Iran Nuclear Watch

Iran Nuclear Watch: G- 8 Tells Iran To Reply Next Week to P-5-plus-1 Proposal


G8 Foreign Ministers meet in Moscow June 29, 2006.

Reuters: G8 tells Iran to reply next week to nuclear offer

The Group of Eight industrialized nations told Iran on Thursday to give a “clear and substantive response” next week to an offer by major powers over its nuclear program.

Iran has still not said whether it will accept a package of incentives given to it on June 6 by the five permanent, veto-wielding U.N. Security Council members — the United States, Britain, France, China and Russia — and Germany.

The United States has accused Iran of having a secret program to build nuclear weapons. Tehran denies the charge, saying its nuclear program is solely for power generation.

A statement issued by the G8 foreign ministers said: “We are disappointed by the absence of an official Iranian response to this positive proposal.

“We expect to hear a clear and substantive response to these proposals at the planned meeting of (EU foreign policy chief) Javier Solana …. and (Iranian negotiator) Ali Larijani on July 5 and to bring these discussions to a rapid conclusion”.

The statement came after talks between U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and foreign ministers from Russia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and Britain who were in Moscow to prepare for a G8 summit next month.

A July 5 deadline for Iran. Look for an ANY opportunity for Iran to stall since the centrifuges continue to run at Natanz.

French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy said that Iran must reply to an international plan for resolving the standoff over Tehran’s nuclear programme before the G8 summit in two weeks

The French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy was optimistic in his comments earlier today.

“We expect their reply before July 15,” Douste-Blazy said during a visit to Moscow for talks with other foreign ministers from the Group of Eight.

“It seems clear to me that Iran will say yes. Then there will be negotiations,” he said.

“If the response is negative between now and July 15, then it is clear that the international community will be firm and that in particular we will continue what we have begun in the (UN) Security Council,” he added, referring to discussions over potential measures against Iran.

“It is necessary to create conditions for a return to negotiations,” he said.

Also in Moscow Thursday EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana confirmed he would soon meet Iran’s top nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani, probably next Wednesday.

Solana, who is meeting with G8 foreign ministers in Moscow, said he would “probably meet July 5” and that the talks would be “in Europe, probably in Brussels.”

Flap is not as optimistic. Iran will now bloviate about being “ordered” to respond and there will be demonstrations in the streets of Tehran.

On the nuclear incentives, Tehran has said it will respond by August 22. The United States and the European Union have suggested they would like a response before the G8 summit on July 15-17.

China’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Jiang Yu also urged Iran on Thursday to respond “as soon as possible” to the offer.

Will the P-5-plus-1 be able to enforce a deadline?

Doubtful

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice (L) shakes hands with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov during the welcoming ceremony in Moscow. Foreign ministers of the Group of Eight (G8) countries have stepped up pressure on Iran over its nuclear programme as Moscow seeks to prevent next month’s G8 summit becoming a magnet for criticism of Russia’s democratic credentials.

Stay tuned……..

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Previous:

Iran Nuclear Watch: Germany Can Accept Iranian Uranium Enrichment?

Iran Nuclear Watch: G-8 Foreign Ministers to Nudge Iran?

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The Natanz uranium enrichment complex in Natanz is pictured in this January 2, 2006 satellite image.


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