U.S. Says Iran Playing Out Clock On Nukes

State Dept. Says Iran Wants Better Offer From Next President; New Sanctions Likely

(AP)  Major world powers agreed Wednesday to pursue new sanctions against Iran, even though the watered-down penalties already levied by the U.N. have only made Iran rush faster to perfect nuclear expertise.

The U.S. and other nations fear such expertise could one day lead to a bomb.

New sanctions are probably months away, and Tehran is running out the clock on the Bush administration in hopes of getting a better offer from a new U.S. president next year, the State Department said.

"We see this as a stalling tactic," State Department spokesman Gonzalo Gallegos said of the short, vague reply Iran delivered early Wednesday to the latest invitation from a European diplomat who has tried for years to lure the clerical regime into negotiations.

The U.S. and a fragile partnership of countries that do business with Iran are trying to buy out the most sophisticated part of the oil giant's nuclear program, leaving Tehran able to produce energy but not bombs. Iran says it isn't seeking weapons and won't scale back a legitimate energy-production program.

The Bush administration's recent willingness to join talks with Iran, if the country makes concessions first, marked a major shift in tactics toward a nation that President George W. Bush declared was part of an "axis of evil" during his first term. The gambit has not produced the results Bush's advisers had hoped it would. The latest news probably does not make war with Iran any more likely, but it also dims chances for any breakthrough after three decades of enmity.

Iran didn't rebuff the latest offer outright, and as usual there were several interpretations of the regime's motives. Iran is showing new signs of openness to talks, but any bold move may come only after Bush leaves office.

Republican John McCain and Democrat Barack Obama both say they would continue tough diplomacy with Iran, offering both the promise of talks and the threat of sanctions. Obama has said he would consider expanding talks with Iran and would even meet directly with hardline President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad if he thought it worthwhile.

To keep up the pressure, the European Union is expected to announce new sanctions of its own within days, and the nations hoping to bargain with Iran are starting the lumbering process of drawing up a fourth round of U.N. penalties. Russia and China, which hold veto power and have opposed truly onerous sanctions against Iran, are on board for now.

"The document contains no substantive response," Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Andrei Nesterenko said. "We will maintain all options for further contacts with the Iranian side in order to clarify its position and reach a negotiated solution."

German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier called the Iranian reply "insufficient."

"With this offer we have emphasized that we are going to great lengths to achieve a diplomatic solution to the nuclear conflict," he said.

The U.N. Security Council already has passed three sanctions resolutions against Iran. Despite that pressure and the threat of a fourth, Iran has yet to agree to stop enriching uranium in exchange for economic and other incentives being offered by the six countries: Britain, China, France, Russia, the United States and Germany. Uranium enrichment can produce the ingredients needed to build an atomic bomb.

The current sanctions narrowly target people and companies associated with Iran's nuclear and missile programs. The council also banned trade with Iran in some goods that have both civilian and military uses.

The penalties don't crimp Iran's booming oil business and have little direct economic effect. The United States argues that the real value of sanctions is that international investors will think twice about doing business with Iran.

"If Iran continues to refuse to come to the negotiating table, the international pressure on Iran will only grow," a statement from the British foreign office said.

In a statement, the French Foreign Ministry said France still supports a double approach of "dialogue and firmness."

"The path of dialogue remains open but, in the absence of a clear response, Iran is making the choice to expose itself to new sanctions," the statement said.

The bargaining partnership had hoped that Iran would agree to freeze its nuclear work at the current level in exchange for a freeze on new sanctions. The United States once opposed those conditions for talks as too lenient, but now would go along.

That incentive and others are still on the table, but "we're cracking the door open on the disincentives package," Gallegos said.

U.S. officials expect the U.N. Security Council could approve new sanctions in October or perhaps later in the fall.

The decision to seek further penalties came in a conference call linking European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana with senior diplomats from the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council, as well as Germany, the State Department said.

Iran's response repeated its long-standing position that it has a right to peaceful nuclear activities and said it would not give a definitive answer to the offer until its own questions about it had been answered.

[babooph]

Of all the nations the US wared on,none have an A bomb-of course that makes all nations want one-Germany & Japan surely can make on in a matter of hours,if not already made.The surface navy,obsolite since the bomb,is a major budget expense-losing 2 wars to those hand tooled camel jockies is letting the false security out of the bag.

[drillusion4u]

WHO CARES ABOUT IRAN AND ISREAL LET THEM NUKE EACH OTHER!!

[vietnam21]

U.S. Says Iran Playing Out Clock On Nukes

Really ...duh ...keep talk ,talk talk

[ajayvee]

I can''t understand why Iran keep whining about the NPT giving them the right to pursue nuclear technology. Whether it does or not is immaterial. The fact remains that Israel does not want them to, and that''s what counts. So, enough already!

[xmanborg]

trishab4

Please no double posts you only have to say it once.

Thanks so much Trish.

[xmanborg]

U.S. Says Iran Playing Out Clock On Nukes

Thats NO NEW news Iran is playing the delay, delay, delay game and telling the world its for Nuclear Power and all along Iran has had a hidden agenda. The are also testing rockets and will put WarHeads on thoes Rockets, Iran is not fooling anybody and the World Knows it.

