Posted on 04/30/2005 12:04:26 PM PDT by DoctorZIn
Top News Story
EU-Iran Nuclear Dispute Talks Fail, More Planned
Fri Apr 29, 2005 08:22 PM ET
By Madeline Chambers
LONDON (Reuters) - The European Union's so-called "Big Three" and Iran failed to reach agreement over Tehran's nuclear program on Friday but decided to hold more talks in the future.
Iran had threatened before the five-hour meeting to resume sensitive atomic activities unless France, Britain and Germany agreed to allow it to carry out small-scale uranium enrichment.
"The informal talks have concluded. No conclusions were reached and both sides, the EU Three and Iran, have agreed to go away and reflect on what was discussed and to continue the discussions in future," said a British Foreign Office spokesman.
No immediate comment was available from Iran, accused by the United States of having a secret agenda to develop nuclear weapons. Tehran denies the U.S. charge, saying its nuclear program is solely for the generation of power.
The EU's three biggest powers, which share Washington's concerns, are spearheading talks aimed at persuading Iran to scrap its atomic fuel program in exchange for economic and political incentives. Tehran has so far refused.
The latest proposal from Tehran suggests it be allowed to build up its uranium enrichment program in stages, beginning with a small "pilot" enrichment plant and ending with a commercial-scale complex.
HARD NEGOTIATIONS
The EU powers hope to leave the hard negotiations on Tehran's atomic ambitions until after Iran's June 17 presidential elections on grounds that campaigning for the ballot could produce heightened tensions.
"We don't want to break things up now and have a row. We want to continue the negotiating process after the Iranian election," said a European diplomat, declining to be identified.
But a senior Iranian official, Sirus Naseri, said before the London meeting he wanted agreement soon.
"The foundation for agreement is in place," said Naseri. "We think it is unreasonable to avoid agreement," he added, insisting he was not putting "undue pressure" on the EU powers.
Iran has suspended its enrichment program under international pressure, but four months of talks with the Europeans have yielded no breakthrough and Iran says the program must resume.
"If there is no agreement and the Europeans insist on further time ... we may have to readjust the situation so it will be a more balanced position. It will not be balanced if the suspension will remain," said Naseri, in an apparent threat to resume enrichment unilaterally.
He later told Iran's official news agency IRNA: "In case of not reaching an agreement in London, Iran might be obliged to resume part of its uranium enrichment program, but in that case it will still continue the talks."
Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, an influential former Iranian president preparing to run again in June, said Tehran was determined to embark on uranium enrichment and other branches of nuclear technology.
"And we will have it at any cost," he told worshippers in Tehran.
Washington warned Tehran not to leave the negotiating table or resume any parts of its enrichment program.
It also reminded the EU of its pledge to help refer Iran's case to the U.N. Security Council, which could lead to economic sanctions, if Tehran followed through on its latest threats.
"If Iran chooses to walk away from talks with the EU Three and end its current suspension ... the EU Three have already made clear to Iran that they would work with us and others to report Iran's nuclear program to the U.N. Security Council," a U.S. official in Vienna told Reuters on condition of anonymity.
EU diplomats say Tehran knows the idea of "pilot" enrichment is unacceptable to them and to Washington, which takes a harder line than the Europeans despite last month giving its backing to the diplomatic initiative.p>
DoctorZin:
Unfortunately, I was right. I predicted this response earlier today. It was the worst possible response, as it will slow down U.S. efforts to support a regime change inside of Iran this summer. Read my analysis here.
- Iran Focus reports that the European Parliament adopted a resolution yesterday, calling on Iran to end its increasing human rights violations.
- Reuters reports that the Russian nuclear fuel shipments for a Moscow-built nuclear reactor in Iran is set to begin soon.
- ActivistChat.com asks Why? - (Good Question!)
- The Wall Street Journal reports on why Iran is in violation with the NPT?
- The White House, President Bush's Remarks - excerpts on Iran.
- United Press International reports on Russia's Position on Iran.
- Islamic republic News Agency reports "For the People of Iran, Vote Blair Out."
- Reuters reports that Rafsanjani said uranium enrichment is a right that Iran will never give up and Iran's suspension of uranium enrichment activities, which can produce bomb-grade fuel, will not last long.
- Deutsche Welle reports the EU3/Iran negotiations are basically on hold until after Iranian presidential elections in June.
- The Washington Times reports that the proposed sale by the U.S. to Israel of 100 bunker-busting bombs was intended primarily as a warning to Iran because Israel already produces such bombs.
- WorldNetDaily.com reports that the organizers of the "Iran Liberty Walk" to promote peaceful, democratic change in Tehran announced the 209-mile route.
- The Washington Times provides an analysis of the coming Iranian Presidential election.
- Expatica reports that an inquiry is under way into accusations that a Belgian company sold military material illegally to Iran.
- Islamic Republic News Agency reports that Spain will seek to help resolve Iran's nuclear dossier.
- AmericanDaily.com asks "Could Iran Checkmate America?"
- Women's eNews published an article from inside Iran asking the question: Why Was My Passport Taken?
- And finally, WorldNetDaily.com reports that an Iranian military journal has publicly considered the idea of launching an electromagnetic pulse attack as the key to defeating the world's lone superpower.
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Suuuure, they have.
Join Us At Today's Iranian Alert Thread – The Most Underreported Story Of The Year!
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We have three Carrier task Forces in the area and Israel has asked to by Blockbuster bombs, I believe the talking is about over.
FREEDOM FOR IRAN NOW
I'm not sure if the three Carrier Group Task Forces can stay deployed until the blockade is put into effect, which would be late summer, early fall at the earliest. I can't see Bush authorizing the blockade any sooner than August. Have the sham election in June, waste some time and go to UN Security Council (the other four permanent members have already vowed to vote against a blockade, perhaps even veto it if enough money changes hands), and then do it unilaterally (again).
I wouldn't want exhausted sailors manning the task forces. There's no doubt in my mine that if there is a comprehensive blockade, that Iran would retaliate hard, probably (at least) by attacking the blockade, and maybe blaming al-Qaeda for it. Iran knows that a critical time is coming. They are dead, like the neighboring Saddam regime, if they just wait for the Americans. I expect Iran to first ratchet up the regional insurgency to maximum, then unleash the full power of their military (what that is, I don't know, but it is certainly far less that the American military. Their conventional forces appear to have the strength of 1991 Iraq).
This is what makes the possibility of an Iranian-launched EMP attack on America so concerning. I HIGHLY doubt that Iran could pull something like that off, even if they had the bomb. I'd sooner believe that North Korea would do it.
But think of that - an operational alliance between Iran and North Korea (they already exchange cash and weapons). Iran could neutralize the eastern US, and NK could do the western US. They might be gambling that the US would be sufficiently neutralized. Hey, it might even just be the opening salvo of a multi-national war on the US. America would be brought to its knees. China might come over. The DoD believes that China's goal in relation to its military buildup is to destroy the United States.
There are several / many countries, I believe, that think the US-led War on Terror has gone far enough.
The talks failed because the EU wanted them to fail, as a diplomatic shot at us. It was a mistake to even involve the EU. Regardless of the costs we or Israel (or both) must attack now before they get a nuclear bomb.
To read today’s thread click here.
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