Iran Nuclear Watch: Russia Rebukes Iran Over Withdrawl from Uranium Enrichment Negotiations

ASSociated Press:Iranian Rejection Draws Rebuke From Russia

Iran on Sunday ruled out a proposal to conduct uranium enrichment on Russian territory, drawing a harsh rebuke from a lawmaker in Moscow who said the move destroyed the only chance for a compromise in the standoff over Tehran’s suspect nuclear program.
The announcement came as the permanent members of the U.N. Security Council â€” the United States, Russia, China, Britain and France â€” were to meet this week to discuss a draft statement aimed at increasing the pressure on Iran to resolve questions about its nuclear activities amid heightened fears they are aimed at developing atomic weapons.

Moscow has sought to persuade Iran to move its enrichment program to Russian territory, which would allow closer international monitoring. Iran said previously that basic agreement had been reached on the plan but details were never worked out.

“The Russian proposal is not on our agenda anymore,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Hamid Reza Asefi said. “Circumstances have changed. We have to wait and see how things go with the five veto-holding countries (on the council).”

Asefi’s comments to reporters effectively mean the Russian proposal is dead the nuclear watchdog International Atomic Energy Agency referred Iran to the council, which could impose political and economic sanctions.

Does this remind the Russians about a story about a wounded snake nursed back to health. The former Soviets need business and they thought the Iranians would PAY them to be their friends. A lesson learned or disinformation…….?

In Moscow, Konstantin Kosachev, the head of international affairs committee of the lower house of parliament, said Iran’s decision meant the end of chances for a compromise on the issue, according to Russian news reports.

Kosachev also warned Tehran that its refusal to continue talks on the Russian offer could “radicalize” the Security Council’s debate, the Interfax and RIA Novosti news agencies said.

The United Nations Security Council will do NOTHING to Iran. The United States and Israel will impose their own sanctions by militarily destroying Iran’s nuclear sites. All of these negotiations and diplomatic back and forth have been BULL. Ultimately, when the POINT OF NO RETURN is reached the United States and Israel WILL act.

Meanwhile in Iran……..

Iran has insisted it will never give up its right under the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty to enrich uranium and produce nuclear fuel. It restarted research-scale uranium enrichment last month, two years after voluntarily freezing the program during talks with Germany, Britain and France.

Mottaki, the foreign minister, reiterated a veiled warning that Iran may consider withdrawing from the NPT if its right to enrich uranium and produce nuclear fuel is not respected.

“If we reach a point that the existing rules don’t meet the right of the Iranian nation, the Islamic Republic of Iran may reconsider policies,” he said.

Oh and we thought Iran would honor its committments to the NPT? More diplomatic doublespeak and whining.

The ball continues in President Bush’s court……

Stay tuned……

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