Iran for serious nuclear talks; no suspension of fuel making
Iran-UN, Politics, 8/22/2006

Iran's top nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani today said that Iran is ready to enter into serious nuclear talks as of August 23.

"Although there is no justification for the other parties' illegal move to refer Iran's case to the Security Council, we prepared the answer to the proposed package positively on the recommendation of (the UN Chief) Mr. Kofi Annan; and despite ambiguities on many cases, we tried to pave the way for fair talks with a logical and positive approach; and despite other parties' breach of commitments, the Islamic Republic of Iran has proposed a constructive course to the P5+1 Group," said Larijani in a meeting to hand over Iran's answer to ambassadors of Germany, UK, France, China, Russia and Switzerland as caretaker of the US interests in Iran).

Announcing that Iran is prepared to hold serious talks from tomorrow, Larijani said Iran's answer has logically, fairly and constructively addressed demands of the proposed package, recommending the P5+1 group to return to the negotiation table immediately despite the false atmosphere created against Iran that it was buying time.

The proposal, drawn up by the so-called 5+1 -- the five Security Council permanent members -- Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States -- plus Germany, had been submitted to Tehran in June He said Iran was ready to discuss all issues raised in the proposed packages, including nuclear and long-term economic and technical as well as security cooperation in the region and reach conclusion in a climate of understanding.

He went on to say that in all the three sectors, Iran -- as a responsible state in the international system -- is ready to play its constructive role.

The US notedd that Iran appears to have formally rejected the UN Security Council’s call for an immediate suspension of its uranium enrichment program, but US Ambassador to the United Nations John Bolton said the council would study Tehran’s response before moving ahead with sanctions.

"We will obviously study the Iranian response carefully, but we are also prepared, if it does not meet the terms set by the Perm 5 foreign ministers , to proceed here in the Security Council, as the ministers have agreed, with economic sanctions,” Bolton told reporters in New York today.

Meantime, Iran's Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei today blasted the US President George W. Bush for his recent "impudent" claims. "This guy (Bush) speaks as if he is the master and owner of Lebanon, Palestine, Iraq, Syria, Iran and other Muslim states; whereas, if the huge power of nations comes to the scene, the arrogant powers will -- as was the case recently in Lebanon -- be humiliated and the enemies of Islam will no longer be rude," said Ayatollah Khamenei in an address to heads of the three branches of the government, the Expediency Council Chairman Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, the state and military officials, and ambassadors of Muslim states on the feast of Mab'ath, marking Prophet Mohammad's divine assignment to prophethood.

Bush said Washington would take the lead in demanding enforcement action by the Security Council if Iran's response failed to provide a halt to nuclear fuel work.

"There must be consequences if people thumb their nose at the United Nations Security Council," he said. "We will work with people on the Security Council to achieve that objective." Ayatollah Khamenei called on all Muslim states to take the post-Islamic Revolution Iran as a model of vigilance, saying that in that case the US and other arrogant powers would fail to take any action in the face of the huge power of nations.

Meantime, the Los Angeles Times noted that the Supreme leader said yesterday that Iran would continue its nuclear fuel work "despite a UN Security Council demand to stop enriching uranium by Aug. 31 or face possible sanctions." Iran's parliament has threatened to kick nuclear inspectors out if the UN Security Council takes hostile action against Iran. Alaeddin Boroujerdi, chairman of the National Security and Foreign Policy Commission of Majlis said. "If the Europeans take hasty steps and ignore the rights of the Iranian nation, IAEA inspections in accordance with the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) will have no more place," he added.

In case sanctions are imposed on Iran, Iran's Supreme National Security Council will probably ask the IAEA to remove its surveillance cameras from Iran's nuclear facilities, he said, adding that such a move is under study.

There is suspicion that some do not want Iran to develop independent skills in making its own nuclear technology and fuel and to remain dependent on others for this. The US has repeated unsubstantiated claims that Iran is developing or intends to develop nuclear weapons. Iran days ago indicated that it intends to move ahead with industrial level nuclear fuel making, and the US and EU are trying to prevent Iran from this by threatening sanctions against Iran.

There is suspicion that the claims of those who oppose Iran that they are publicly saying that they don't mind Iran having such nuclear civil capabilities, while at the same time working to prevent Iran from this. Iran has said it is willing to offer assurances to those concerned about such the military concerns issue, but that it would not suspend nuclear fuel making just to please such suspect concerns. It is not clear if in light of such hostile positions of the use of threats and sanctions against Iran will actually force Iran to change its mind to actually consider starting pursuing nuclear weapons as protection or leverage for itself against such hostile policies by what Iran considers as harassment by countries who do not respect its rights under the nuclear nonproliferation treaty. Iran indicated that the treaty would be useless if not respected.

Previous Stories:
  Ahmadi-Nejad: Leaders of US, Britain, Israel should stand trial   (8/16/2006)
  Enrichment at industrial level on agenda of Iran's nuclear program: Larijani   (8/16/2006)
  Mottaki: Iran attaches no value to UNSC nuclear resolution   (8/16/2006)

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