Iran's Uranium Program Remains Unchanged

Gov't Spokesman Says Enrichment Efforts Will Continue Despite Western Entreaties, But Tehran Will "Negotiate"

(AP)  Iran's nuclear program remains unchanged, a government spokesman said Saturday, indicating that Tehran has no plans to meet a key Western demand that it stop enriching uranium.

Gholam Hossein Elham's insistence that Iran would not change the central part of its controversial program came a day after Iran sent the European Union its response to an international proposal to curb its program in exchange for economic incentives. The content of the response has not been made public.

"Iran's stand regarding its peaceful nuclear program has not changed," Elham told reporters.

Iran's ambassador to Belgium presented the response to the package to EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana in Brussels on Friday, and Iran's top nuclear negotiator, Saeed Jalili, spoke with Solana by phone, Iranian state media has reported.

European officials said they were studying the Iranian response and were consulting among themselves and with the United States, Russia and China on what to do next.

A positive response could open the way to renewed negotiations that might help cool recent sharp exchanges between officials on both sides. In recent weeks the U.S. and Iran have traded threats and warnings over possible American or Israeli military action.

But one European official cautioned about possible progress on the issue, and Elham's comments did not indicate that a breakthrough was made.

"It was not something that made us jump up and down for joy," said the official. "We are in a holding mode until we get a chance to look at it more closely." The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the information was confidential.

Elham also said Iran was ready to negotiate on its program "within the framework of the international rules and regulations." He did not elaborate, but Iranian state media reported Friday that Solana and Jalili agreed during their conversation to hold the latest in a series of talks in the second half of July.

Acting on behalf of the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council and Germany, Solana offered the modified package of economic incentives to Iran during his June visit to the country. The offer is meant to persuade Iran to halt enrichment, which the six world powers fear Iran could use to produce weapons.

Iran has repeatedly insisted it will not give up enrichment, saying its only aim is to produce nuclear power, not weapons. But it had said the incentives package had some "common ground" with Tehran's own proposals for a resolution to the standoff.

Separately, EU nations also approved new sanctions against Iran in June, imposing additional financial and travel restrictions on a list of Iranian companies and experts, including the country's largest bank.

The six nations - the U.S., China, Russia, France, Britain and Germany - first offered a package of economic, technological and political incentives to Tehran nearly two years ago on condition that it suspend enrichment.

The standoff has led to increasingly tense exchanges about the possibility of a military strike by Israel or the U.S. An Israeli military exercise last month was seen as a warning to Iran.

The commander of Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards has said that Iran would consider any military action against its nuclear facilities as the beginning of a war. However, the general also has said he thinks a strike by Iran's adversaries is unlikely.

[joe1022joe]

Iran''s "negotiation" is just a time-buying scheme.

[whiskyrocker]

globalcool08

Ahmadinejad probably a nice guy once you get to know him.

[mgeg1]

Great idea-a preemptive attack on Iran, North Korea, and Canada (Canadian cold fronts are cooperating with terrorists).

[glenda743]

Not to worry....Barack Hussein will talk to Ahmadinejad and all will be well.....
God Help America.... I just hope the people in our country wake up before this idiot is elected...

[tbweb]

The price Iran is willing to pay to be able to enrich uranium is not only not worth it, but makes no sense as well, especially when there are other safer nuclear alternatives to produce nuclear power for civilian use which was offered to Iran but rejected, which leads any rational thinker to believe there must be other hidden ulterior motives for Iran wanting to enrich uranium, ulterior motives like making nuclear weapons. It also doesn''t help Iran''s case that while Iran seeks to enrich uranium which has the dual purpose of being able to be used for generating electricity, it can also be used to create nuclear bombs, which then can fulfill Iran''s goal of making Israel disappear. This is Iran''s real problem, the not so transparent parallel paths of wanting Israel gone and at the same time acquiring a nuclear capability that could bring it about! These 2 paths Iran is traveling are not compatible, defies logic and insults ones common sense!

[glenda743]

Who would ever again trust America if we are charmed by someone who is no more than a gifted speaker? To give Barack Hussein Obama our vote for the presidency would be a complete travesty. He will not be able to protect America from Islamic terrorists. He may indeed have no intention of doing so.

