Posted on 08/10/2004 4:56:49 PM PDT by Clive
Iran has issued an extraordinary list of demands to Britain and other European countries, telling them to provide advanced nuclear technology, conventional weapons and a security guarantee against nuclear attack by Israel.
Teheran's request, said by British officials to have "gone down very badly", sharply raises the stakes in the crisis over Iran's nuclear programme, which Britain and America believe is aimed at making an atomic bomb.
Iran's move came during crisis talks in Paris this month with senior diplomats from Britain, France and Germany.
The "EU-3" were trying to convince Iranian officials to honour an earlier deal to suspend its controversial uranium enrichment programme, which is ostensibly designed to make fuel for nuclear power stations but could also be used to make fissile material for nuclear bombs. Iranian officials refused point-blank to comply, saying they had every right under international law to pursue "peaceful" nuclear technology.
They then stunned the Europeans by presenting a letter setting out their own demands.
Iran said the EU-3 should support Iran's quest for "advanced (nuclear) technology, including those with dual use" - a reference to equipment that has both civilian and military applications.
The Europeans should "remove impediments" preventing Iran from having such technology, and stick to these commitments even if faced with "legal (or) political . . . limitations", an allusion to American pressure or even future international sanctions against Iran.
More astonishingly, Iran said the EU-3 should agree to meet Iran's requirements for conventional weapons and even "provide security assurances" against a nuclear attack on Iran.
This is a reference to Israel's nuclear arsenal, believed to include some 200 warheads and long-range missiles to deliver them.
The EU-3 are still debating over how to respond, but British officials said the Iranian letter was "extremely surprising, given the delicate state of process". Jack Straw, the Foreign Secretary, will have to decide whether to adopt a more confrontational policy.
America is demanding that the board of governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which meets next month, refer Iran to the UN Security Council for possible sanctions. US officials are also openly discussing "covert" means of disrupting the Iranian nuclear programme, while Israel has openly threatened military action.
However, there were signs yesterday that the next report of Mohammed ElBaradei, the IAEA director general, may give Iran a boost.
A key mystery for the past year has been the source of traces of highly-enriched uranium (HEU) found by IAEA inspectors at several sites in Iran. Teheran claimed this was "contamination" of equipment imported from other countries, rather than proof that it had secretly made HEU.
According to diplomats, inspectors have confirmed that in at least one case the contamination did come from Pakistan, as Iran claimed.
Other contamination issues remain unresolved, and may never be settled. Moreover there are several other open questions.
I'm very curious as to what the Iranian's "think" they have as leverage to support this document.
It's one thing for the delegation to speak these demands, and a very different matter when it is printed on paper! THis "demand" was well thought out, part of a PLAN. What are the elements of this plan which allowed them to so boldly make a "move?"
Something is happening, they are waiting for someone to make the next move. It may be political, military, or even a wait and see, to determine if the Iranians are on a time table. The Iranians already know the world is on a time table in dealing with their nuclear program.
Curious!!
I pray our Government and military have a good plan.
Their reward is in the next world, where those that they kill are their servants.
And thus, begs the question, how do the SF guys let the general public know to keep their asses in doors when the attack comes? PsyOps?
Innocent Mullah-hating Iranians (maybe some who are even Christian) will die.
The stage is set for an Israeli strike on November 1
More and more I feel that as each day goes by the moves on the chessboard are becoming more apparent.
Reminds me of Independence Day... What happens with the squence runs out? Checkmate.. the question is.. are we the new Big Blue or the old one?
Would love to see the Brits pop a can o'shrooms... just once.
Join the nuclear suntan club tony... grab those slammies by the neck up close and personal... then have the raf pull the pin on em.
Why would a move to "provide security assurances" against a nuclear attack on Iran not be a constructive move?
Nuking Iran without like provocation is obviously something that would never be considered anyway, so why not?
Not providing such assurances is tantamount to promising a nuclear first strike on Iran, that's also obvious..
Sounds fair. And if it will lessen their paranoia, it should be done. There's absolutely no loss in it.
I hope you're right but there have been many unsettling low-key indicators with both Israel and the US which strongly suggest they've highly accelerated their timetables regarding Iran. In aggregate these suggest serious moves afoot relatively soon.
The key diplomatic goal should be how to use this information, if correct, to destabilize the regime of the Mullahs.
I agree, and this is probably the hoped for option. Iran is a lot riper for this than many give it credit for. However, if the indicators of an imminent nuclear capability are true, Israel's security may not be sufficiently protected by just a popular revolt against the current regime.
Either way, my guess is things are going to get really interesting within the next two months.
Telegraph appears to have pulled the article?!!?!?
Translation: Help us or we will use our nukes on you once we get them.
No one likes them on the other side of the Gulf.
Looks like Khazakstan gets an airforce overnight...or...lots of pots and pans : )
Dementia reigns in Teheran.
And in the demoncraptic party!
I posted it.
Thanks
Agreed and welcome. Same thing North Korea did and then we found they had stuff.
Yes they are, and yes we are and have been.
One of the primary and untold reasons (actually it was told) for taking out Saddam was to put in a friendly govt. next to Iran that would be a beacon to Iranian people who want freedom.
This would totally screw the Ayatollahs out of power and stabilize a large portion of the ME.
The plan appears to be working, and the Iranian Mullah's are beginning to fold up like a cheap suit.
LOL. Lots of pots and pans.
They've already got one .... not even crazy people make these demands unless they have one.
they have something, and that is a gaurantee. it is foolish to even try to argue that iran would come off with this stance without something in their back pocket.
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