Iran Nuclear Watch: Iran Says Western proposal ‘positive’

President Bush speaks to reporters during a visit to the Laredo Border Patrol Sector Headquarters in Laredo, Texas, Tuesday, June 6, 2006. President Bush said Tuesday that Iran’s initial response to a package of incentives and threats on the nuclear impasse ‘sounds like a positive step to me.’

ASSociated Press: Iran says Western proposal ‘positive’

Iran and the United States had a rare moment of agreement Tuesday, using similar language to describe “positive steps” toward an accord on a package of incentives aimed at persuading Tehran to suspend uranium enrichment.

Diplomats said the incentives include a previously undisclosed offer of some U.S. nuclear technology on top of European help in building light-water nuclear reactors. Other incentives include allowing Iran to buy spare airplane parts and support for joining the World Trade Organization.

Tehran is under intense international pressure to accept the deal in exchange for putting on hold a uranium enrichment program that the West fears could lead to the creation of nuclear weapons.

Iran’s top nuclear negotiator, Ali Larijani, said the proposals had “positive steps” but that talks were needed to clear up ambiguities. Iran promised to study the proposals seriously, but gave no timeframe for a response.

And Bush, using the same language, said Iran’s initial response “sounds like a positive step.”

Before the world and Iran sings Cum Ba Ya, My Lord, Iran must first stop its uranium enrichment program. This is something that President Ahmadinejad and the Mullahs maintain is their sovereign right.

Crucially, the deal does not demand that Iran outright give up its uranium enrichment program â€” only suspend it, although likely for a long time. Two earlier diplomatic initiatives by Europe and Russia crumbled over the past year because each demanded Iran scrap enrichment completely â€” a stumbling block because of the program’s wide popularity with the Iranian public.

But, the likely outcome of Iranian acceptance of the deal is the provision of sufficient nuclear technology and material to establish peaceful nuclear operations within Iran. So, why would they desire a uranium enrichment program? – except to manufacture nuclear weapons.

Iran will have a difficult time in not accepting this offer.

But, does the United States and Israel expect Iran to accept.

NOPE.

Stay tuned…….