Iran Nuclear Watch: United Nations Security Council Stalled But Diplomats Express Urgency
China’s ambassador to the UN Wang Guangya speaks to the press about the nuclear weapons situation in Iran, at the UN headquarters in New York on 17 March. A deadlocked UN Security Council put off a scheduled meeting to allow more time to narrow differences on a Franco-British statement on the Iranian nuclear crisis, diplomats said.
New York Times: Security Council Is Stalled Over Iran’s Nuclear Program
After nearly two weeks of haggling, a deadlocked Security Council put off full consideration of Iran’s nuclear program on Tuesday, amid indications that Iran was close to taking a major step in its efforts to enrich uranium.
Britain and France had promoted a statement calling on Iran to abandon its uranium activities, which the West believes is part of a nuclear weapons program. With American support, Britain and France want a two-week deadline with threats of possible punishment, but have met resistance from China and Russia.
The Europeans said Tuesday that they would consult on possible revisions that could draw the unanimous support needed for the statement from all 15 Security Council members. The postponement followed a four-hour meeting on Monday of senior Foreign Ministry officials of Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States.
YAWN…..why are the Europeans holding out hope for the U.N. Security Council? Russia and China will NEVER approve any sort of sanction. This entire referral is a lesson in futility.
But, now it turns out that Iran has been stalling for a PURPOSE.
The impasse generated frustration among European and American negotiators, who said within the last week that the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna had briefed officials on Iran’s uranium activities at its Natanz complex.
Diplomats from different countries, who declined to be identified because they were discussing sensitive classified information, said Iran appeared on the verge of assembling 164 centrifuges, the number needed to form a “cascade” mechanism that could enrich uranium for nuclear energy or, eventually, bombs.
In effect, they said the 164 centrifuges would significantly increase Iran’s ability to make weapons, in defiance of demands by the United States, Britain, France, Germany and the United States that it cease its uranium activities immediately.
“What this means is that time is not on our side,” a European diplomat said. “It means that while we are negotiating, Iran is not wasting its time.”
The Quotes:
France’s ambassador, Jean-Marc de la Sablière, said: “It seems to me we will need some time, a few days, I suppose. But we don’t have much time. I guess that we will have to come to the end of discussion very soon. But I cannot tell you exactly when.”
R. Nicholas Burns, under secretary of state for political affairs, turned aside such speculation, saying in a telephone interview from Washington that he had heard strong sentiment for a statement at the Monday meeting, at which he represented the United States.
“We believe that the members of the Security Council all have an interest in issuing this presidential statement, because the most important step we can now take is to send a common, united, clear message to Iran — that is, suspend your nuclear program and return to negotiations,” he said. “It may take some time to achieve the final wording, but we believe that goal is attainable.”
The Point of No Return is fast approaching. but, don’t count on anything substantiative from the United Nations Security Council.
If the intelligence regarding the Natanz uranium centrifuges is correct, the Winds of War may be blowing in hurricane force very soon.
Stay tuned…..
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The Natanz uranium enrichment complex in Natanz is pictured in this January 2, 2006 satellite image.
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