Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Security Council to Review Iran Nuke Case
AP via Yahooo ^ | January 30, 2006 | ANNE GEARAN

Posted on 01/30/2006 6:58:23 PM PST by ARealMothersSonForever

LONDON - The United States and other permanent members of the U.N. Security Council agreed Tuesday that Iran should be hauled before that powerful body over its disputed nuclear program.

China and Russia, longtime allies and trading partners of Iran, signed on to a statement that calls on the U.N. nuclear watchdog to transfer the Iran dossier to the Security Council, which could impose sanctions or take other harsh action.

Foreign ministers from those nations, plus the United States, Britain and France, also said the Security Council should wait until March to take up the Iran case, after a formal report on Tehran's activities from the watchdog agency.

Any of the five permanent members of the Security Council, all nuclear powers themselves, can veto an action voted by the full council membership.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and other foreign ministers discussed Iran at a private dinner at the home of British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw. After the four-hour meeting, which spilled over into the early hours Tuesday, a joint statement called on the International Atomic Energy Agency to report the Iran case when it meets in Vienna on Thursday.

Foreign ministers from Germany and the European Union also attended the dinner and agreed to what amounted to a compromise — take the case to the Security Council but allow a short breather before the council undertakes what could be a divisive debate.

The group agreed that the IAEA "should report to the Security Council its decision on the steps required of Iran, and should also report to the Security Council all IAEA reports as resolutions as adopted relating to this issue," a statement from the group said.

The IAEA has already found Iran in violation of nuclear obligations and issued a stern warning to Tehran in September. Thursday's vote would be the next step, one long sought by the United States.

Iran insists its nuclear program is intended only to produce electricity. The United States and some allies say Iran is hiding ambitions to build a nuclear bomb, but the Security Council members have been divided about how strong a line to take.

It is still not clear how Russia and China would vote if the questions of sanctions came before the Security Council. It is also not clear that the United States will win the broad international consensus it seeks when the IAEA votes.

On Monday, Rice said the world agreed that Iran should not have the means of developing a nuclear weapon, and she criticized Iran's response to Russian attempts to mediate in the standoff.

"We believe that there is a lot of life left in the diplomacy," Rice said. "After all, going to the Security Council is not the end of diplomacy. It's just diplomacy in a different, more robust context."

Iran broke U.N. seals at a uranium enrichment plant Jan. 10 and said it would resume nuclear fuel research after a two-year freeze. Tehran said the research would involve what it called limited uranium enrichment, but the action raised fears Tehran was using its pursuit of atomic power as a front for a nuclear weapons program.

European foreign ministers met with Iran's deputy nuclear negotiator in Brussels on Monday but said they failed to make progress.

The EU said a Russian proposal to enrich uranium and send the fuel back to Iran, allowing more oversight of the process, could be the solution, but Rice has questioned the drawn out negotiations over the offer.

"This has now been several months. So when the Iranians now evince interest in the Russian proposal, one has to wonder if that isn't because they now face the prospect of referral to the Security Council," Rice said before the dinner meeting.

In Vienna, a diplomat familiar with the Iran probe said IAEA inspectors were allowed access to the Lavizan-Shian site — believed to be the repository of equipment bought by the Iranian military that could be used in a nuclear weapons program. The diplomat demanded anonymity in exchange for discussing confidential information about the status of the IAEA probe.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Hamid Reza Asefi said in Tehran on Sunday that IAEA inspectors trying to gain access to the site for more than a year had been given the information they sought.

The United States alleges Iran had conducted high-explosive tests that could have a bearing on developing nuclear weapons at the site.

The State Department said in 2004 that Lavizan's buildings had been dismantled and topsoil had been removed in attempts to hide nuclear weapons-related experiments.


TOPICS: Extended News; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: iran; irannukes; secretprobationx2; toolittletoolate; un; unsecuritycouncil
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-22 next last
And now ther might be a stern warning. It is great to see China and Russia on board.
1 posted on 01/30/2006 6:58:25 PM PST by ARealMothersSonForever
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: ARealMothersSonForever
If Russia and China sign on an embargo may have teeth, but short of military intervention there isn't much the UN can do.
2 posted on 01/30/2006 7:01:35 PM PST by The Great RJ ("Mir wölle bleiwen wat mir sin" or "We want to remain what we are." ..Luxembourg motto)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ARealMothersSonForever
"After all, going to the Security Council is not the end of diplomacy. It's just diplomacy in a different, more robust context."

That got me smiling .... To paraphrase Bismark, "JDAMs on target is diplomacy by other means."

3 posted on 01/30/2006 7:03:23 PM PST by WOSG
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ARealMothersSonForever

Bush was brilliant to give the EU a chance to fall on their face. They did.

Now he's going to give the UN a chance to fall on its face. It will.


4 posted on 01/30/2006 7:04:48 PM PST by Brilliant
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ARealMothersSonForever
"We believe that there is a lot of life left in the diplomacy," Rice said.

Could live another eight weeks.

5 posted on 01/30/2006 7:07:58 PM PST by RightWhale (pas de lieu, Rhone que nous)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: RightWhale
Could live another eight weeks.

There has been much diplomatic activity in the last two weeks. Most notable was a Saudi visit to China. Safe to assume that some guarantees were solidified.

