Iran insists on nuclear right, threatens to quit IAEA

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http://uk.news.yahoo.com/13082006/32...quit-iaea.html

TEHRAN (AFP) - Iran repeated its refusal to suspend uranium enrichment activities as called for in a UN resolution, threatening instead to withdraw from the International Atomic Energy Agency.

"Iran doesn't accept suspending its uranium enrichment," the official IRNA agency quoted parliamentary speaker Gholam-Ali Hadad-Adel as telling parliament.

"If the result of our being part of international organisations and the IAEA is to be deprived of our absolute right (in nuclear matters), there is no reason for us to continue to be part of such organisations," he said.

The UN Security Council has given Iran until August 31 to halt enrichment and reprocessing activities or face possible sanctions.

The resolution was pushed through after Iran ignored a previous non-binding deadline and failed to respond to an international offer of incentives in exchange for a moratorium on nuclear fuel work.

Iran has repeatedly insisted its nuclear programme is for civil purposes only despite Western concerns that it may be cover for an attempt to develop the bomb.

The Islamic republic is due on August 22 to reply to a package of incentives offered by the big powers and aimed at suspending uranium enrichment.

But the head of Iran's supreme national security council and chief nuclear negotiator, Ali Larijani, said on August 6 that Iran would not suspend uranium enrichment.

Asked about Iran's reply on August 22, foreign ministry spokesman Hamid Reza Asefi said on Sunday that, "the date does not have any significance. What is important is the climate and the conditions for a dialogue."

"We do not trust Europeans any more," he said, referring to the so-called EU-3 of Britain, France and Germany that have been leading negotiations on Iran's controversial nuclear programme.

"Unfortunately, the Europeans changed their path," he added, referring to the adoption of the United Nations Security Council's ultimatum.

"Iran will choose another path," other that of cooperation, if the Europeans, "continue their own path," he said, without elaborating.

After more than two year of nuclear negotiation with the European troika, Iran started uranium conversion -- a prerequisite for uranium enrichment -- thus breaking the talks.

[Snowden]

But the head of Iran's supreme national security council and chief nuclear negotiator, Ali Larijani, said on August 6 that Iran would not suspend uranium enrichment.

At least they admit it - for what it's worth. Did anybody doubt this?

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None doubt whatsoever, they are pushing it to the brink.

[Snowden]

President says nuclear power is Iran's right


President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad insists that nuclear power is Iran's right and "no one will stop us" developing the country.

In an interview with Britain's Guardian newspaper, he said a United Nations resolution insisting on the suspension of its nuclear activities was U.S-inspired and would fail.

"They are trying to deny our right to develop nuclear power. But no one can impose anything on the Iranian people. They will not succeed," he said while on a campaign tour of the north of his country.

"Our main task is to develop and build the Iranian nation. No one will stop us."

Iran has insisted it is enriching uranium to generate electricity from nuclear power. The United States, Britain, France and Germany among others fear it is a cloak to disguise a program to build nuclear weapons.
The U.N. Security Council passed a resolution at the end of July calling on Iran to suspend uranium enrichment by August 31.

Iran has set itself an August 22 deadline to respond to an offer of economic incentives designed to persuade it to comply with the suspension demand.


http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060819/...n_president_dc

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I decided Not to open another thread, but just to add updates in this one. I believe that Iran has I said in the post just before this one is pushing it to the brink coming up to the August 31 UN deadline.

http://www.unison.ie/breakingnews/?c...breakingnews=1

Iran offers to enter 'serious' talks, EU declines to react

17:42 Tuesday August 22nd 2006

Iran's top nuclear negotiator said today that Tehran was ready to enter ``serious negotiations'' over its disputed nuclear programme, but did not say whether it was willing to suspend uranium enrichment - the key Western demand.
However, Iran did not release any details of what its proposal contains.

Ali Larijani, the top nuclear negotiator, hand-delivered Iran's response to the Western package of nuclear incentives - aimed at getting Tehran to roll back its nuclear programme - to ambassadors from Britain, China, Russia, France, Germany and Switzerland, state-run television reported.

