[FREE IRAN Project] In The Spirit Of Cyrus The Great

[cyrus]

Iran rejection of nuclear deal becoming clear: Rice

By Carol Giacomo, Diplomatic Correspondence

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060105/pl_nm/nuclear_iran_usa_dc_2

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said on Thursday Iran's resumption of atomic fuel research would signal its rejection of a diplomatic solution to the nuclear crisis, but stopped short of saying this would finally trigger a U.S. push for U.N. Security Council action.

Rice said she hoped "diplomacy has not been exhausted," but added that it was "becoming clearer" Iranians are not accepting a diplomatic compromise that constrains their nuclear ambitions.

Rice addressed State Department reporters after President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Thursday Iran would resume atomic fuel research next week despite warnings from the West that this would endanger efforts to find a diplomatic compromise.

She said if Iran proceeded with sensitive nuclear research "it really will be a sign that they are not prepared ... to actually make diplomacy work."

Rice refused to be pinned down on a timeline for tougher diplomatic action, but said Washington will take the case to the Security Council at "a time of our choosing."

Another U.S. official, who is involved in nonproliferation issues but spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the diplomacy, told Reuters if Iran went ahead with the research on Monday as announced, the United States and its European allies likely would call an early meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency board of governors and push to have Iran's case referred to the Security Council, which could impose broad international sanctions.

The IAEA board is due to meet in early March, but that meeting could be moved forward, maybe to February, the official said.

MORE FLUID SITUATION

A European diplomat described the situation as much more fluid.

"The only thing I can say is we are intensifying our discussions but when and what kind of initiative will come out of it, it's still too early to say," said the diplomat, who also spoke on condition of anonymity.

The diplomat and two U.S. officials said it remains unclear whether key nuclear states Russia, China and India would side with any U.S.-EU initiative. Russia and China have veto power in the Security Council.

For two years, Washington has threatened elevating Iran's case to the Security Council but delayed forcing a showdown as other strategies were tried, or support from countries like Russia was lacking.

"We've always said that when it's clear that negotiations have been exhausted that we have the votes -- there is a resolution sitting there (in the IAEA board) about the Security Council -- and we'll vote it," Rice said.

A second European Union diplomat said resuming research would make it more likely Iran's case would go to the Security Council.

But he stressed it would still be irresponsible to walk away from negotiations, especially if Iran did not actually begin enriching uranium for nuclear fuel.

Iran says it needs nuclear technology to generate electricity and denies seeking nuclear weapons.

Years of IAEA inquiries have unearthed no clear proof of weapons activity. However, Iran has acknowledged pursuing covert energy-related nuclear programs for 18 years and in September, the IAEA board found the state in noncompliance with its obligations under the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

The EU 3 -- Britain, France and Germany -- have been trying with U.S. backing to resolve the conflict diplomatically.

Moscow tried to sweeten the deal by proposing a joint venture with Iran to enrich uranium in Russia but Iranian officials described the proposal as unacceptable.

[cyrus]

Rice Says Patience With Iran Waning

By ANNE GEARAN, AP Diplomatic Writer
Thu Jan 5, 11:09 AM ET

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060105/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/us_iran_1

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice signaled Thursday that time is running out for Iran to avoid being hauled before the U.N. Security Council over its disputed nuclear program, and she denied that the threat is mere "saber rattling."

Rice avoided declaring an end to negotiations between Tehran and European nations aimed at averting punishment at the powerful United Nations body. Her skepticism about progress in the talks was clear, however, and she chose unusually blunt language to lay out the probable next step.

"When it's clear that negotiations are exhausted, we have the votes" to take Iran before the Security Council for possible punishment, Rice told reporters. "There is a resolution sitting there for referral. We'll vote it."

The United States accuses Iran of using a program to develop nuclear power plants as a way of disguising ambitions to build nuclear weapons. Iran denies the accusation and has recently threatened to resume some nuclear research that was suspended during talks with the Europeans.

The United States is not a party to the talks, but is supporting European efforts to divert Iran from pursuing technology that could be used for bomb-making. The U.S. has no diplomatic relations with the nation that stormed the U.S. Embassy in Tehran in 1979 and held Americans hostage for more than a year.

Rice said world opinion is now almost universally arrayed against Iran's nuclear position, and she implied that the United States and its allies hold the cards.

"We've carefully built a consensus" about the dangers of a nuclear Iran and what to do about it, Rice said. "That's not saber rattling, that's diplomacy ... and diplomacy includes what you do in the Security Council."

Iran reneged Thursday on a pledge to provide the head of the U.N. nuclear watchdog agency with details of its plans to move toward uranium enrichment, failing to send representatives as promised for discussions on the program.

[Oppenheimer]

OPPIE"S QUOTE OF THE DAY:


"The patience of the international community cannot be stretched for long," said Konstantin Kosachev, head of the International Affairs' Committee in the lower house of parliament, on Echo Moscow radio. "First there will be the reaction of the IAEA, then the U.N. Security Council and I suspect that if provocations continue, Russia's stance will not be different from the stance of other permanent member countries of the Security Council."


Source:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/01/10/AR2006011000140.html