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³It appeared the counteroffer was designed to entice Europe,
China and Russia into further negotiations without accepting
a suspension of uranium enrichment -- an important step in
making nuclear weapons -- as a precondition for talks. That
could drive a wedge among the five veto-wielding powers on
the Security Council -- the Americans, British and French on
one side and the Russians and Chinese on the other.²
Very sound diplomacy on Iran's part.
rkm
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http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/world/AP-Iran-Nuclear.html?
August 23, 2006
Iran Urges West to See ``Positive'' Signs
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Filed at 5:23 p.m. ET
TEHRAN, Iran (AP) -- Iran said Wednesday it had offered ''positive and clear
signals'' in its proposal to resolve the standoff over its nuclear program, as
the key U.N. Security Council members diverged over their responses -- setting
the stage for a possible fight if the West pushes for sanctions.
China and Russia suggested they might support further talks, but the U.S. and
France said Tehran's proposal falls short of U.N. demands. None unequivocally
rejected or accepted Iran's counteroffer to a package of incentives offered by
the U.S. and five other world powers to persuade Tehran to roll back on its
nuclear program.
Diplomats at the U.N. and foreign capitals were studying what Germany called
Iran's ''voluminous and complex'' offer, a day after Tehran presented it without
releasing full details. Iran's proposal offers negotiations with the six nations
but apparently resists suspending uranium enrichment -- the main Security
Council demand to avoid sanctions.
A statement by the State Department acknowledged that Iran considered its
proposal to be a serious one and ''we will review it.'' But it went on to say
that Iran's response ''falls short of the conditions set by the Security
Council'' and Washington would be consulting with its partners ''on next
steps.''
Nevertheless, the Iranians sought Wednesday to portray their detailed
counteroffer as a major initiative that could lead to a resolution of the
yearlong dispute without having to resort to a bruising fight over sanctions.
It appeared the counteroffer was designed to entice Europe, China and Russia
into further negotiations without accepting a suspension of uranium enrichment
-- an important step in making nuclear weapons -- as a precondition for talks.
That could drive a wedge among the five veto-wielding powers on the Security
Council -- the Americans, British and French on one side and the Russians and
Chinese on the other.
The six countries that offered the incentives package -- the five permanent
council members plus Germany -- must now decide whether to respond to questions
Iran reportedly raised in its response. U.S. Ambassador John Bolton had said the
United States would move quickly to circulate elements for a new Security
Council resolution calling for economic sanctions against Iran if its response
was not positive.
''If the Europeans pay proper attention to positive and clear signals included
in Iran's response, the case will be solved through negotiation and without
tension,'' state-controlled radio quoted Foreign Ministry spokesman Hamid Reza
Asefi as saying Wednesday.
Asefi described Iran's proposal as a sign of his country's good will to resolve
the standoff.
But a senior U.S. official familiar with the outlines of the Iranian proposals
suggested Tehran's offer strengthens Russia and China, which are reluctant to
move to immediate sanctions.
The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized
to discuss the issue with the media, said Iran's response gives those two
countries ammunition to oppose sanctions by giving the appearance of wiggle room
even if there is none.
Both Russia and China have significant economic ties to Iran. China is in the
market for sources of oil to fuel its economic boom, and Moscow has had nuclear
deals with the Iranians dating back to Soviet times. Russia is also a major
supplier of weapons to Iran and is building the country's first nuclear power
plant in the southern port of Bushehr under an $800 million contract.
The dispute over Tehran's nuclear program revolves around Iran's insistence that
it wants to master the technology simply to generate electricity. But critics
say Iran is interested in enrichment because it wants to make nuclear weapons.
Diplomats at the United Nations said the United States, Britain, France and
Germany were consulting Wednesday from their capitals.
French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy said ''the door is still open''
for negotiations but only if Iran suspends uranium enrichment first. German
Foreign Ministry spokesman Martin Jaeger said the demand to halt enrichment
indicated ''that Iran clearly has lost the confidence of the international
community that its nuclear program is civilian.''
But Moscow and Beijing appeared receptive toward further talks. Russia's Foreign
Ministry said it would continue to seek a negotiated solution, and China
appealed for dialogue, urging ''constructive measures'' by Iran and patience
from the U.S. and its allies.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Mikhail Kamynin said talk of sanctions was
''premature'' before the Aug. 31 deadline set by the Security Council for Iran
to halt uranium enrichment or face the risk of economic and political sanctions.
''The Russian side has started studying the Iranian reply along with its
partners in the sextet,'' Kamynin said in a statement.
''Russia will continue with its course of searching for a political solution ...
and will continue to seek to preserve the role of the International Atomic
Energy Agency and prevent the erosion of the nonproliferation regime.''
Last month, a senior Iranian lawmaker said parliament was preparing to debate
withdrawal from the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty if the Security Council
adopts a resolution to force Tehran to suspend enrichment.
Iran delivered the written proposal in response to a package of incentives
offered in June by the five permanent Security Council members and Germany to
persuade Iran to halt enrichment -- and the threat of punishments if it does
not.
Last month, the Security Council set the Aug. 31 deadline for Iran to halt
enrichment or face economic and political sanctions. Iran called the resolution
''illegal'' but had said it was willing to offer a ''multifaceted response'' to
the incentives package.
The Western incentives package has not been made public but some details have
leaked. They include an offer to lift a ban on sales of Boeing passenger
aircraft as well as providing Iran with some nuclear technology to build
reactors for peaceful purposes.
The drama is playing out amid concerns in the West that the ability of the
pro-Iranian Hezbollah guerrillas in Lebanon to shower northern Israel with
rockets despite 34 days of bombardment this summer has emboldened hard-liners in
Tehran to risk a showdown with the Americans.
In London, a leading British think-tank said Iran has established itself as
Washington's chief rival in the Middle East and now wields more influence in
Iraq than the Americans do.
The report by Chatham House said the ease with which Iran now operates in the
Middle East has ''severely compromised'' America's ability to confront Iran.
''While the U.S. has been playing poker in the region, Iran has been playing
chess,'' said Nadim Shehadi, a report contributor. ''Iran is playing a longer,
more clever game and has been far more successful at winning hearts and minds.''
Copyright 2006 The Associated Press
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