U.S. awaiting formal response from Iran on nuclear draft deal
State Department: We'll see what clarifications we get from Tehran; Iran hands initial response to IAEA.
By Haaretz Service and News Agencies Tags: IAEA Iran nuclear Israel newsThe United States on Thursday said it is awaiting a "formal response" from Iran to a UN-drafted plan that calls for Tehran to ship much of its uranium abroad for enrichment, French news agency AFP quoted a State Department spokesman as saying.
"We need to hear a formal response from Iran," spokesman Ian Kelly said, hours after the International Atomic Energy Agency said it had received a response from Tehran without giving any details of its contents.
"We'll see what kind of clarifications we get from the Iranians," Kelly said.
Kelly added there was "complete unity among the four parties" - the IAEA, the United States, Russia and France - that are negotiating with Iran.
Iran had given an initial response to the plan, the IAEA said Thursday.
The wording of the statement by the United Nations nuclear watchdog appeared to dash Western hopes of a quick deal that would delay Tehran's ability to make a nuclear weapon.
The U.S. and allied countries were seeking Iranian agreement to ship out 70 percent of its low-enriched uranium to Russia in one shipment for further enrichment and conversion into fuel for a Tehran research reactor.
Sending that amount in one batch would not leave Tehran with enough material to make weapons-grade uranium should it decide to make a warhead. Experts say Iran would need at least a year to produce enough to make up for the exported material, giving the international community a window in its efforts to persuade the Islamic Republic to freeze its enrichment program.
But Iran has signaled in recent days that it was unwilling to give up most of its enriched stockpile in a single shipment and would seek to re-negotiate terms worked out by IAEA chief Mohamed ElBaradei in talks last week with Iran, Russia, France and the U.S. That Iranian stance was reinforced by the language of the IAEA statement.
Besides speaking of an initial response from the Iranian authorities - suggesting that Iran was looking for further talks - the statement indicated the possible need for further negotiations. It said ElBaradei expressed hope that agreement can be reached soon and was consulting with the four nations involved.
The plan would commit Iran to turn over more than 2,600 pounds of low-enriched uranium - more than the commonly accepted amount of low-enriched uranium needed to produce weapons-grade uranium. The West saysTehran agreed in principle to export that amount in one shipment during Oct. 1 talks in Geneva with the U.S. and five other world powers.
But if Tehran did accept the plan in Geneva, it has subsequently backtracked.
The Islamic Republic has indicated that it may insist on being allowed to buy the fuel for the Tehran reactor from abroad - or to ship the material in small batches. That would not reduce fears about further enrichment to weapons-grade uranium because Iran would be able to quickly replace small amounts it sent out of the country with newly enriched material.
A pro-government newspaper said Thursday that Iran would seek major revisions to the proposed deal, including shipping abroad its low-enriched uranium (LEU) in stages rather than all at once.
Without giving a source, the newspaper Javan also said Iran wanted a "simultaneous exchange", receiving higher-enriched uranium to run a Tehran research reactor at the same time as it ships LEU abroad for conversion into fuel for the same purpose.
Meanwhile, Israel on Thursday blasted the uranium exchange deal with Iran as one that would only delay by one year Tehran's alleged progress toward a nuclear weapon.
Defense Minister Ehud Barak said the downside of the agreement was that it granted international recognition to uranium enrichment by Iran.
He urged the international community to go further and demand a complete stop to enrichment on Iranian soil.
"If this agreement is implemented, it will take them back a year, but there is a fly in the ointment. It means that they [the U.S., Russia and France] recognize that Iran is enriching uranium and that helps them [Iran] with their argument that they are enriching uranium for peaceful purposes," Barak said.
"It is important to insist on an end to enrichment in Iran," he told Israel Radio.
Iran wants two amendments to nuclear draft
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said earlier Thursday that Iran would not retreat "one iota" on its nuclear rights, but it is ready to cooperate on issues regarding atomic fuel, power plants and nuclear technology.
