Posted on 10/27/2004 6:57:56 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
TEHRAN, Iran (AP) - Iran's supreme leader rejected a long-term suspension of uranium enrichment on Wednesday and threatened to withdraw from talks with European negotiators if they insist on such a suspension.
"A long term suspension of enrichment is a discussion without logic," state-run television quoted Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as saying.
Khamenei, who has the final say on all state matters, made the comments as Iranian diplomats ended a second round of talks with officials from Britain, France and Germany without agreement.
At the talks in Vienna, Austria, the key three European powers offered Iran a trade deal and peaceful nuclear technology - including a light-water research reactor - in return for assurances that the country will stop uranium enrichment indefinitely.
Uranium enrichment can produce nuclear fuel or atomic weapons.
The three European countries have warned that most European states will back Washington's call to refer Iran's nuclear file to the U.N. Security Council for possible economic sanctions if Tehran doesn't give up all uranium enrichment activities before the Nov. 25 meeting of the U.N. nuclear watchdog.
"If there is any form of threat in the talks, it will show a lack of logic on the part of (Iran's) partners in the negotiations," the television quoted Khamenei as saying.
"In that case, the great Iranian nation and the Islamic Republic of Iran will reconsider the very basis of negotiations and cooperation."
ping
Much as I hate to say it, "bunker buster" testing grounds...?
Bump
Don't worry -- if Kerry's elected he'll send good ole Jimmah Carter. He'll fix us up just like he did in North Korea.
Isreal start loading up the jets.
We should start bombing them now, before the election.
Yup,with allies like FRance and Russia, who needs enemies?
Makes ya wonder what the hell our past leaders and cohorts for peace were thinking, sometimes.
I think WE should threaten to end Iran!!!
I wonder sometimes about these diplomats. Don't they know the vary basic rule about diplomacy is that when talks break down war begins.
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