Iran issues new nuclear deadline
BBC:
Monday, 1 August 2005
Iran says it will wait until late on Monday for European Union proposals on resolving the impasse over Tehran's nuclear programme.
Tehran had pledged to resume converting uranium at a plant in Isfahan after a unilateral deadline expired on Sunday.
The delay to Monday evening offers the EU a few more hours of negotiations. Iran halted all uranium conversion and enrichment in November 2004 because of international pressure, but denies charges of pursuing nuclear weapons.
Enriched uranium can be used to fuel nuclear power stations but can also provide material for nuclear weapons.
Talks falter
The crisis began with a row over when Europe would deliver a package of proposals on resolving the dispute.
Iran unilaterally set a deadline that has now passed, while Europe said it needed another week.
EU diplomats were said to be keen to gauge the attitude towards the nuclear issue of Iran's newly-elected President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
Before setting the renewed deadline of 1700 (1230 GMT), officials in Tehran said they would inform the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) of their decision to resume conversion of uranium ore into gas.
Support
Tehran believes it is within its rights internationally to pursue nuclear technology and argues production of feedstock is not the same as resuming full-blown uranium enrichment.
The BBC's Frances Harrison in Tehran says Iranian newspapers have all endorsed the decision to resume nuclear activities.
Many argue that there is little point negotiating with the EU as the US is the real decision-maker and far more hostile towards Iran.
But Europe says any introduction of raw uranium into the site in Isfahan would be a violation of Iran's agreement to suspend all nuclear work.
Diplomats say there would be no framework in which to give their proposals to the Iranians and talks would cease.
An emergency board meeting at the IAEA would follow, which would most likely issue a warning to Iran.
If that failed, there is the possibility of referral to the United Nations Security Council.
posted by jenny @ 6:46 AM
1 comments
1 Comments:
Iran has declared that it will resume nuclear conversion at Esfahan within one or two days. Europe has requested an emergency meeting of the IAEA to pressure Iran not to resume nuclear fuel cycle work. Israel is pressuring Ukraine to demand from Iran the 12 nuclear-capable X-55 cruise missiles that were smuggled there four years ago.
All of this is happening as the talks with North Korea are drawing to a crucial, and so far unpredictable, end.
So is World War III imminent? Hardly.
Over reaction is exactly what these unlikely allies are fishing for. The coincidence of declared threats by both countries is a bit too convenient. By cranking the nuclear threat pressure simultaneously, both North Korea and Iran are hoping to walk away with the most handouts.
from kirazalan.net
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