[randynason]

"A positive response could open the way to renewed negotiations that might help cool recent sharp exchanges between officials on both sides."

This info is in direct contrast to what our lovely Sec. of State has said, in the past. According to Ms. Rice, the U.S. will not sit down and discuss anything, demonizes the Iranians and puts their own inept diplomacy in a glorified light. Why does the corporate news go on with this B.S. that the people already know to be false? After what we did to Iraq, I''m sure Iran is not going to lay down and throw their legs up in the air. The reputation of the U.S. is nothing short of fecal matter. And anyone who supports the notion that we are operating with the better interests of the people in mind are out of their own.

[DukeIB]

No worries. Iran will be dealt with real soon. Israel will not sit idly by while its national security is being negotiated and/or compromised. And there isn''t a *** thing the U.N. and or our country can do to stop Israel. Iran must not be allowed to make and/or posses nuclear weapons. Israel''s strike will be swift. And lastly, for those of you that think Israel will wait months before taking matters into its own hands, think twice. Israel''s window is now. We shall see action within days. 7/11 Shalom..

[bagdadshere2]

No worries. Iran will be dealt with real soon. Israel will not sit idly by while its national security is being negotiated and/or compromised. And there isn''''t a *** thing the U.N. and or our country can do to stop Israel. Iran must not be allowed to make and/or posses nuclear weapons. Israel''''s strike will be swift. And lastly, for those of you that think Israel will wait months before taking matters into its own hands, think twice. Israel''''s window is now. We shall see action within days. 7/11 Shalom..

Posted by dukeib at 12:26 PM : Jul 05, 2008

Israel should have done something when IRAN started to produce long range missiles with the help of North Korea. Now the damage will be greater and an Israeli attack could wipe the Iranian nation off the map.

[smurfcrusher]

Note to History:

This is what happens when cowboy diplomacy is employed to start an unnecessary war (Iraq) instead of focusing on the perpetrator of 9/11 (Afghanistan).

By getting bogged down in the quagmire that is Iraq, we have spent massive fortunes, harming the economy though deficit spending, lost thousands of soldiers and tens of thousands wounded or maimed.

More relevant to Iran, we lost our ability to deter their behavior. Not only because our troops are tied up, but because this war has lasted longer than WWII.

Israel has no hope of changing Iran''s course, unless they choose to invade (which is laughable). Why? Because even IF they are able to cause a military strike against the facilities, Iran can just rebuild, deeper.

What a waste this presidency has been. Let''s get someone with some intelligence into the White House for a change!

[smurfcrusher]

"He will not be able to protect America from Islamic terrorists. He may indeed have no intention of doing so."


Posted by glenda743

Glenda743:
That sounds like typical GOP BS and fear mongering, to me.
Or perhaps you think our economy is in great shape, our military strong and stress-free, and the many thousands killed for this ridiculous war, are really alive and happy?

Wake up.

[whiskyrocker]

globalcool08

I guess you didn''t detect the sarcasm.

[bagdadshere2]

Israel has no hope of changing Iran''''s course, unless they choose to invade (which is laughable). Why? Because even IF they are able to cause a military strike against the facilities, Iran can just rebuild, deeper.

What a waste this presidency has been. Let''''s get someone with some intelligence into the White House for a change!Lets elect John McSame. McSame 8 years of safety, McSame 8 years with gasoline bellow 5 bucks even in a period of world oil shortage, McSame 8 years without any MOHAMMED ATTA plotting in America, McSame 8 years without a nuclear IRAN. Vote John McCain 08.

Posted by smurfcrusher at 01:00 PM : Jul 05, 2008

[smurfcrusher]

"Iran Envoy Dismisses Threats Of Attack
Iran''s Top Diplomat Predicts U.S., Israel In No Position To Launch Military Strike"

Proof Positive of how we can no longer deter Iran. This was the title of another headline here on CBSnews.com

[bagdadshere2]

Israel has no hope of changing Iran''''s course, unless they choose to invade (which is laughable). Why? Because even IF they are able to cause a military strike against the facilities, Iran can just rebuild, deeper.

What a waste this presidency has been. Let''''s get someone with some intelligence into the White House for a change!

Posted by smurfcrusher at 01:00 PM : Jul 05, 2008

smurf,,,,The Israel strategy against Iran will be the same used against SADDAM HUSSEIN: Let IRAN spend at all the money they can, at least 20 billion bucks to built its nuclear facility and then when they start to think they are ready to buil a nuclear bomb Israel simply demolish everything. The job of rebuilding is so difficult that those nuts Ayatollahs will realize that it doesnt pay.

Why SADDAM didnt rebuild its nuclear plant?

[smurfcrusher]

"Israel has no hope of changing Iran''''''''s course, unless they choose to invade (which is laughable). Why? Because even IF they are able to cause a military strike against the facilities, Iran can just rebuild, deeper.

What a waste this presidency has been. Let''''''''s get someone with some intelligence into the White House for a change!Lets elect John McSame. McSame 8 years of safety, McSame 8 years with gasoline bellow 5 bucks even in a period of world oil shortage, McSame 8 years without any MOHAMMED ATTA plotting in America, McSame 8 years without a nuclear IRAN. Vote John McCain 08.

Posted by smurfcrusher at 01:00 PM : Jul 05, 2008"


Posted by BagdadsHere2

BagdadsHere2, do you distort the record of this president as much as you misquote me?

Unfortunately for you, the whole record of comments is here, for everyone to see your distortions of what I said.

Why is this bad?

Because your presence is harmful to intelligent discourse.

Also, because you will be reported for misquoting me and perhaps lose your account as a result.

I''ll bet I can guess which reason is more important to you.... pretty sad

No, McSame will give us years of misery on top of what we already had. Senator Barack Obama has my endorsement.

[glenda743]

oh really???? Just call Barack Hussein...he will talk to Ahmadinejad and all will be well...

[bagdadshere2]

Note to Smurfcrusher, World War II began in 1939 and the occupation phase (which is what we''''re in now) didn''''t end until 1954. Talk to us about how long Iraq has lasted comparatively in, oh, another 10 years or so. Then you can also compare the inflation adjusted costs. At this point we''''ve fought this war on existing stocks, nothing compared to the mass shift in industrial output and the wartime economy we "enjoyed" during World War II.


Posted by clgl_fubar at 01:10 PM : Jul 05, 2008

You forgot to explain to smurf that the Iraq war lasted only a couple weeks. After that what came was just training of Iraqi security forces and kick some insurgent asss.

[smurfcrusher]

"...Note to Smurfcrusher, World War II began in 1939 and the occupation phase (which is what we''''re in now) didn''''t end until 1954. Talk to us about how long Iraq has lasted comparatively in, oh, another 10 years or so. Then you can also compare the inflation adjusted costs. At this point we''''ve fought this war on existing stocks, nothing compared to the mass shift in industrial output and the wartime economy we "enjoyed" during World War II."


Posted by clgl_fubar

clgl_fubar - Silly me. I thought WWII ended on the USS. Missouri on August 15, 1945 when Japan surrendered.
And for the U.S., who is the participant and perpetrator of the war in Iraq, it started on December 8, 1941.

Or perhaps you believe the war started at the end of WWI, because we left Germany in a very poor state (unlike the Marshall Plan after WWII, which may have prevented WWIII?)

[bagdadshere2]

What a waste this presidency has been. Let''''''''''''''''s get someone with some intelligence into the White House for a change!Lets elect John McSame. McSame 8 years of safety, McSame 8 years with gasoline bellow 5 bucks even in a period of world oil shortage, McSame 8 years without any MOHAMMED ATTA plotting in America, McSame 8 years without a nuclear IRAN. Vote John McCain 08.

Posted by smurfcrusher at 01:00 PM : Jul 05, 2008"


Hey smurf, You wrote that not me. But I agree with you . John McSame will bring us the same Bushs 8 years of safety. BARRAK HUSSEIN OSAMA would destroy this country with his hidden MUSLIM AGENDA. BARRACK OSAMA is a hidden MUSLIM. Period.

[smurfcrusher]

MISQUOTE:
"Hey smurf, You wrote that not me. But I agree with you . John McSame will bring us the same Bushs 8 years of safety. BARRAK HUSSEIN OSAMA would destroy this country with his hidden MUSLIM AGENDA. BARRACK OSAMA is a hidden MUSLIM. Period."

Posted by BagdadsHere2 at 01:24 PM : Jul 05, 2008

This is another deliberate misquote.

BagdadsHere2 is deliberately misquoting me. Please suspend his account.

My post was:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Note to History:

This is what happens when cowboy diplomacy is employed to start an unnecessary war (Iraq) instead of focusing on the perpetrator of 9/11 (Afghanistan).

By getting bogged down in the quagmire that is Iraq, we have spent massive fortunes, harming the economy though deficit spending, lost thousands of soldiers and tens of thousands wounded or maimed.

More relevant to Iran, we lost our ability to deter their behavior. Not only because our troops are tied up, but because this war has lasted longer than WWII.

Israel has no hope of changing Iran''''s course, unless they choose to invade (which is laughable). Why? Because even IF they are able to cause a military strike against the facilities, Iran can just rebuild, deeper.

What a waste this presidency has been. Let''''s get someone with some intelligence into the White House for a change!

Posted by smurfcrusher at 01:00 PM : Jul 05, 2008
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Verify the date and time in the blog and you will see BagdadsHere2''s deliberate violation of Terms of Service.

[bagdadshere2]

Leave Iran alone already!
If Israel can have nukes so can Iran.

Posted by jh6379 at 01:36 PM : Jul 05, 2008

Israel is allowed to have nukes because Israel doesnt support terrorists organizations like HAMAS,HEZBOLLAH,AL-QAEDA,TALEBAN,ETC,ETC and Israel never promissed to wipe any nation off the map.

[yongamerica]

Iran should consider destroying their oil supply and their oil reserves somehow. - Posted by CBS_Oliver

There is a plan! and blow up their nuclear weapons program along with it and the world will be happy.

[sidvicious75]

you go right ahead, iran. You weren''t the dumbies who elected the gop.

[feelfree4u]

Re: "Iran''s stand regarding its peaceful nuclear program has not changed," Elham told reporters."

Great news. There is no evidence that Iran has a nuclear weapons program, and no indication that they are even interested in obtaining a nuclear weapon.

The Iranians are well withing their rights under the NPT, to enrich uranium for power production purposes, so there is really no valid issue here at all.

[sidvicious75]

I say they should get some nukes.

[sidvicious75]

How come idiots like Bush just get to have nukes?

[timdgrim]

BagdadsHere2
**************
If you were trying to spell Baghdad, you''ll notice it has an H in it. Or did you go to the George W. Bush School of English? At least you got ''Here'' right.
Oh, and the number ''2'' also, which is what you posts are full of.

[timdgrim]

OK...''your'' posts...I stand corrected.

[glenda743]

call Barack Hussein...He''ll talk to Ahmadinejad and get Iran all straightened out....Duh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[rwkincaide]

The title of this article should read: "Israel''s Uranium Program Remains Unchanged."

What are all these Israel-firsters ranting and raving about? Iran is a signatory to the NPT and has a right to enrich uranium. Israel refuses to sign and therefore enriches uranium illegally. Whoops! They have over 150 illegal nukes as well as illegal nuclear submarines. Looks like the Zionists, not Iran, are the threat to peace and stability in the Middle East.

Let''s hope someone takes out Israel''s uranium enrichment capability and nuclear arsenal if it starts a regional war in the Middle East, if not WWIII, by attacking Iran. Or better yet, take out Israel%u2019s nuclear capability before they%u2019re able to start another war.

[fee1free4u]

This is all one, long, protracted, drawn-out, STALL tactic. On and on and on and on and on and on. Year after year after year.
Either the West is a massive group of completely stupid suckers that can''t see that, or they all know it''s a stall and we choose not to care enough to do somethigng about it.
Iran will stall until they have at least 3-4 nukes, and then one day they''ll fire one off in a test, just like North Korea did.
At that point, it will too late to confront them. All the world will be terrified to confront them out of fear that Iran will use a nuke against another country.
We either need to act before they get a nuke, or just shut up and cower in fear forever. I vote for the first choice.