He said the provision of nuclear fuel for a Tehran research reactor was an opportunity for Iran to evaluate the "honesty" of world powers and the United Nations nuclear agency.
"We welcome the uranium exchange deal and are ready for cooperation, but the countries involved in the deal should also fulfil their commitments," Ahmadinejad said in a speech in Mashad in north-eastern Iran that was broadcast on television.
According to Iranian media, Tehran has accepted the framework of the deal, but has demanded changes to it.
Two such reported changes to the deal, according to the media sources, included the gradual shipment of its low-enriched uranium (LEU) abroad rather than sending it in one go, a pro-government newspaper reported on Thursday.
It also said Tehran wanted a "simultaneous exchange," under which it would receive fuel for a Tehran research reactor at the same time as it ships LEU out of the country, Javan newspaper reported, without giving a source.
Ahmadinejad on Thursday also called on the United States to drop its support for Israel to prove its claim of wanting change.
"You have to choose between your prestige in the world or support for the Zionist regime - Israel," Ahmadinejad said in a speech in Mashad in north-eastern Iran that was broadcast on television. "You have to chose one of the two options."
IAEA inspectors return from visit to enrichment site
Earlier Thursday, a team of UN nuclear inspectors returned from a visit to a previously secret Iranian uranium enrichment site, with their leader expressing satisfaction with the mission.
What the inspectors saw - and how freely they were allowed to work - will be key in deciding whether the world powers seek a new round of talks with Tehran.
The Fordo site is near the holy city of Qom. Iran revealed it was building it September 21 in a confidential letter to the International Atomic Energy Agency. Just days later, the leaders of the U.S., Britain and France condemned Tehran for having kept it secret.
The West believes Iran revealed the site's existence only because it had learned that the U.S. and its allies were about to make it public. Iran denies that.
Tehran says it wants to enrich only to make nuclear fuel. But the West worries that Iran wants to create fissile warhead material.
"We had a good trip," said Herman Nackaerts, who headed the International Atomic Energy Agency inspection team.
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Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. |
| Photo by: (AP) |
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It takes a courage for a president to draw a line for Iran and have Iran on notice building a strike force. Iran knows UE are cowards and the they don't even back US for a military action and participate effectively, but they talk for US. Iran will soon have many nuclear site to confuse the west and complicate any strikes.
Iran has threatened Israel with extinction on a number of occasions Iran also stated that her rockets could reach South Eastern Europe, which would also take in the area between Iran and S.E. Europe, including American bases in the Gulf region Can you cite when Israel threatened Iran in a like manner??
Since you're in agreement with the American Unobserver, how about telling me when Israel invaded any country that didn't invade or attack her first Start with 1948 and work your up-to-date Do it by your own efforts, A.U. can't be relied on, I always catch him making errors
regarding Nuclear Weapons. Either BOTh have Them or Both do not have them in this region, preferably the latter, so that we can all live a peaceful life.
Iran, so far hasn't breaking any rule against its Nuclear enrishment programme. The contrary is right,What about countries like India, Pakistan, North korea, and Israel???
"Who in the State Department informed Iran USA was about to disclose existence of the secret plant?" - Absolute Sweden More likely the NSA informed Obama that Iran was about to disclose the plant. Since Iran informed the IAEA before the US went public, there might be no more of a 'security' breach than the US representative to the IAEA conveying the contents of the Iranian letter.
To american observer. At some point most people believed that the world was flat. In fact if you go to MemriTV you will find a click on a Muslim academic that still believe that. People are ignorant in mass, especially at the day an age when their perception shaped
AGREED--WE'LL TAKE ISRAEL--ANY DAY!!!!
Obama and his European friends is in a Persian market, with not even the faintest idea that Iranians excell at bargaining. They will outsmart Obama's naivete like Buggs Bunny. They won't even notice what's going on, and suddenly they will ask themselves, like the grumpy, naive hunter, that the peaceful solution was just a trick, and them bomb will explode not only on their face, but over Israel, G'd forbid. So stop the bull's droppings now, once and for all. Confront Iran, and be sure, lofty speeches won't help.
