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| UN Security Council to meet on Iran |
| 2006-01-30 |
| The European Union and United States will on Monday seek to persuade Russia and China to back tough diplomatic action against Iran over its disputed nuclear program before a crunch meeting on Thursday. Three days before the United Nations nuclear watchdog holds an emergency session in Vienna, at which the board could decide to send Iran to the U.N. Security Council, foreign ministers from the world powers will try to agree on a strategy. The European Union -- represented by France, Germany and Britain -- and United States want to haul Iran in front of the Security Council, which can impose sanctions, but Russia and China are not convinced. The Western nations fear Tehran will use its nuclear technology to develop atomic bombs. Iran says its program is meant only for peaceful purposes, including power generation. "The meeting comes at a crucial time and we will be seeking clarification of the Russian and Chinese positions," said a diplomat from the EU trio of France, Germany and Britain, which earlier this month called off talks with Iran. "We are still arguing for Iran to be reported to the Security Council," added the diplomat. Speaking to reporters en route to London, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said the meeting, over a private evening dinner, would look at many issues, including referral of Iran to the Council as well as a Russian compromise proposal. Reluctance from veto-wielding Security Council members Russia and China over imposing economic sanctions on Iran, threaten to undermine U.S. and European plans. Russia has business interests in Iran as it is helping to build Iran's first atomic reactor and China relies on oil from Iran, the world's fourth-biggest exporter of crude. On Sunday, Iran's foreign minister said negotiations were the only way to solve the dispute. Manouchehr Mottaki urged the nations to reconsider plans for Thursday's extraordinary meeting of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). He said a delay would provide an opportunity for further talks but warned escalating the case would have consequences, such as halting Iran's cooperation with the IAEA. Also on Monday, diplomats from the EU trio will meet top Iranian officials in Brussels. "It's up to Iran to explain how they will avoid what looks likely to happen at the IAEA next week," said the EU3 diplomat. Britain says nothing short of resuming a freeze on its sensitive nuclear activity will stop it seeking a referral. The EU3 has been tweaking the wording of a resolution for the February 2 IAEA meeting to reassure Moscow, say diplomats. Russia has suggested the IAEA could ask the Security Council to discuss Iran, but not consider sanctions, and then send it back to the IAEA. The foreign ministers will also discuss a compromise plan under which Russia would enrich Iranian uranium fuel. Rice said that had been proposed for some time and that Iran was becoming more interested in it only because of the possible vote on sending Tehran to the Security Council. "I think that says something about how really interested the Iranians are in the Russian proposal," she said. Dissidents revealed in 2002 that Iran had hidden nuclear activity for 18 years, prompting western nations to take action. Their resolve has been stiffened by Iran's calls to wipe out Israel and the EU trio's patience wore out last month when Iran removed IAEA seals from equipment that purifies uranium. |
| Posted by:Dan Darling |
| #4 Well, they do need to get together to discuss the specifics. For example, to let the Russians know for sure that we ain't funnin', and to tell the Iranians that--which we probably did a long time ago. |
| Posted by: Anonymoose 2006-01-30 18:42 |
| #3 C'mon, guys. The UN was designed to be a do-nothing hot air factory. Why the surprise when it performs to spec? |
| Posted by: mojo 2006-01-30 13:53 |
| #2 Another meeting to discuss the meeting about the meeting about the meeting about the resolution that was "illegibly" broken. All we need is one of those open ended unspecified actions if resolution broken and we can go on our way. As for the Russians if they block our way I would fully support and hope that our reaction would be to quietly manufacture some weapons grade just like the way the Iranians do to get the right signature then somehow let say the Chechens get some inbound for Moscow. Let Puty explain to his people about how their choice was right in sticken it to the evil US by supporting Iran. |
| Posted by: C-Low 2006-01-30 12:18 |
| #1 UN Security Council to meet on Iran And nothing substantial is likely to happen. |
| Posted by: Bomb-a-rama 2006-01-30 10:12 |