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| Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
| 6 nations plan to sign off on Iran package |
| 2006-05-29 |
| U.S., Russian, Chinese and European officials plan to sign off this week on a package of incentives and penalties meant to reward Iran if it gives up uranium enrichment — and punish it if it doesn't, diplomats said Monday. Agreement by the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council plus Germany could open the way for sanctions if Tehran remains defiant and refuses to abandon technology that can be used to make the fissile core of nuclear warheads. Their meeting was set for Thursday in Vienna, said the diplomats, who demanded anonymity for divulging the confidential information. Tehran appeared unimpressed: One official repeated that Iran is permitted to enrich uranium for peaceful purposes under the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty. Another announced that his country had experimented in technology that can be used to make the hydrogen bomb. The Security Council gave Iran until the end of April to suspend all such activities. Instead of complying, Iran announced last month that it had for the first time successfully enriched uranium and was doing research on advanced centrifuges to produce more of the material in less time. Indirectly linked to any possible deal for Iran would be agreement on a resolution tough enough for Washington but acceptable to Tehran ally Moscow, a dispute that has hobbled action by the Security Council's permanent members for months. If Iran remains defiant, the proposal — as outlined to AP by diplomats familiar with the text — calls for a resolution imposing sanctions under Chapter VII, Article 41 of the U.N. Charter. But it avoids any reference to Article 42, which is the trigger for possible military action to enforce any such resolution. The proposal also calls for new consultations among the five permanent Security Council members on any further steps against Iran — a move meant to dispel complaints by the Russians and Chinese that once the screws on Iran are tightened, the council would automatically move toward military involvement. Among the possible sanctions are a visa ban on government officials, the freezing of assets, blocking financial transactions by government figures and those involved in the country's nuclear program, an arms embargo and a blockade on the shipping of refined oil products to Iran. Nice. While Iran plans to nuke us, we plan to deny them visas. If Tehran agrees to suspend enrichment, enter new negotiations on its nuclear program and lift a ban on intrusive inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency, rewards would include agreement to "suspend discussion of Iran's file at the Security Council," as well as help in building a peaceful domestic nuclear program that uses an outside supply of enriched uranium. |
| Posted by:ed |
| #1 Have we really, truly and closely looked at the pony option? Maybe 60 or so well behaved Mistys with quality tack could turn the corner on this nightmare. |
| Posted by: 6 2006-05-29 14:19 |