked Iran, how do you think the Iranians will respond?" - Clickfool to Ross We will be greeted as liberators. The Iranians will strew the streets with rose petals and cheer as our conquering troops march through Tehran. The Iranians will give us their oil revenue to compensate us for the cost of the war. A submissive pro-US government will be elected by popular acclaim. It will turn out just like the Iraq cakewalk, only bigger and better.

". . . there is no chance that Iran could enrich to 90+% without being detected." - Pablo B. As long as the IAEA has inspectors, cameras and full safeguards in place you are correct. It is technically possible to achieve a fast fission with Uranium enriched as low as 30%, but it would be useless as a weapon. The current crisis was invented by the US government 1-1/2 years ago.l The crisis was totally fraudulent until it caused Iran to withdraw from the IAEA inspection regimen. Then the possibility of the enrichment cascades being made long enough to efficiently produce Highly Enriched Uranium became an issue because we did not know exactly what Iran was up to. Inspectors are back, the cameras are working, the equipment is being checked, the materials used assayed, and right now we can say there is no active production of weapons grade material. This reality does not stop psychopaths like Dick Cheney from trying to lie up another war.

It is well known, that the EU is the strongest ally and trade partner of the mullahs in Tehran. More than 22 billion U$ are granted annually to the mullahs by the EU taxpayer in the form of export guarantees. The lead is taken by Germany, which helped the mullahs too, by sending the necessary hardware to get the bomb. It is clear that sanctions will be a laugh because they are and will be torpedoed by the EU. The good news are, that 3 US aircraft carrier strike forces are ready for Iran and that a fourth one will be there soon. And that the IAF has greatly expanded its long range refuelling and training program. The West will survive oil barrel prices of 200 U$, the medieval mullahs in Tehran will not.

"Talk peace" with Iran? Nice idea but Iran does not recognise Israel. Do you have any realistic ideas?

"Half-measures will not suffice. The civilised nations must simply disarm Iran completely. There seems no reason it cannot be done from the air: The civilised powers possess masses and masses of explosive tonneage" The only "civilised nation" that might be a candidate for the job of attacking Iran is America. Israel didn't qualify, of course, as a "civilised nation". As far as the European Union is concerned, you'll get no help from Gordon Brown, the new Prime Minister of Britain, who is determined not to ruin his premiership, as Blair did, with a crazy Middle East war. There's no-one else in the EU even remotely likely to attack Iran. I think America's best chance of an ally in the war you are thinking of is Micronesia and/or the Marshall Islands. They vote pretty regularly with America on matters pertaining to Israel and the Middle East. I've no idea how big their airforces are.

A few questions for you, Ross. Given the total debacle of the Iraq War, do you think there is any appetite in America for an even bigger, more dangerous and more costly Iran War? How do you propose that Iran be "taken out" (it's a big country and nukes, sadly, will not be on the table)? When you have attacked Iran, how do you think the Iranians will respond? They've already told us quite plainly that they will go for the West's oil jugular. Have you bought a bicycle and sold all your stocks?

Whether Iran has 100kg or 100,000kg of uranium enriched to 3-5%, Iran still can't build a single nuke weapon. Enrichment from 3-5% to 90+% takes much, MUCH more work than enrichment to 3-5%. Since there are IAEA inspections going on in the exact facility that would need to be used to enrich significant amounts of uranium past 5%, there is no chance that Iran could enrich to 90+% without being detected. Iran can enrich tons and tons of uranium to 3-5% and they will still have zero weapons grade enriched uranium. Zero weapons grade enriched uranium == Zero nukes. The best end-game for this issue is to force Iran into a corner through negotiations where they can only enrich uranium to the level they are currently enriching it. Iran gets to win because they can say they just wanted to make fuel the whole time. The rest of the world wins because Iran is denied nuke weapons. Negotiations are the key to making sure Iran sticks to their public statements, and only generates power.

...there's nothing anyone can do to stop the Iranian march to nuclear power status. Not without bring the house down on everyone.

However, I fear bombing Iran will follow the arse kicking the mighty US and Israel have taken in Lebanon, Iraq and Afghanistan. I guess we forgot the history of what happened to Russia. We will have to wait and see. Regards.

I am probably the only correspondent on this forum that has a copy of "The Los Alamos Primer" and a functional understanding of how nuclear weapons can be made. Yet my post pointing out just how meaningless and useless the information in the article is seems to have been censored. I will repeat the pertinent points: 1. the 100 kg figure is meaningless without knowing the percentage of enrichment. 2. the 500 kg figure is also meaningless without knowing the percentage of enrichment. The amount of Uranium necessary to create an atomic weapon - or fuel a reactor - has an absolute minimum, but is essentially a RANGE of numbers depending upon a number of variable conditions. Right now the IAEA has NO evidence that Iran is creating a bomb. The remaining questions unanswered are few. The enrichment process is being monitored closely. Iran is NOT at this time creating anything like weapons grade Uranium and is not even capable of creating large quantities of reactor fuel.

