Iran Nuclear Watch: Ahmadinejad Warns P-5-Plus-1 About Sanctions

ranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is pictured in Tehran, December 2. High-ranking diplomats from six world powers were preparing to meet in Paris in search of a sanctions package against Iran, as Tehran warned that it would take any attempt to thwart its nuclear programme as an “act of hostility”

AP: Ahmadinejad issues warning on sanctions

Iran’s president warned Washington’s European allies on Tuesday that Iran would reconsider its relations with them if they insist on punishing Tehran for its nuclear program, saying that would amount to an act of “hostility.”

His comments came ahead of a meeting in Paris of diplomats from the United States, Britain, France, China, Russia, and Germany to discuss imposing penalties on Iran for refusing to stop uranium enrichment.

“I’m telling you in plain language that as of now on, if you try, whether in your propaganda or at international organizations, to take steps against the rights of the Iranian nation, the Iranian nation will consider it an act of hostility,” President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said in a speech before thousands in northern Iran.

“And if you insist on pursuing this path,” he continued, Iran “will reconsider its relations with you.”

It was the first time that Ahmadinejad had threatened to downgrade relations with European nations, which are responsible of a large portion of Iran’s international trade. It was not clear what steps Ahmadinejad had in mind. The president does not have the final word in Iran â€” that lies with supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. When Ahmadinejad on one occasion was quoted as threatening to retaliate against the West by restricting oil sales, he was quickly countermanded.

As Flap has maintained for months there will be NO MEANINGFUL UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL SANCTIONS.

This statement by Ahmadinejad is an “IN YOUR FACE” moment to Europe – warning them that any cooperation with the United States to impose any type of sanction will result in “hostility” with Iran.

Russia earlier today reiterated its opposition to Iran nuclear sanctions.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Tuesday that imposing wide-ranging sanctions on Iran for its nuclear program would be “irresponsible.”

“Our Western partners wanted to impose broad sanctions. We believe that to impose these kind of sanctions is irresponsible. We will achieve the opposite results,” he said at a meeting in Brussels.

U.S. Undersecretary of State Nicholas Burns is seen in Berlin in this September 8, 2006 file photo. Burns said he did not expect a breakthrough at a meeting in Paris on Tuesday of major powers to discuss possible sanctions against Iran for its nuclear programme.

So, it is unlikey that today’s meeting in Paris will support Iran sanctions – as the hundreds of meetings and conversations previously. What, then, is America’s strategy in dealing with the obvious “STALL GAME” of Iran?

Israel does not believe the United States will undertake any preemptive military action.

Predicting Iran will obtain nuclear weapons by the end of the decade, the defense establishment’s new and updated assessment for 2007 does not foresee the United States undertaking a preemptive strike on Iran’s nuclear installations, The Jerusalem Post has learned.

The chances of an American strike are deemed “low,” according to assessments by the security establishment. Israel also believes that international diplomatic efforts to stop Iran will fail, security sources said.

Will President Bush be acquiescent to the Iranians and their nuclear weapon program? Will Bush PUNT this ball to the next President?

Possible

The Bush State Department has been slow playing the Iran situation. Maybe it is due to Iraq?

Perhaps not.

Is or will President Bush marshall forces away from Iraq deployments to an offensive military poster against Iran’s nuclear program?

Doubtful at this time.

What is the United States doing?

Fecking along with the rest of the Europeans doing essentially NOTHING.

Stay tuned……