...and if found wanting, does Iran leave the NPT? The precedent exists. Rogue states India, Pakistan, North Korea, and...umm...one other?
Iran has not signed the Addional Protocol, so it is in its right not to abide with that. By a similar logic, Israel has not signed the NPT, so they are allowed to have nuclear weapons. You can't have it both ways. If Israel is not bound by treaties it did not sign, neither is Iran.
D I M O N A After Iran engineers the zionist regime out of circulation........ who you think will control Deeemooooonaaaaa????????
That just doesn't seem to matter if your not a ally of the Western World
"Sorry to be the bearer of bad news." The bad news is that Iran is still obligated to the terms of the treaty because it breached the treaty and the other signatories can impose sanctions for as long as they see fit.
"Article X. Establishes the right to withdraw from the Treaty giving 3 months` notice." And Iran was in abrogation of the treaty for several years while a signatory. Now, it can withdraw or not and the nations have every right to impose sanctions as a result -- thereby, imposing the continuance of the treaty upon Iran. OOOPS!
PK:"Does this bozo comprehend that under the NPT Iran has an INALIENABLE right to enrish Uranium?" WRONG The UNSC has directed Iran to STOP enriching uranium. Iran is under 3 sets of sanctions for ignoring them. Barak is no "Bozo", he understands what you don't seem to. This deal circumvents the sanctions and gives legitimacy to Iran's enrichment program without them having to deal with the Additional Protocols.
Iran has every right. But to do so it would have to reject the NPT?..~. Iran would be on firm legal ground if it chose to abrogate the NPT. "-ANY It didn`t have the right to abrogate the NPT since it was benefitting from it while it breached it.--SDHD Read the NPT, it states the following: Article X. Establishes the right to withdraw from the Treaty giving 3 months' notice. It also establishes the duration of the Treaty (25 years before 1995 Extension Initiative). Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.
Why should Iran trust the West to return the enriched uranium? If I was them I would send a bit at a time and see if it is returned.
"Iran has every right. But to do so it would have to reject the NPT?..~. Iran would be on firm legal ground if it chose to abrogate the NPT. " It didn't have the right to abrogate the NPT since it was benefitting from it while it breached it.
1. The american economy is not collapsing. The US owes lots to foreign bond investors and is devaluing their dollar to reduce the payment. Americans will spend more this Christmas, even in a bad year, than most of the world will consume over the next year. 2. Letting Iran have the bomb will only cause Saudi Arabia to want it, then Egypt, not to mention Chavez and every other warlord sitting on a throne. What could the US say if Castro wanted to process yellowcake for 'peaceful' purposes? The world isn't such that the US is obligated to believe Iranian lies unless proven otherwise. The UN is a eunuch that the US tolerates. 3. Islam will never cease from regarding Israel as a threat. The Koran says the Jews are a forsaken people. Israel is stark evidence to the contrary. 4. The one thing that orthodox Jews, Christians and Moslems agree...when the messiah comes he will enact the true religion and set everything straight.
whatever its source. Only the extremists, fascists, neo-nazis, and colonists hate him. God bless this great American President. Salaam/Shalom ps. The American economy is turning around quickly. How's that for leadership?
your observation are so selective you forgot to observe that the mullas and the revolutionary guard took a the whole iranian people and state hostage.you did not notice that they sent kids with keys to "heaven" to open mine fields in the war with iraq which cost them the lives of 2,000,000 iranians even after the iraqi regome announced it is willin to go back to the international borders after two years of fighting the war continued 7years due to the iranian refusal.you seem to overlook the fact that demonstraters are being executed in iran as we speak for participation in demonstrations. you seem to over look that iranian secret service was involved in bobming of civilian targets as far as Buenos Aires.you seem not to observe the many iranian exiled in europe and other countries who demonstrate against the regime and tell their stories of horor.you ignore the death sentence to Salman Rushdie for writing a novel. a great observer you are.