Once upon a time there was a serpent who was badly injured in a fight with another animal. It managed to slither away to safety but would have surely died if a benevolent man had not seen it suffering by the side of the road. The goodly man carefully wrapped the snake up and took it to his house, where he bestowed the kindest and gentlest care on the snake until it was healed and could return to the wild. Just as the man was releasing the serpent back into the grass, the ungrateful snake turned and bit him on the hand.
"What did you do that for?" cried the man, who knew that the bite of this particular snake was usually fatal. "Didn''''t I take care of you when no one else would?"
The snake shrugged (no small feat for a snake!) and replied to the benevolent--and now doomed-- man, "What did you expect? You knew I was a snake when you picked me up." Posted by terrorislamv
-------------------
Thank you for the warning about giving you too much credence.

[baldwin2008]

trishab4, i think you are wrong. Russia already offered to build their reactors and Iran said No. They are trying to make bombs.

[trishab4]

CBS: The U.S. and a fragile partnership of countries that do business with Iran are trying to buy out the most sophisticated part of the oil giant''s nuclear program, leaving Tehran able to produce energy but not bombs. Iran says it isn''t seeking weapons and won''t scale back a legitimate energy-production program.

-That is the whole story. IRAN IS NOT A GOOD CLIENT. Iran wants to produce its own energy without depending on other Nations'' mood for securing future nuclear energy needs, AND MAYBE SELL ITS TECHNOLOGY to other Nations for cheaper than the big bullying and Arrogant European/US/Israel...

-Let Iran make an offer to purchase from Israel for its Dimona Nukes Reactor replica, for good money. Would Israel refuse? I''d bet Israel would sell Iran the tech... But unfortunately that will not happen, Israel does not exist in the Iranian Policy makers'' mind. And Stubborn Israeli lawmakers are too influenced by the Fat Washington Zionist Rubber Stampers to make the offer. Those narrow-minded people prefer destroying infrastructures and civilian facilities with their home made destructive Jets, in order to keep the US war economy running its pathway and make more wars elsewhere...

[trishab4]

CBS: The U.S. and a fragile partnership of countries that do business with Iran are trying to buy out the most sophisticated part of the oil giant''s nuclear program, leaving Tehran able to produce energy but not bombs. Iran says it isn''t seeking weapons and won''t scale back a legitimate energy-production program.

-That is the whole story. IRAN IS NOT A GOOD CLIENT. Iran wants to produce its own energy without depending on other Nations'' mood for securing future nuclear energy needs, AND MAYBE SELL ITS TECHNOLOGY to other Nations for cheaper than the big bullying and Arrogant European/US/Israel...

-Let Iran make an offer to purchase from Israel for its Dimona Nukes Reactor replica, for good money. Would Israel refuse? I''d bet Israel would sell Iran the tech... But unfortunately that will not happen, Israel does not exist in the Iranian Policy makers'' mind. And Stubborn Israeli lawmakers are too influenced by the Fat Washington Zionist Rubber Stampers to make the offer. Those narrow-minded people prefer destroying infrastructures and civilian facilities with their home made destructive Jets, in order to keep the US war economy running its pathway and make more wars elsewhere...

[kretos_d]

THE REAL HUSSEIN, HIS REAL HATE OF WHITEY, HIS REAL RACISM

FROM HIS OWN MOUTH

Wright / Obama: "White Folk''''s Greed Runs A World In Need"

MALCOLM-O-BAMA LAUDS MALCOLM-X

HUSSEIN THE MARXISTS

HUSSEIN THE RACIST
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m
fC4OOm1aoM
There''''s only two kinds of white folks, there''''s only two kinds, bad white folks and worse white folks. That''''s the only two kinds of white folks there are. Malcolm X, used to say, from the teachings of the nation of terrorislam founder Elijah Muhammad, that all white folks are bad. He said if you find one good, kill him first before he turns bad. Because he''''s only faking.
http://www.splcenter.org/intel/intelre
port/article.jsp?sid=169

SHOCKING Obama words: what he really thinks of white folks
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lI
77cU3jsFs&feature=related

The shocking video Barack Obama does not want you to see!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pr
hnc2fxAzg&feature=related

Posted by terrorislamv

hey why dont u go back your home israel ? we sick of your nonsences

[haoli25]

Bush has been a ''LameD I C K'' since 2001.

[slader99]

You want another 8 years of neo-conservatism? McCain voted with Bush 100% of the time the last 4 years. Time for a change.

[andor3]

"Well of course he does. Obama''s his man. "

yep Obama understands how to deal with this kind of challenge. Bush failed, and McCain is showing strong lack of clue. The answer is probably not what you would like it to be.

[standlee5]

Why doesn''t the EU do the dirty work for once and take Iran to task. They''re just as powerful as us and actually stand to lose more if Ahmadinejihad goes nuts and starts making nukes.

[standlee5]

U.S. Says Iran Playing Out Clock On Nukes
State Dept. Says Iran Wants Better Offer From Next President; New Sanctions Likely"


Well of course he does. Obama''s his man.

[cyberus-2009]

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U.S. Says Iran Playing Out Clock On Nukes
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DOH!! Ya think?

[randynason]

The U.S. has refused to sit down and talk this past seven and a half years. What does anyone expect with such an inept lack of political dialogue?

[middleman8]

What the H--- right has the U S to criticize or judge any countries nuclear works. The U S should get rid of its own devils arsenal first.

[nincomp]

Just goes on to prove that you can''t cheat Muslims by playing good cop, bad cop with them