Iran Nuclear Watch: Russia – “Decision on Iran Must Await IAEA Report”
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov speaks after a meeting with New Zealand’s counterpart Winston Peters in Moscow, Wednesday, April 19, 2006. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov called on Iran on Wednesday to halt all uranium enrichment activities, saying the international community is demanding ‘urgent and constructive steps’ from Tehran to ease concerns about its nuclear program, the ITAR-Tass news agency reported.
Russia said on Wednesday it would not be rushed into agreeing action against Iran over its nuclear program after the United States failed to win wide backing for sanctions at international talks in Moscow.
Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said a meeting of major powers in Moscow late on Tuesday had ended without consensus on sanctions because some, including Russia, wanted to wait until the U.N. atomic watchdog files a report on Iran on April 28.
However, British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said he doubted Iran would comply with U.N. demands by the deadline.
“No final documents were worked out as we are convinced of the need to wait for the IAEA report due at the end of the month,” Lavrov told reporters.
Nothing new here. Russia obstructs and Iran continues uranium enrichment.
However, the 28th deadline is looming and the United States WILL make Russia and China VETO a resolution for sanctions against Iran.
Russia and China oppose sanctions and both have vetoes in the United Nations Security Council.
The Security Council has asked the International Atomic Energy Agency to report by April 28 on Iran’s compliance with a council demand that it halt uranium enrichment by that date and answer outstanding questions on its nuclear program.
We are working on the basis that Iran will not meet the proposals from the Security Council on the 30-day deadline,” Straw told BBC Radio Four during a visit to Saudi Arabia.
“What is most likely to happen is that the matter will move back to the Security Council and there will then be discussions about the next steps.”
The 28th deadline will pass and the IAEA will report that Iran has not fully revealed their nuclear program. The United Nations Security Council then will take up the debate and the United States, Britain and France will press for sanctions. Will any meaninful resolution come out of the security council?
Extremely doubtful.
But, the EU and United States will have the “COVER” to impose their own travel and economic sanctions.
Iran will then respond and may precipitate reprisals.
Stay tuned…….
Iranian President, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, center, reviews army missiles during a parade ceremony commemorating Army Day in front of the mausoleum of the late revolutionary founder Ayatollah Khomeini just outside Tehran, Iran, Tuesday, April 18, 2006. Chief of the General Staff of Armed Forces, General Hasan Firouzabadi, stands at left.
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The Natanz uranium enrichment complex in Natanz is pictured in this January 2, 2006 satellite image.
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