The common belief on the far right is that Iran could just wave a magic wand to instantly turn 4.5% enriched Uranium (fuel for the VVER-1000 power reactor under construction at Bushhehr) and turn it into Weapons Grade Highly Enriched Uranium. This is not true. The length of a centrifuge cascade determines the final product. Each centrifuge supplies only a small enrichment (Separative Work Units). Centrifuge Cascades are run as a continuous process. They are difficult to start and stop. With the IAEA keeping track of the centrifuge cascades and auditing the feed material as well as the product, it would be impossible for Iran to turn the 4.5% enriched Uranium into 90% bomb material. To do so it would have to throw out the IAEA, stop the cascades, reconfigure, and restart; or do batch processing with repeated stops and starts. There would be sufficient notice to take remedial measures before sufficient HEU for bombs could be produced.
it was absolutely predictable that iran would checkmate obama. iran is an old hand at playing chess. obama, through his arrogance, coupled with total naivete and lack of experience, gave iran a full opening to the american king which has been left undefended. russia and china are winners, too. the big loosers are israel, the u.s. and europe. this is the first time since wwii that the u.s. has been so thoroughly defeated diplomatically.
If u say palestine there was no palestine before 67 never ever existed in any history!" Strange. Palestine existed as a non-state entity after the fall of the Ottoman Empire. After TransJordan was carved off, what was left of Palestine was Palestine, under the British Mandate over PALESTINE. After Israel was carved off, what remained of Palestine was Palestine. People from the various parts of Palestine, as it changed and became ever smaller, are Palestinians. All your rave has shown, is that propaganda works.
If, like you say, Iran has a secret facility somewhere deep in the mountains where it is making nukes with HEU, and moreover if you do not KNOW where this secret facility is, then you have no way to stop Iran anyways(!) So Netanyahu's plan to bomb Iran is perfectly useless - and Israel should accept Iran as a nuclear power already. Tell you what, Iran is playing the game of nuclear ambiguity. By constantly denying a nuclear bomb program, Iran is convincing Israel that it has one running at full speed underground in the mountains. In reality, Iran will make sure it has no such facility - because an absent facility is most difficult for Israeli spooks to find. And that makes them worry more of its existence.
To bow ninety degrees to mullahs and get warm friendship from Iran's friends - Syria, North Korea, Venezuela, Hezbollah, Hamas...
Since when does Ahmadinejad know anything about world prestige? He doesn't know Persia's ancient history. I see Iran wants the Cyrus Cylinder loaned back to Iran from Britain. Is this the only source listing the history of Cyrus? Is this why he was unaware of the close relationship Cyrus had with the Jews? Cyrus may have conquered but he let the conquered people be as they were, exacting taxes as his due. Ancient Persian children, boys and girls, were taught three things by their culture: How to ride a horse, throw a spear, and to never, ever lie.
Not according to the treaty it signed.-SDHD The second paragraph of my post stated that. Read again Iran has every right. But to do so it would have to reject the NPT…..~. Iran would be on firm legal ground if it chose to abrogate the NPT. There are several countries that have nuclear weapons and have not signed the NPT. Get it. It can withdraw from the NPT.
It all hinges on IF Iran has or will declare all the material she actually has on hand Iran would most likely conceal a good protion of the material for processing at home, in another hidden location Now you see it, now you don't--You will only see what Iran will let you see The IAEA has been fooled many times and will be fooled again
American Economy is already in a state of collapse Rampant Unemployment (Another 530,00 just today) Dollar will be replaced by some type of Euro Stimulus plan didn't work Those clunkers that were traded in actually cost the U.S. Taxpayer $24,000 each, not the publicized $4500 (Today's News" You neglected to Observe Obamacare, which will be an enormous drain on the economy if it is allowed to pass As an Observer you should be totally embarrassed by not having Observed what's going on under your non-Observant anti-semitic shcnozzle
Is that just an assumption on your part, or do you have some sort of facts to back up your statement?? Since you're speaking for "Most", how about supplying the sources on which you based your comment, maybe a Poll of some sort? It's been proven time and again, that those who speak for "Most" are speaking for themselves Prove me wrong, I dare you???