[fee1free4u]

rwkincaide, if you truly don''t see the difference in risk between Israel and Iran having nukes, you are the most ignorant person on the face of the planet. Let me educate you: Israel would never use a nuke for offensive purposes or for first-strike. Iran would. And THAT is the difference. Class dismissed.

[yongamerica]

Iran is the world''s largest sponsor of international terrorism. Iran is the world''s largest sponsor of Islamic New World Order, who has declared the Vatican will be it''s European headquarters. Iran is the only country in the world today that has sworn it will destroy another nation. How can one possibly believe that a country ruled by insane religious leaders bent on hate and destruction of the western world be trusted with so much as a sparkler much less an atomic program?

[rwkincaide]

Let me educate you: Israel would never use a nuke for offensive purposes or for first-strike. Iran would. And THAT is the difference. Class dismissed.

--Posted by Fee1Free4U at 04:29 PM
____________________

Hey Professor, you''re overlooking Israel''s long history of aggression and ethnic cleansing in the Middle East. Last time I looked, Iran wasn''t trying to steal land in the West Bank.

So Prof, are you loyal to Israel or the US?

[feelfree4u]

Re: "The title of this article should read: "Israel''s Uranium Program Remains Unchanged."

"What are all these Israel-firsters ranting and raving about? Iran is a signatory to the NPT and has a right to enrich uranium. Israel refuses to sign and therefore enriches uranium illegally. Whoops! They have over 150 illegal nukes as well as illegal nuclear submarines. Looks like the Zionists, not Iran, are the threat to peace and stability in the Middle East."

"Let''s hope someone takes out Israel''s uranium enrichment capability and nuclear arsenal if it starts a regional war in the Middle East, if not WWIII, by attacking Iran. Or better yet, take out Israel%u2019s nuclear capability before they%u2019re able to start another war."

Posted by rwkincaide

Excellent, excellent points.

Please ignore my impersonator "Fee1Free4U" (Michael Totten @ michaeltotten.com).

This pathetic goose-stepping eunuch lacks the stones to join the fight, and is panicked about its twisted dream of global fascism circling the drain.

This poster is best ignored.

[feelfree4u]

If people are interested in the comments and perspective of my impersonator/stalker, "Fee1Free4U/globalcool08", their paranoid and disgraced rants and blather can be found at www.michaeltotten.com

[feelfree4u]

Re: "We either need to act before they get a nuke, or just shut up and cower in fear forever."

Mr. Totten,

Iran does not pose a nuclear threat to anyone, and they are within their legal right to enrich uranium for power production under the NPT.

There is no real issue here, as far as Iran goes.

I think that you should just return to "cower(ing) in fear forever", and let reasonable people sort this out.

[feelfree4u]

Re: "if you truly don''t see the difference in risk between Israel and Iran having nukes, you are the most ignorant person on the face of the planet."

Mr. Totten,

There are clear differences. The Iranians don''t have any nukes, and there is no indication that they are attempting to acquire any.

Meanwhile, the fanatics and war criminals that rule Israel, DO have nuclear weapons, albeit illegal ones, and have demonstrated that they have no respect for the rule of law, or for common decency.

Israel is a clear and present threat, and is openly threatening and attacking its neighbors, while Iran is not. That''s the difference.

[rwkincaide]

"Please ignore my impersonator "Fee1Free4U" (Michael Totten @ michaeltotten.com)."

"This pathetic goose-stepping eunuch lacks the stones to join the fight, and is panicked about its twisted dream of global fascism circling the drain."

--Posted by FeelFree4U at 04:46 PM
___________________

Impersonator? You must feel flattered. How come I don''t rate an impersonator?

Thanks for the clarification, although I suspected he wasn''t the real deal. It''s hard for someone with an IQ of 70 to impersonate a normal human being.

[feelfree4u]

Re: "Impersonator? You must feel flattered."

Posted by rwkincaide

I do. Thanks.

