Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad smiles as he speaks with photographers in Tehran, Iran Wednesday April 26, 2006.(AP Photo/Hasan Sarbakhshian)
Posted on 04/27/2006 7:28:15 AM PDT by NormsRevenge
TOMSK, Russia - The leaders of Russia and Germany urged Iran to fulfill its international nuclear obligations Thursday, a day before a U.N. Security Council deadline for Iran to stop enriching uranium.
Iran's hard-line President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad vowed that no one could make Tehran give up its nuclear technology, and he warned that the United States and its European allies will regret their decision if they "violate the rights of the Iranian nation."
"The Iranian nation has acquired nuclear fuel production technology. It didn't get assistance from anybody and nobody can take it back," Ahmadinejad told thousands of people in western Iran.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and German Chancellor Angela Merkel told reporters in the Siberian city of Tomsk that the crisis over Iran's nuclear program could be resolved only through diplomacy.
"It's still too early to run ahead and say what decision we might take together," Putin said. "The main thing is ... that whatever decision is taken is a consensus decision."
Both leaders said Iran must adhere to its international obligations but did not elaborate.
The head of the U.N. nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, will present a report Friday on Iran's implementation of the Security Council demand. Uranium enrichment can produce fuel for nuclear power or material for nuclear warheads.
If Iran does not comply, the Security Council is likely to consider punitive measures against the Islamic republic. Russia and China, however, have been reluctant to endorse sanctions.
Iran has thus far rejected the demand and issued its toughest warning on the issue Tuesday. Nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani said that if the Security Council imposes sanctions, Iran would stop cooperating with the IAEA and conceal its nuclear activities.
"Our position is clear and well known. We are for the nonproliferation of weapons of mass destruction," Putin said. "But we believe that Iran must have an opportunity to develop modern technologies and peaceful nuclear energy."
Earlier, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said the IAEA report should not be seen as an ultimatum for Tehran.
"The procedure for referring and examining the report is not an ultimatum," Lavrov said. "It has a working character and therefore, there is no time limit."
Merkel also called for a diplomatic resolution.
"We are very interested for the world community, as it has been from the start, to work together and show Iran that we want to work by diplomatic methods," she said. "But it is necessary for Iran to keep to the agreements that it has committed itself to."
"We are not talking about banning Iran from using nuclear energy for civilian goals, but it must keep to its obligations and agreements," Merkel added.
China's Foreign Ministry, meanwhile, stressed the need for restraint as the crisis reached a crucial stage.
"We hope the relevant parties can keep calm and exercise restraint so as to avoid moves that would further escalate the situation," said Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang.
Qin said the problem can still be "resolved through dialogue and diplomatic means, which is the correct choice for all parties concerned."
Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad smiles as he speaks with photographers in Tehran, Iran Wednesday April 26, 2006.(AP Photo/Hasan Sarbakhshian)
A "UN deadline" is a pretty flaccid stick.
Iran's chief nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani delivers a speech at a conference on Iran's Nuclear Policies and Prospects in Tehran, April 25, 2006. REUTERS/Raheb Homavandi
Iran will ignore them
Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei delivers a speech at a conference in Tehran in this file photo from April 14. Khamenei said his country was ready to transfer its nuclear technology to other countries. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi, File)
So who is holding their breath over this? ;-)
Iran has already given a speech on how useless and ineffective the UN is.
That said, why would the Iranians listen to the UN on anything?
Big deal.
Yep ... I'm just waiting for Europe to beg us for help
ping
Uh oh, when the deadline passes, Ahmadinejad is going to get a nasty letter from the UN, I bet he's quaking in fear.
Reminds me of the Robin Williams routine:
"This is a line of death, you cross it, you die."
"Ok, this is another line of death, cross it, you die."
"Another line. Cross it, die."
"Another line."
"Another line."
"All right, that's it, you come knocking on my door I'm not coming out...nyaaah!"
a day before a U.N. Security Council deadline for Iran to stop enriching uranium
Between this thread and the one about Senators pushing for $100 rebate checks, I think I went to bed last night and woke up in a bad joke.
Iran to UN: "You and what army?"
"DEADline" has such a negative and violent ring to it....how about calling it the UN Golden Goal?
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