Whether LEU is shipped in one go or in stages, Iran just cannot use it for making a bomb. Iran never planned to use this LEU to make a bomb anyways. Doing it in stages allows Iran to ensure compliance by the West. Otherwise what is to say that the West will not confiscate the LEU for good. The theory that Iran will "replace" LEU as it is shipped is nonsense, because if so then the treaty is useless even if LEU is shipped in one go. Because the entire LEU can be replaced in 18 months anyways. The only goal achievable by this treaty is "confidence building" and Iran's counter offer addresses it way more effectively than the original proposal.
insofar danger of nuclear Irani is concerned. All talk of preventing bombing of Iran as not to "damage the progressive forces" is plain stupid. The "progressives" were screaming "Down with Shah ! Viva Khomeiny!" ,let them enjoy their own creation. Israel should take care of own future not counting on Iranian opportunists.
1. You have a pretty supernatural memory if you can remember events that occurred over the past few hundred years. 2. This supernatural memory of yours is wrong. Iran has not existed as a modern entity until the 20th century and has faced a very different geopolitical environment than Israel. 3. The US economy collapsed already with no responsibility by Israel. The foreign aid is for military purposes with no intention of stimulating a financial investment. In addition to that argument, you are also wrong because Israel is an epicenter of tech innovation which trickles to the US where all that is invented in the Arab world are new guerrilla tactics which are of no use to us.
Yes indeed. Why has there been no investigation of what would be a serious intelligence breach? I think I know the answer. There was no breach. Iran informed the IAEA on the 21st and the U.S. and its cronies reacted by trying to put Iran's disclosure in the worst possible light. Obama personally briefed Medvedev hoping to elicit an anti-Iran statement and thus trap him in a policy. But it didn't work. Medvedev made a vague statement about sanctions and probably was later briefed by his own people who told him that Iran was simply digging a hole in the ground. The lack of investigation of this alleged Iranian intelligence coup is the clearest sign of American hysterics.
I'm with Mike. The collapse of our economy will have nothing to do with Israel and will be because of Obama. The Republicans and Democrats both have pushed us into a mess and Obama is taking us over the edge. Don't blame Israel.
The more moronic than the mullahs regime is the israeli regime. "Defense Minister Ehud Barak said the downside of the agreement was that it granted international recognition to uranium enrichment by Iran." Haaretz Does this bozo comprehend that under the NPT Iran has an INALIENABLE right to enrish Uranium?
We will choose Israel over appeasing the muslim world.What you are saying is we are to sit by and watch the muslim nations attack Israel again.Won't happen.Why we would support a religious belief that is intolerant of others and states you must convert or die.Asa Dr.Phil says "How's that working for you twit"
The genetically engineered onion has been peeled. The 5+1 monstrosity is down to the final three layers confronting Iran at the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna; namely the USA, Russia and France, all acting in synch with the histrionics of the Zionist state after urgent appeals made in private. So the same bad habit of divide, conquer and impose dependency on Iran persists to the detriment of world peace. Externally motivated acts of shock and awe inside Iran add spice to the ultimatum in Vienna. And the Almighty tests those he loves well, and clearly sets proper limits. This exercise in Vienna is conducted to build western confidence in Iran through the proper channels of the IAEA. But shouldn't there also be an equalizing force to hold the west to account? How is it that France passes judgment on Iran after having introduced secret nuclear programs into the Zionist state in violation of the Charters of the United Nations and the IAEA? www.show-the-house.com/
"Iran has every right." Not according to the treaty it signed.