6 posted on 01/30/2006 7:13:13 PM PST by ARealMothersSonForever
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: Brilliant

'could impose sanctions'
'issued a stern warning'

Yep, those tactics have a proven tract record.
Just ask $$Kofi and Sadaam.


7 posted on 01/30/2006 7:20:04 PM PST by Westlander (Unleash the Neutron Bomb)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: ARealMothersSonForever

Wasn't there a post recently regarding the first test in March? That'll be the 8 weeks.


8 posted on 01/30/2006 7:22:20 PM PST by Westlander (Unleash the Neutron Bomb)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: Westlander
Wasn't there a post recently regarding the first test in March? That'll be the 8 weeks.

Or not. It would appear that China is NOT kicked in the head with the whole idea of the Strait of Hormuz getting shut down. Neither is Russia. We may just have the opportunity to allow someone else to expend their treasure....

9 posted on 01/30/2006 7:25:59 PM PST by ARealMothersSonForever
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: ARealMothersSonForever; Sidebar Moderator

How surprising!

This should be in breaking news....


10 posted on 01/30/2006 8:10:36 PM PST by Ernest_at_the_Beach (History is soon Forgotten,)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: NormsRevenge; Grampa Dave; SierraWasp; Marine_Uncle; Mo1; MEG33; onyx; Dog; Coop; Cap Huff

Another small step.

I'll sleep good tonight after this and the Alioto victory!


11 posted on 01/30/2006 8:13:51 PM PST by Ernest_at_the_Beach (History is soon Forgotten,)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: Ernest_at_the_Beach

Bye me. I tried Front Page...


12 posted on 01/30/2006 8:14:28 PM PST by ARealMothersSonForever
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: Ernest_at_the_Beach


Well, you having a good night's sleep is what this is ALL about! LOL.


13 posted on 01/30/2006 8:15:20 PM PST by onyx
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: Ernest_at_the_Beach
"I'll sleep good tonight after this and the Alioto victory!"
Keep the blood pressure down kido. What is not breaking today will be breaking tomorrow. At any rate, it is a bit surprising the Chicom have gone along with this. They must fear an oil embargo set up in a way that no one will get any oil from Iran via. tankers (sea routes).
14 posted on 01/30/2006 8:35:49 PM PST by Marine_Uncle (Honor must be earned)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: Marine_Uncle
Abdullah will meet with President Hu Jintao, Kong said. The spokesman said he didn't know whether the king would be accompanied by the Saudi oil minister or other officials on the two-day visit that is set to begin on Jan. 22.

"On energy security, oil, I believe the two sides will discuss beneficial cooperation," Kong said.

China and Saudi Arabia have dramatically expanded commercial ties in recent years as Beijing tries to expand energy supplies for its booming economy.

The main Saudi government oil company, a Chinese producer and Exxon Mobil Corp. are partners in a $3.5 billion project to expand a refinery in southern China.

Total trade between the two countries — much of it Saudi oil bought by China — grew by 59 percent in the first 11 months of 2005 to $14 billion, according to Kong.

It IS a done deal. We do not need to expend our finest men and women in uniform. This is Europe's and Asia's issue. They will address it IMHO. The political, or nuclear fallout is unacceptable to them. Even Chirac is p!ssing himself.

15 posted on 01/30/2006 9:02:45 PM PST by ARealMothersSonForever
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: Brilliant
Bush was brilliant to give the EU a chance to fall on their face. They did. Now he's going to give the UN a chance to fall on its face. It will.

Strategery.

16 posted on 01/30/2006 9:10:39 PM PST by Mad_Tom_Rackham (A Liberal: One who demands half of your pie because he didn't bake one.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Ernest_at_the_Beach
I'll sleep good tonight after this and the Alioto victory!

Hi Ernest,

At least for Alito. That's a done deal, and the Democrats came out smelling like skunks, as per usual.

As for Iran, the crap hasn't hit the fan yet. But it will.

PS: RE your tagline, I am reminded of an old Russian Cold War era saying: "The future is fixed. The past is always changing."

17 posted on 01/30/2006 9:17:10 PM PST by Mad_Tom_Rackham (A Liberal: One who demands half of your pie because he didn't bake one.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: The Great RJ; Sidebar Moderator

The first paragraph has changed to: LONDON - The United States and the other four permanent members of the U.N. Security Council reached surprising agreement Tuesday that Iran should be hauled before that powerful body over its disputed nuclear program.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060131/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iran_nuclear


18 posted on 01/30/2006 9:53:36 PM PST by ARealMothersSonForever
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Lead Moderator

Your call. They have heavily edited.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060131/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iran_nuclear


19 posted on 01/30/2006 9:59:21 PM PST by ARealMothersSonForever
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: ARealMothersSonForever

Some good points made. The meeting between the Saudis and Chicoms could be specific for long establishing a long term energy need commitment in case the Iranian oil/gas sources where to be closed down. Plus for all we know there may be a shift in who the Saudis want to deal with concerning imports. China sure can sell them many things at lower cost then the US or EU. Guess we shall have a better feel in the next few weeks as who made what deals, as the security council prepares to meet on the Iranian nuclear issue. So many scenarios could be set forth ahead of the apple cart. But whats the use of just guessing at this point.


20 posted on 01/31/2006 6:14:27 AM PST by Marine_Uncle (Honor must be earned)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-22 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson