Natter, natter, natter...PARIS (AP) - Six world powers made "substantive progress" but failed to reach an accord on a U.N. resolution to punish Iran for defying U.N. demands to halt its nuclear program, the French Foreign Ministry said after talks in Paris Tuesday.
We were this close.
Tehran made a new threat of retaliation if the powers opted for sanctions.
We will kill you all if you threaten us!
"We made substantive progress on the scope of the sanctions targeting proliferation-sensitive activities. There remain several outstanding issues, upon which we will reflect over the coming days," the French ministry said in a statement. "We are now close to a conclusion of this process."
Yeah, we can see the end of it, too - from way over here. Zip. Zilch. Nada.
The talks brought together diplomats from the United States, Britain, China, France and Russia - the permanent members of the U.N. Security Council - as well as Germany and a representative of EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana.
Lunch!
The United States and France were hoping the Paris talks would secure agreement on sanctions against Iran. But Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said earlier that imposing wide-ranging sanctions would be "irresponsible."
That's why they talked. To come to a concensus that it was a total waste of time.
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad vowed Tuesday to stick by the nuclear program and issued a new threat to downgrade relations with the 25-nation EU if European negotiators opted for tough U.N. sanctions. He gave no details on how ties might be downgraded. The EU is Iran's biggest trading partner.
We don't care what you do or say. We will have our nukies! We will punish you!
The Security Council has been at odds over how to deal with Iran's defiance of an Aug. 31 U.N. deadline to halt uranium enrichment. Western powers accuse Iran of seeking nuclear bombs, while Tehran insists it only wants nuclear energy.
Sheesh.
The Europeans and Americans want tough sanctions; Russia and China have pushed for dialogue, despite the failure of an EU effort to bring the Iranians to the negotiating table.
Stalemateski is good.
A European draft U.N. resolution tabled in October would order all countries to ban the supply of materials and technology that could contribute to Iran's nuclear and missile programs. Lavrov said Russia supported such measures.
Yeah, but...
But Russia has resisted the imposition of a travel ban and an asset freeze on companies, individuals and organizations involved in those programs.
It might affect our cash flow...
Kristen Silverberg, a U.S. assistant secretary of state, urged Russia and China to back the European proposals. "We think it's time for the Russians and the Chinese to accept the European text," Silverberg said in Berlin.
*snicker*
In Washington, State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said officials in Paris were trying to resolve their differences over both language and substantive issues. "We are looking for consensus and unity here," he said, adding that he hoped an agreement would be reached soon. "We are coming up to the time (when) the credibility of the U.N. is at stake."
Lol - we be waay past that, Sean, my boy.
The draft resolution would exempt a nuclear power plant being built by the Russians at Bushehr in Iran, but not the nuclear fuel needed for the reactor.
Boneski.
Russia proposed major changes that would limit any travel ban, asset freeze or mention of Bushehr.
Cashski.
Meanwhile, French presidential candidate Segolene Royal said she would press the international community to ban Iran's access to nuclear power altogether if she is elected next year.
Dreamski.
The Socialist's stance on Iran is tougher than France's position. Paris wants to punish Tehran for failing to halt uranium enrichment - which can produce material for atomic warheads as well as energy - but it says that, in principle, Iran can have access to nuclear power.
Bullshitski.
Iran says it is entitled as a signatory to the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty to enrich uranium for peaceful purposes.
Boomski.