Iran Nuclear Watch: Vice President Cheney – “Iran Faces Meaningful Consequences”

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U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney speaks at the American Israel Public Affairs Committee Conference in Washington, March 7, 2006. Iran will not be allowed to have nuclear weapons and faces ‘meaningful consequences’ if it persists in defying the international community, Cheney said at the Pro-Israel lobbying group on Tuesday.

Reuters: Iran faces consequences in nuclear dispute: Cheney

Iran will not be allowed to have nuclear weapons and faces “meaningful consequences” if it persists in defying the international community, Vice President Dick Cheney said on Tuesday.

Cheney, speaking to the pro-Israel lobbying group AIPAC, also reaffirmed that the United States was keeping all options on the table — including military force — in its determination to prevent Iran from developing nuclear arms.

“The Iranian regime needs to know that if it stays on its present course the international community is prepared to impose meaningful consequences,” Cheney said.

Cheney spoke as the 35-nation International Atomic Energy Agency governing board was meeting in Vienna to decide its next steps on Iran.

“For our part, the United States is keeping all options on the table. … We will not allow Iran to have a nuclear weapon,” Cheney said.

The United States and Israel KNOW that the ball is in their court and that the European Union, Russia and China will be of LITTLE help in stopping Iran’s desire for nuclear weapons.

U.S. Undersecretary of State Nicholas Burns said late on Monday that Washington would seek to have European allies and others, possibly including Russia and China, join it in imposing travel and financial sanctions on Iran if it refused to halt nuclear uranium enrichment.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice had dinner on Monday night with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and was to hold further meetings on Tuesday.

All of this is a United States State Department sponsored and a measured response to curry favor with the international community.

However, make NO MISTAKE the United States and Israel WILL NOT ALLOW Iran to continue with their nuclear program.

Stay tuned…..

Update #1

ASSociated Press: Iran Offers to Suspend Uranium Enrichment

Iran is offering to suspend full-scale uranium enrichment for up to two years, a diplomat said Tuesday. But the move was unlikely to deflect pending U.N. Security Council action over the activity, which can be used to make nuclear arms.

YAWN…….for up to Two years. The United States position is NO uranium enrichment PERIOD.

In Washington, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said any enrichment of nuclear fuel on Iranian territory was unacceptable, and Russia appeared to close ranks with the United States over the issue.

Iran’s envoy to the International Atomic Energy Agency also said his country was not prepared to freeze small-scale enrichment, a key demand of Moscow, Washington and the European Union, along with many other nations.

“We’ve spent a lot on this,” said the envoy, Ali Asghar Soltanieh, outside a 35-nation IAEA board meeting that is preparing to focus on Iran.

Rice delivered the tough message â€” but shied away from warning of immediate U.N. sanctions â€” after meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

“We will see what is necessary to do in the Security Council,” Rice said, adding that there was still time for Iran to change its ways.

Iran stalls to the last minute.

Good Grief………..

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