Iran Nuclear Watch: Iran Rejects China and Russia Calls for a Quick Response to P-5-plus-1 Proposal

Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki, adjusts his headphone as he attends in a news conference with Qatars First Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem bin Jabor Al Thani, in Tehran, Iran Tuesday July, 4, 2006.

AP: Iran rejects calls for quick nuke answer

Iran rejected Russia’s and China’s calls for a quick response to incentives to suspend its nuclear program, indicating Tuesday that it wanted to negotiate the terms of the offer.

Reuters: China urges Iran to respond to nuclear package

China urged Iran on Tuesday to respond to a package of incentives to stop enriching uranium and called on G8 powers to show patience, saying the standoff over Iran’s nuclear plans had entered a crucial phase. Iran’s nuclear ambitions are expected to dominate the Group of Eight summit in Moscow this week as members wait for Tehran to formally respond to a proposal backed by the five permanent members of the U.N Security Council and Germany.

AP: Russiaâ€™s Putin urges Iran to accept international nuclear proposals

Russian President Vladimir Putin today urged Iran to accept an international package of incentives aimed at defusing a standoff over Tehranâ€™s nuclear program.

“We would really like Iran to accept the proposals of the partners,â€ said Putin, referring to a package put forward by the United States, Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany.

Tomorrow, senior EU envoy Javier Solana will urge top Iranian nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani that Iran must accept the terms of the package by July 12, when foreign ministers of the five permanent Security Council nations and Germany consult in Paris, diplomats said.

Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki restated Iran’s position that its response to the offer â€” from the United States, Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany â€” will come in mid-August.

“The August date announced by Iran was based on the necessity for a comprehensive and accurate study of the package and is unalterable,” the official Islamic Republic News Agency quoted Mottaki as saying.

Mottaki indicated that Tehran hoped to negotiate the terms of the package before responding to demands that include an Iranian freeze of uranium enrichment during any negotiations.

“What can happen until that date (mid-August) is talks between Iran, the European Union and other countries that contributed in drawing up the package,” he said.

This Iranian manipulation of the Western Media cycle is ludicrous. Now, Iran wants to negotiate about the time they will begin to negotiate the terms of an offer that has been established for many years – Iran MUST halt uranium enrichment.

Iran has not been able to work out a solution to Condoleezza Rice’s gambit and will therefore STALL. In the meantime, the uranium enrichment centrifuges in Natanz continue to spin.

Later today, senior EU envoy Javier Solana will present to Iran the July 12 deadline. Iran will simply decline and say it requires an additional thirty days – like Iran said the first time. Will the P-5, plus 1 have the cojones to refer Iran to the United Nations Security Council?

Doubtful.

France or Germany will probably cave and Iran will have until mid-August – like Iran said the first time.

Russia’s President Putin will have to deal with Iran nuclear discussions controlling the G-8 summit in St. Petersburg mid-July.

Iran’s answer is NO. The P-5-plus-1 should immediately refer to Iran to the United Nations Security Council. Make Russia and China either abstain or vote against Iranian economic sanctions, so the United States and Israel can really deal with Iran’s nuclear program. Further negotiations with Iran regarding the P-5-plus-1 proposal are a complete waste of time.