World powers to debate increasing Iran nuclear sanctions
Iran FM Mottaki says does not believe West will initiate fresh punishments if nuclear talks fail.
By Haaretz Service and News Agencies Tags: IAEA Israel news Iran nuclearThe six world powers will meet on Friday in Brussels to discuss what measures could be applied against Iran as further penalty for its refusal to halt its nuclear enrichment program.
The group includes the United Nations Security Council's permanent members plus Germany. Announcement of the meeting came hours after United States President Barack Obama said Washington has begun talking with its allies about fresh penalties against Iran for defying Western efforts to halt its pursuit of nuclear weapons.
Obama's remarks came as Iran indicated it would not ship its low-enriched uranium to Russia for processing, the centerpiece of a deal aimed at a peaceful resolution to Iran's contested nuclear program.
"They have been unable to get to yes, and so as a consequence, we have begun discussions with our international partners about the importance of having consequences," Obama said in a brief news conference with South Korean President Lee Myung-bak.
Obama did not elaborate on the nature of any new sanctions, which would require the commitment of international support that is not yet clear.
Earlier on Thursday, Iran's foreign minister dismissed the possibility of sanctions over Tehran's rejection of a deal to send enriched uranium abroad for further processing.
"Sanction was the literature of the 60s and 70s," Manouchehr Mottaki said at a news conference during a visit to the Philippines.
"I think they are wise enough not to repeat failed experiences," he said, speaking through an interpreter. "Of course it's totally up to them."
Iran's ISNA news agency quoted Mottaki on Wednesday as rejecting the draft deal brokered by the U.N. nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
The IAEA had said Iran should send some 75 percent of its low-enriched uranium to Russia and France, where it would be turned into fuel for a Tehran medical research reactor.
The decision is expected to anger the United States and its allies, which had called on Iran to accept a deal which aimed to delay Tehran's potential ability to make bombs by at least a year by divesting Iran of most of its enriched uranium.
Mottaki reiterated that Tehran was willing to discuss the deal but only if the swap of enriched uranium for nuclear fuel took place within Iran.
"Iran raises its readiness in order to have further talks within the framework which is presented," he said.
"It's not our proposal to have a swap," he added. "They raised such a proposal and we described and talked about how it could be operationalised."
On Wednesday, Mottaki told the ISNA students' news agency that Iran could not afford to send its uranium to be enriched outside the country, as the UN proposed deal stipulates.
"Surely we will not send our 3.5 percent fuel abroad but can review swapping it simultaneously with nuclear fuel inside Iran," Mottaki told .
The United States has rejected Iranian calls for amendments and further talks on the deal and U.S. President Barack Obama said time was running out for diplomacy to resolve a dispute over Iran's nuclear program.
Mottaki criticized the United States for pressuring Iran to accept the deal.
"Diplomacy is not black or white. Pressuring Iran to accept what they want is a non-diplomatic approach," Mottaki said.
Mottaki did not say what would happen to the low-enriched fuel it was prepared to swap, but authorities have said in the past that it could be stockpiled in Iran under IAEA supervision.
"Our experts will tell us how much fuel was needed to be swapped. We do not accept their experts' views," Mottaki said.
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South Koreans watching U.S. President Barack Obama giving a televised press conference with South Korean President Lee Myung-bak on Thursday. |
| Photo by: (AP) |
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his mind up about Afgan troop levels. He is dragging his feet on Iranian sanctions and it is already too late for sanctions anyway. This man is a totally inexperienced, indecisive and ineffective leader. Nothing good can come of Obama's 'mulling'. Nothing good can come of Obama ! A President who does not command respect from adversaries is ill fit to be Commander-N-Chief. Obama, hire a ' Decision Tzar' to decide for you ! Oh, but then he could decide on who to hire to help him decide ! Like another well-know political flop he seems to be for everything before he was against it .
An investigation, by experts in the field, based on suspicions by people around the world, finds evidence to suggest the suspicions are true, and the Israeli and US governments take the position that to act on those suspicions is a bad thing. An investigation, by experts in the field, based on suspicions by people around the world, finds no evidence to suggest the suspicions are true, and the Israeli and US governments take the position that to act on those suspicions is a good thing. Why, when Goldstone's inspection turns up evidence, is it a good thing not to act, but when ElBaradei's inspection turns up no evidence, is it a good thing to act?
good old Uncle Sucker into waiting until their little nuclear project is finished. Obama will still be talking about sanctions when the first IAF flight leaves the runway !
The 60's 70's talk is in relation to what they fear most a Cuban missile crisis type naval embargo. Forcing them to accept the terms of an embargo or declare war. If at the end of the process of diplomacy, sanctions a military option is on the table. Before that point is reached a naval embargo is a viable option in the Gulf of Oman and other Iranian ports in the Arabian Sea. For two reasons one the Iran counter to a military strike is closing the Straits of Hormuz, second pre-emptive military action by Iran. That means when the military option is one the table, the PRC cannot veto it as Iran will have to strike the first blow. The laws passed last year in relation to weapons for terrorists means I can stop, board and send any ship I suspect to another port for further inspections, it can take over a month to search a ship. I have UN sanction in regards to nuclear technology and material I can do the same to any ship entering the Gulf of Oman for an Iranian port. I got the powers man.
Years of endless negotations, no results, just mulling What a crock, Iran has the nations of the world by the short hairs and enjoys laughing about it