UK, US efforts to cow Iran on the nuclear issue
Iran-UN, Politics, 10/6/2005

In what could be a lesson out of US and UK diplomacy, the European Union High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy, Javier Solana said yesterday that nobody is considering military action against Iran, IRNA reported.

"On Iran, I can tell you we don't consider any military action," Solana told the Foreign Relations Committee of the European Parliament in Brussels. This comes following reports in the last several days of similar statements by the UK that they do not intend to attack Iran.

It is not clear why such reassurances are needed from these countries. It is possible that this may relate to the fact that the UK military attacked Iraq for years during the sanctions years to be later followed by a US - UK lead invasion of Iraq.

This coincides with the UK having sought the support of Russia against Iran on the nuclear development issue during the meeting of British Prime Minster Tony Blair and Russian President Vladimir Putin this week; an issue that was recently brought up by the US, the UK and its European partners at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

India, who was at the margin of the vote, and is seen to be an extremely coveted vote, ended up voting surprisingly against Iran, and is being courted to solidify its position in this regard for future votes and support against Iran. The US has said that "one way or another," Iran will be made to obey its interest on the nuclear issue, and added this Tuesday, thru the US Department of States spokesman, that it does not want to have Iran to poses technology that help it master the nuclear fuel cycle, even if such scientific and developmental knowledge is purely for civil nuclear development. The Department Of State said the concerns that the United States has are "with regard to Iran getting access to those sensitive nuclear fuel cycle activities, both the technology and the know-how." It is worth noting in this regard that the US had similar concerns against Iraq, not even that Iraq had weapons, or that it may or may not develop them, but merely because Iraq had developed scientific knowledge in this domain. (see for example the reference: What has a Catholic priest to say about Iraq).

Meantime, visiting British Defense Minister John Reid made statements in support of India. The British minister said, referring to the disputed area between India and Pakistan that the UK understands the terrorism India faces in Kashmir, just as the UK faced it in Northern Island, and called on Pakistan to fight terrorism "hundred per cent or not," a clear reference in support of India against Pakistan. Pakistan also happens to oppose taking the Iran nuclear issue to the UN Security Council. The UK also announced that it completely backs India's bid for a seat at the UN Security Council.

This coincides with new charges yesterday by the UK against Iran that it is supporting Iraq insurgents, according to a BBC report. Iran's Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hamid-Reza Asefi called Britain's claims on Iran's involvement in attacks to British soldiers in south of Iraq and weapon smuggling to that country a 'lie'. IRNA quoted him saying "Britain's conspiracies have been revealed and its scandal in Iraq has made London make up this lie."

Previous Stories:
  Europe seek Russia's vote against Iran   (10/1/2005)
  Parliament speaker: all activities at all Iranian facilities resume within Iran's legal right   (9/30/2005)
  What has a Catholic priest to say about Iraq   (2/18/1998)

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