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Powers fail to reach deal on Iran sanctions
Washington (AFP) Dec 20, 2007 The United States and five other powers failed again to reach agreement Thursday on tougher sanctions against Iran over its nuclear program, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said. "We, obviously, still have tactical differences that need to be worked out about timing, about what's specifically in the resolution," Rice told reporters after senior diplomats from the six powers consulted each other Thursday. The United States has been involved in difficult negotiations with Russia, China, Britain and France -- the five permanent UN Security Council members, or P5, that all have veto power -- and Germany for another UN resolution against Iran. Washington is promoting a two-track strategy aimed at offering Iran a dialogue that would give it economic benefits if it stops enriching uranium, or at threatening a third round of punitive sanctions. The political directors of the State Department and the foreign ministries of the five other countries did not reach agreement during a conference call Thursday, but Rice said they agreed on the broad approach. "We are all in agreement that the two-track strategy that we have been pursuing is the right strategy, because we need to convince Iran that it should stop its enrichment and reprocessing activities," Rice said during a press conference with her Canadian counterpart Maxime Bernier. "Enrichment and reprocessing is, after all, the long pole in the tent, because that's how one gets fissile material that can either be used in civilian programs, but can certainly be used in a nuclear weapons program. "And so, that is why the world has been focused on that in two separate Security Council resolutions," Rice said. The political directors of the six countries held a 90-minute conference call on December 11 about Iran's nuclear program, but did not finalize a draft sanctions resolution. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice admitted afterward that the United States has "tactical differences" with Russia and China about the "timing, about the nature of any further sanctions." But she said that "the two-track strategy remains in place," when asked if the National Intelligence Estimate, published December 3, undercut the US drive for sanctions. The report said Iran had stopped an alleged covert nuclear weapons program in 2003. Iran insists its nuclear program is peaceful. Related Links Learn about nuclear weapons doctrine and defense at SpaceWar.com Learn about missile defense at SpaceWar.com All about missiles at SpaceWar.com Learn about the Superpowers of the 21st Century at SpaceWar.com
Russia starts nuclear deliveries to Iran
Moscow (AFP) Dec 17, 2007Russia started nuclear fuel deliveries to Iran's first atomic power station on Monday as Teheran defied international pressure by announcing plans to produce more fuel for its nuclear programme. |
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