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| Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
| Khamenei: No benefit to talks with US |
| 2006-06-29 |
| Iran’s supreme leader said yesterday that the country would not benefit from negotiations with the US, playing down the significance of a prominent element in proposals to defuse a nuclear standoff. Washington, which broke ties with Tehran in 1980, said it would join the European Union’s (EU’s) direct talks with Iran if Tehran first agreed to suspend uranium enrichment. The offer came in a package of incentives backed by six world powers. The White House said it did not view Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s comment as Iran’s final word on its offer, viewed as a major policy shift in Washington and by some analysts, particularly in the west, as a possible deal clincher. But Iran has shown no sign it is ready to stop enrichment and says it is suspicious of Washington’s motives. “Negotiating with America does not have any benefit for us and we do not need such negotiations,” Khamenei was quoted as saying by state television. Iran has yet to respond to the package but is under mounting western pressure to give a reply by a mid-July summit of leaders from the Group of Eight industrial countries in Russia. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has said Iran will reply by August 22. The US says this is too long. Analysts said Khamenei’s remarks might indicate pessimism in the leadership that talks would yield results and sent a message that Iran would not be swayed by a US offer to meet. “Iran is giving the message that Iran doesn’t trust America and does not believe America has changed its position,” said analyst Mahmoud Alinejad. Khamenei did not rule out nuclear negotiations, although he insisted any such talks would be on Iranian terms. “We will not negotiate with anybody on our certain right to use nuclear technology. “However, if they recognise this right for us, we are prepared to talk about international controls, supervision and guarantees, and the grounds for such negotiations have been prepared,” Khamenei said. White House spokesman Tony Snow said that there was a pattern of “differing voices coming out of Iran”. The US expected the official reaction to be delivered through EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana from Iran’s chief nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani, Snow said. British Foreign Minister Margaret Beckett said major world powers were pressing Iran for a further meeting between Solana and Larijani. Time's up. Game. Set. Match. Yo ass. |
| Posted by:flyover |
| #2 The Iranians are trying to run out the clock, betting the Dems will take charge in November. Bad bet. |
| Posted by: RWV 2006-06-29 23:04 |
| #1 He's right, US shouldn't be willing to talk to these assholes anyway. "It's a hard rain gonna fall" (Bob Dylan) |
| Posted by: Captain America 2006-06-29 10:22 |