Half-measures will not suffice. The civilised nations must simply disarm Iran completely. There seems no reason it cannot be done from the air: The civilised powers possess masses and masses of explosive tonneage. I ask only that you provide civilians warning so that they may evacuate targeted sites. Then they will overthrow backward dark age regime that has got them into this mess and enslaved my people with a childish, non-Persian belief system, an Arabic import-by-conquest in fact.

the ME. It appears that Israel does not want anyone in the ME to have any weapons except them, typical. That would mean that Israeli temper tantrums would immediately be under control and they would no longer be able to trounce their neighbors at will and behind BS. Iran has not attacked its neighbors. Can you say the same for the Zionists? Regards.

Attacking Iran from air alone will not stop it from producing nuclear weapons. It should be an invasion which is impossible to do unless the Americans are ready for another defeat. Countries of the middle east have learned their lessons from Iraq and Hezbollah is a good example. Like Iran said, the U.S. will be able to partially destroy its nuclear facilities but will fail to destroy Iran's program. Iran will then go underground solely for producing nuclear weapons. I believe they have this kind of underground work going on right now. Harming Iran with sanctions will not help either because Persians are stubborn people Whose revenge spans decades. They will be able to harm the Jews directly or indirectly for decades to come. They may succeed in collapsing the Zionist regime and its ideology. There is no way out of this because the Zionists of the world has taken the issue to a point of no return.

The time for talk and sanctions are over. The truth is if they build bombs they will attack because of the sanctions put on them. So its time to attack and at least buy the western world some time.

No country wins every war, ever! The odds are against Israel. How many times will you tempt fate?

I know how exciting this must all be. Iran openly declaring its intent to wipe Israel off the map while thumbing its nose at a world trying to keep it from acquiring nuclear weapons. What you don't understand is just how dearly Israelis want to hold onto Israel, just how tired we grew of 2000 years of exile and persecution, and just how liberating these past 60 years of independence have been for us as a people. A nuclear Iran threatens Israel's existence. When you wake up, make no mistake about it, this is the reality you'll face: Israel will do everything in its power to prevent Iran from going nuclear. Prepare yourself for a rude awakening.

for sitting around has ended. Someone needs to do something. Maybe even a group of people need to do something.

they are true backers of instability in middle east -take iran out & things will calm down a lot- syria wouldn't dare to play more games then & what other country would want to step into the shoes of iran & try to cause more mayhem? (Oman, UAE)Iraq would benefit the most!!! not to mention gaza

Iran is not a nuclear terrorist nation, just because they don't bow to what the US or Israel wants does not make them evil. To enforce your view point from accross the ocean like America does and force others to subjugate themselves to a country that should not exists does not make sense. Those countries (America and US) are the terrorists of the middle east and have no place there.

they signed on the dotted line that was their mistake but they did sign and now they are to be held to that agreement - when you sign/agree to things in life like credit cards do you try to bail out after getting the bill? you should move from LA the fumes are getting to you - or all southern CA people fools?

The only people who will destroy Israel are people like yourself. You think by destroying other countries, you will be living in peace. You tried to destroy Hezbollah, you looked ridiculous. So better talk peace intsead of playing with fire.. oups... i know that what I am asking sounds chinese for you, it is in your gene to think that you are superior...

Israel have nuclear wepons and the hypocritical US is silent about this fact, yet we rant and rave about Iran's nuclear program. Who gave us the right to say who is allowed and who is not, to have nuclear technology? It's absolute nonsense to say Iran is a threat to Israel and the US knowing that we both have thousands of nuclear wepons and the means to deliver them. So what is it..really? Are mad with envy that Iran is showinng remarkable advancement in this technology that only we should know, and we see this as 'THE THREAT"?

When they do pass a certain point, Israel will will hit Iran in a way making Lebanon 2 seem like a walk in the park, because w/e bs you talk about hypocrasy, Israel will not be destroyed again, we won't accept a nuclear-armed terrorist nation on our doorstep. Your support for them is islamophobic - you and other people are condemning millions of Iranians to a certain quick and fiery death.

Iran is suicidal. Iran's leaders will bring about an all out attack by the threatened West. Disaster and death is written on Iran's horoscope. If this is what Iranians want this is what they will get.

People may feel less ambivilent about Irans nuclear program if Israel would stop playing word games over her own nuclear program and join the "nuclear club" (officially). Deception, in this case, serves no useful purpose and only makes Israel seem up to no good.

iran being dragged into something they wouldnt wish for.