``Iran is prepared as of tomorrow to enter serious negotiations'' with the countries that proposed the package, state-run television quoted Larijani as telling the envoys.

EU officials declined to offer any immediate reaction, saying they needed to study the Iranian offer.

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Today August 22 was the date Iran gave for giving their decision about the forthcoming deadline, well they kept their word and those decisions are coming hard and fast. Watch this space.

http://www.unison.ie/irish_independe...4536&printer=1

UN banned from Iranian nuclear site

Tuesday August 22nd 2006


IRAN has barred United Nations (UN) inspectors from a key underground nuclear installation, breaching its obligations under the nuclear non-proliferation treaty.

The news emerged on the eve of Iran's formal response today to incentives to end its nuclear programme offered by the five permanent members of the UN security council: Britain, France, America, Russia and China.

As pressure on Teheran mounted, President George W Bush warned that the Iranians would pay a significant diplomatic price if they failed to agree.

"There must be consequences if people thumb their nose at the United Nations Security Council, and we will work with people in the security council to achieve that objective," he said.

Western diplomats have made clear that an Iranian rejection will result in a demand for UN sanctions to halt Iran's 20-year-old nuclear program. The council has set a deadline of August 31 for a response.

UN officials described as unprecedented the decision to block their inspection of the uranium enrichment plant, in Natanz. Iran is obliged under the 1968 non-proliferation treaty to inform the UN of progress at its nuclear sites.

Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, yesterday accused "arrogant powers and the US" of putting pressure on his country.

The incentives would allow Iran to buy US aerospace and agricultural technology, while Russia would supply uranium for civilian reactors.

Francis Harris

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Yet another report even allowing for translation difficulties there are a lot of contradictory statements coming out of Iran. Delaying Tactics is the best term I can think of.

http://www.unison.ie/irish_independe...4538&printer=1

Iran agrees to end nuke stand-off with West

Wednesday August 23rd 2006




IRAN offered a "new formula" yesterday to resolve the nuclear stand-off with the United Nations as the deadline loomed for possible sanctions.

Ali Larijani, the country's top nuclear negotiator, gave its much-awaited response to a Western offer of nuclear incentives to Tehran-based ambassadors from Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and Switzerland, which were representing the United States.

He said that Iran was prepared for "serious negotiations" despite last month's UN Security Council resolution threatening unspecified sanctions if Tehran did not suspend uranium enrichment by August 31.

"Although there is no legal justification for the Security Council's illegal action, based on [UN Secretary-General] Kofi Annan's recommendation, we prepared the response to the proposed package with a positive view," Mr Larijani said, according to state-run television.

The Iranian response, more than a week before the UN deadline, was apparently timed to coincide with the date in the Islamic calendar when the Prophet Muhammad was said to have ridden a winged horse to heaven from the al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem and reappeared in Mecca.

It came amid rising concern that Tehran planned to defy UN demands after its unprecedented refusal to allow international inspectors access to its underground uranium enrichment facility at Natanz - a possible violation of the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. In recent weeks Iran has denied entry visas to two International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors after previously barring the head of the agency's Tehran team.

On Monday Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's supreme leader, said that his nation would continue to pursue its nuclear programme "forcefully". The six powers, fearing that Iran was trying to develop a nuclear bomb, offered Tehran a package of incentives in June to abandon uranium enrichment. It included the offer of civilian nuclear technology and the promise that Washington would join direct talks with Iran.

An official close to yesterday's meeting in Tehran said: "Iran has provided a comprehensive response to everything said in the Western package." In addition, Iran, in its formal response, has asked some questions to be answered." But Iranian officials gave no public indication that they were ready to halt uranium enrichment.

Mohammed Saeedi, the deputy head of the Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran, said in comments published yesterday that Tehran's response provided "an exceptional opportunity" for a return to the negotiating table.

He added: "Iran's response to the package is a comprehensive reply that can open the way for resumption of talks for a final agreement."

Mr Saeedi's optimistic words were tempered by his assessment of the proposed package as containing "serious ambiguities" that need to be clarified in talks.