WASHINGTON, Aug. 5, 2008
U.S.: Iran Response On Nukes Unacceptable
Sanctions Against Tehran Believed More Likely Following Reply From Iran Regarding West's Incentives Offer
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(AP / CBS)
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Play CBS Video Video Prospect Of A Nuclear Iran During his visit to Israel, Barack Obama defended his proposal to negotiate with Iran using "big sticks and big carrots." Katie Couric reports.
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Video Iran Nuclear Program Freeze? Officials have discussed a freeze on Iran's nuclear development program, which would then lead several Western nations to freeze any new sanctions against Iran. Elizabeth Palmer reports from Geneva.
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Video Iran Produces Enriched Uranium The U.S. will negotiate with Iran despite the country's production of enriched uranium. The Bush administration previously refused to negotiate unless production was suspended. David Martin reports.
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Timeline The U.S. And Iran Key events in once friendly, now contentious relationship between Washington and Tehran.
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Timeline Iran Nuclear Chronology Events in development of Iran's nuclear program since it first came to light.
The officials told The Associated Press that a brief one-page document Iran presented to European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana is not, as had been sought, a definitive reply to the offer from major world powers to suspend uranium enrichment and reprocessing in exchange for economic and other benefits.
Instead, the officials said it was a restatement of Tehran's earlier insistence on the right to conduct peaceful nuclear activities and essentially a transcription of portions of recent telephone conversations to that effect between Solana and chief Iranian negotiator Saeed Jalili.
One official familiar with the document described it as "more obfuscation and delay" and not a "real response" to the package, which was presented earlier this year by the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council and Germany.
The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because Solana's office has not yet characterized the Iranian reply.
The officials said the lack of a clear response meant that discussion of new sanctions against Iran could begin as early as Wednesday when senior diplomats from the six countries that made the offer will speak in a conference call to discuss the way ahead.
"We are looking for a clear, positive response from Iran and in the absence of that we're going to have no choice but to pursue further measures against them," said State Department spokesman Gonzalo Gallegos.
The United States and others accuse Iran of trying to develop nuclear weapons under cover of a civilian atomic energy program. Iran denies the charge.
The EU diplomat said Solana had talked on the telephone with Iran's chief nuclear negotiator, Saeed Jalili, and more talks could be expected in the coming days.
The United States and its European allies fear Iran intends to use the technology to develop material for nuclear weapons under the cloak of a civilian nuclear power program. Iran denies that.
The U.N. Security Council has already adopted three sanctions resolutions against Iran. The United States, the European Union, and individual EU members have imposed their own financial measures against Iranian entities and individuals.
On July 19, the six nations - Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States - set an informal two-week deadline for Iran to either accept or reject the economic incentives in return for curbing its uranium enrichment.
On Sunday, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said diplomacy was the only way out of the standoff and insisted he was serious about negotiations. Those comments came a day after he asserted his country would not give up its "nuclear rights," signaling that it would refuse demands to stop enriching uranium or at least not to expand its enrichment work.
Also Saturday, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said the United States would have no choice "but to begin again to prepare sanctions resolutions for the (U.N.) Security Council" if Iran did not halt the development of its enrichment program.
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Add a Comment See all 148 Comments
- What if Iran offers the G-8 countries to dismantle their nuke programs?
- Reply to this comment
- This is a stalling game right now... Iran knows this administration doesnt have the Go card to seriously engaged in another war...besides we are streched as it is.
They are playing the game assuming Obama will be the next president...but if he''s not.... Iran, here we go! - Reply to this comment
- I can''t believe that ANYBODY would believe scumbag Bush or any of the human garbage in his corrupt administration.
- Reply to this comment
- Time for George W Bushie to tell more lies to the American Public and lie about stuff and then justify attacking Iran.
FYI: George W. Bush 75% of Americans dont believe a word you say any more and think your a major looser and douschbag.
Posted by XmanBorg
Speak for your self, I think 75% of Americans are believe George Bush, I believe him.. - Reply to this comment
- Time for George W Bushie to tell more lies to the American Public and lie about stuff and then justify attacking Iran.
FYI: George W. Bush 75% of Americans dont believe a word you say any more and think your a major looser and douschbag. - Reply to this comment
- Iran could launch a series of missiles armed with nuclear warheads at Israel. The weapons are guided by Russian satellites.
Posted by Petro49L at 07:58 AM : Aug 06, 2008,,,
Russia doesn''t even have nationwide GPS in place yet! Guiding Iran`s missiles by Russian satellites is a stretch! lol - Reply to this comment
- Iranians can remove the Clerics if they wanted too...
Posted by trishab4 at 10:28 AM : Aug 06, 2008,,,
Of course, but at what price? How many deaths? The Clerics won`t go quietly into the night! - Reply to this comment
- A fourth set of SANCTION ????
Bunch off dump as# and a waste of time.... - Reply to this comment
- *** liberals they are traitor to israel
Posted by terrorislamv
*** YOU MAN - Reply to this comment
- YOU DO NOT LIKE THE USA IN THE MIDDLE EAST,,,
BLAME THE DEMONIC-RATS,,,
Posted by terrorislamv at 08:23 AM : Aug 06, 2008
"Other countries possess weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missiles. With Saddam, there is one big difference: He has used them. Not once, but repeatedly. Unleashing chemical weapons against Iranian troops during a decade-long war. Not only against soldiers, but against civilians, firing Scud missiles at the citizens of Israel, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Iran. And not only against a foreign enemy, but even against his own people, gassing Kurdish civilians in Northern Iraq.
%u201DThe international community had little doubt then, and I have no doubt today, that left unchecked, Saddam Hussein will use these terrible weapons again. "
Speech from the Oval Office by President William Clinton, explaining his attack on Iraq
reported by The Associated Press
Wednesday, December 16, 1998
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/special/clinton/stories/clintontext121698.htm
BTW, Bill Clinton was impeached on December 19, 1998.
WHAT A COINCIDENCE!!! - Reply to this comment