"Most people say that Israel is the war monger, not Iran..Not sure where you get your information from, but as far as I remember, Iran hasn;t invaded another country in hundreds of years." Not sure where you get your information from, but Iran has global sanctions against it, not Israel.
wrong again about economic disaster. USA has also benefited from intelligence exchange from a not so bad supply from Israel. And Israel paid past loans back and will continue to do so, unlike many neighbouring countries.
Which country did isr invaded can u name it? If u say palestine there was no palestine before 67 never ever existed in any history! Palestine was the part of the syria state in time of ottomans with brits it became pal state than a nation rose against brits they were more powerfull and gained the power when attacked by the others established the state. WB and Gaza re the parts of the egypt and jordan abandoned by them to isr! u can say occupation cuz there is a nation there with right to self determination but no one invaded any place! iran and turkey by the way oppresses the kurds in the nation iran oppresses Azerian turks in their 'republic' iran oppresses jews and christians in their country! Iran oppresses even its own citizens sending on them foreign soldiers from hamas and hizb Iran mullah regime is the invader cuz they took power undemocratically by fooling people in iran its the worst kind of invation!
Would you rather gain 'prestige' from the Moslem world and live under a Caliphate, or do without that prestige and live in a FREE country ?
Iran has attacked Israel thru Hezbollah & Hamas who are nothing more then Iranian tentacles. Iran has attacked Jews in Argentina. + Arabs get more money from the US then Israel could ever get + they have oil which they sell.
I'm unaware of much "good will" from that part of the world anyway. A simple search of state media outlets from Muslim countries reveals 24/7 attacks against the U.S.. So the U.S. risks nothing (there is nothing to lose), the choice is simple choose Israel.
The world has no prestige and America is right to support Israel.
Who says Iran has the "right" to develop nuclear weapons? I don`t ever recall seeing a UN charter or international law or treaty that says so. Quite the opposite.- Joe Sittizen Iran has every right. But to do so it would have to reject the NPT. No country in the world has asked for, or received approval from the UN or anyone to develop nuclear weapons. Iran would be on firm legal ground if it chose to abrogate the NPT. There are several countries that have nuclear weapons and have not signed the NPT. But the issue here is not about nuclear weapons, but rather its nuclear energy program. On a different note, I do not see that there is much to distinguish between Iran and Israel. While not a fan of Iran they at least have not annexed conquered land and subjugated a people for 40 years.
speak for yourself not for all USA. I dont choose Iran and I am sure not choosing Israel!
american support for israel has been an economic and political disaster for america for decades. we have given israel hundreds of billions in US taxpayer dollars, yet today they ignore us as if we need them? as an american, you should be completely embarassed by your statement.
Not sure where you get your information from, but as far as I remember, Iran hasn;t invaded another country in hundreds of years. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for israel. The middle east double standards are a form of slavery that have to come to an end in order for war to be prevented. Either israel and Iran both have nukes, -or- neither state has nukes. These are the only options available.
se existence of the secret plant ? Shouldn't it be the subject of urgent investigation by Bambis's inept services?
please explain.
have to stop, otherwise the US will loose the last bit of credebility it has
Ok. We choose Israel.
is absolutely right. USA risk loosing the goodwill from the muslim world if it continues to side with the international pariah.
With iligitimate leaders like Ahmadinejad,the world lost its prestige a long time ago.
Who says Iran has the "right" to develop nuclear weapons? I don't ever recall seeing a UN charter or international law or treaty that says so. Quite the opposite. Iran has proven time and again that it is a threat to world and regional peace. It's own incompetent leaders keep Israel as an issue to cover up the economic mess their country is in. Iran is several countries away from Israel, and Iran has had nothing to do with Israel for decades. Except, of course, to be used as an excuse to develop nuclear weapons and export its Islamic revolution. The world doesn't need Iran's Islamic revolution, and we can do without their oil too.