Iran Nuclear Watch: Big 6 Agree on Iran Nuclear Incentives and Sanctions (?)

French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy and U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice listen to Britain’s Foreign Minister Margaret Beckett, from left, during a press briefing after a meeting at the British Residence in Vienna, Thursday June 1, 2006. Six world powers meeting to discuss the crisis over Iran’s nuclear program agreed Thursday on a ‘significant’ package of incentives to convince Tehran to halt uranium enrichment, Beckett said.

ASSociated Press: 6 world powers agree on Iran incentives

Six world powers agreed Thursday to offer Iran a new choice of rewards if it gives up suspect nuclear activities or punishment if it refuses, a gambit that could either defuse a global confrontation with the Islamic regime or hasten one.

“There are two paths ahead,” British Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett said in announcing agreement among the United States, Britain, France, Germany, Russia and China on a package deal for Iran that carries the threat of United Nations sanctions.

The package would be on the table for a proposed new round of bargaining with Tehran over what the West calls a rogue nuclear program that could produce a bomb. The U.S., in a major policy shift, agreed this week to join those talks under certain conditions. It would be the first major public negotiations between the adversaries in more than a quarter century.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice met with the foreign ministers from the European nations that led talks with Iran that stalled last year. Also present were representatives of Russia and China, which have been Tehran’s trading partners and might join in any future talks with Iran.

Last chance for Iran before Russia and China are forced to vote in the United Nations Security Council.

The United States has now earned sufficient diplomatic cover to impose its own sanctions on Iran if the UNSC fails to act.

After Friday prayers, let’s see what President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has to say.

Probably nothing diplomatic……..

And what about sanctions?

The powers agreed privately, however, that Iran could face tough U.N. Security Council sanctions if it fails to give up the enrichment of uranium and other disputed nuclear activities, U.S. officials said.

Diplomats feared Iran would immediately reject any invitation to bargain if the threat of sanctions was explicit, officials involved in the discussions said on condition of anonymity because the seven-party negotiations were private.

The foreign ministers’ statement threatens unspecified “further steps” in the Security Council.

The group’s statement also contained no details of the incentives to be offered to Iran in the coming days. Diplomats previously have said the package includes help developing legitimate nuclear power plants and various economic benefits.

Oh, sanctions to be named later……..SIGH……

Stay tuned……..