[whitemale08]

The so called axis of evil are the remaining countries without a private central bank folks:

North Korea (now removed from list for its acceptance of IMF fuel credits i.e. priv cntrl bank creation)

Iran

Sudan

Iraq (removed from list after 2nd Gulf War and sock puppet Maliki replaces Saddam)

Pakistan (removed from list after a 1998 coup de''tat orchestrated by British intellgence and the Taliban. Newly installed pawn opens private central bank to exhange $5 billion in Federal Reserve Notes as direct aid from George W Bush to fight the phony (war on Terror)

This has nothing to do with WMD folks.

It''s about making all nations indebted to the Federal Reserve System to create the NEW WORLD ORDER for the benefit of Wall Street and City of London.

[tbweb]

Contrary to popular belief, Jews did not just waltz into Palestine and take over that land from Palestinians! Palestine as an official State never existed, Palestine was never U.N. recognized as a State, the Palestinians did occupy "Israel as we know it today" in large numbers but it was called the Palestinian territories and even that label was unofficial, in addition Jews lived there in large numbers too! A good place to learn about the History of Israel quickly in one place is here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Israel

[feelfree4u]

Re: "Contrary to popular belief, Jews did not just waltz into Palestine and take over that land from Palestinians!"

Posted by tbweb at 05:53 PM

The Israelis have been stealing land from the Palestinians since the birth of the modern, collapsing, welfare/terror-State of Israel.

They continue to do so even today, with illegal settlements of violent extremists in Palestinian land, and with their land-grabbing apartheid wall.

Hopefully the people of Israel will either dump their zealot fanatic mis-leaders will and rejoin the human race, or else simply continue to push themselves into the sea.

[naucoming4u]

Hopefully the people of Israel will either dump their zealot fanatic mis-leaders will and rejoin the human race, or else simply continue to push themselves into the sea.

Posted by FeelFree4U at 06:19 PM : Jul 05, 2008
............

I''d be happy if they just pushed themselves into the sea. Gee, what could we do with the tens of billions of OUR treasury we send them every year! Hmmm.

[tbweb]

In the end the Palestinians are a victim of circumstances, and "legal" circumstances at that! The real question for me is why didn''t the Palestinians declare an official State of Palestine and have their State recognized Worldwide like other legal nations in the U.N.? Why did Palestinians leave the recognition of Palestine to chance? Palestine as an official State never existed!! Large numbers of Palestinians occupying land somewhere is not official and not good enough! I cite a legal example in the U.S., if you start a new business called FeelStupid1 and ran that business for 10 years or longer but never legally registered that business name or legally incorporated that business name, someone could legally register or incorporate FeelStupid1 in the U.S. and then sue you for using their business name and stop you from using it as well because you didn''t take care of your paperwork just like the Palestinians didn''t take care of their paperwork! The Palestinians may have an emotional "feel sorry for us" ground to stand on, but not a legal one! Palestine never officially existed!

[rwkincaide]

"if you truly don''t see the difference in risk between Israel and Iran having nukes, you are the most ignorant person on the face of the planet." We already knew atheist libs were the most ignorant people on the planet, but thank you for clarifying

--Posted by globalcool08 at 05:33 PM
_______________________

Thankfully I''m not one of those "atheist lib" critters, whatever they are, so I can see the difference: Israel is more racist, more militaristic, and more land-hungry. Ergo, Israel is more dangerous and oughta be de-nuked, post haste.

No-brainer, dude.

[feelfree4u]

Meanwhile, the Israelis just keep on threatening, murdering, maiming, imprisoning, and torturing their neighbors, day, after day, after day, and continue to steal and steal, under their apartheid regime policies.

Israel provides a crystal clear example of everything that can go wrong when a country is created and ruled, based only on religion.

Theocracies are dead-ends.

[tbweb]

Theocracies are dead-ends.

Posted by FeelFree4U at 06:48 PM : Jul 05, 2008,,,

Yes! Including the one in Iran!

[feelfree4u]

RE: "Theocracies are dead-ends."

"Posted by FeelFree4U at 06:48 PM : Jul 05, 2008,,,"

"Yes! Including the one in Iran!"

Posted by tbweb

Then we agree here.

Now all that remains is figuring out which theocratic fanatic-led country currently has nuclear weapons, and regularly threatens and attacks its neighbors- which brings us back to Israel.

Hence, Israel is a clear and present threat, while Iran is not.