Hand over nuclear weapons and know-how, Iran tells Britain

Telegraph (UK) ^ | 2004-08-10

[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.

[fso301]

Make sure to save copies of where John Kerry declared that his plan for dealing with Iran was to give them "nuclear fuel" so long as they promised not to use it to make bombs.

"Fine, we will provide you the fuel that you need if Russia fails to provide it."

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5570503/site/newsweek/

We should call their bluff, and organize a group of states that will offer the nuclear fuel they need for peaceful purposes and take back the spent fuel so they can’t divert it to build a weapon.

http://www.johnkerry.com/pressroom/speeches/spc_2004_0601.html

John Kerry's proposal would call their bluff by organizing a group of states to offer Iran the nuclear fuel they need for peaceful purposes and take back the spent fuel so they cannot divert it to build a weapon. If Iran does not accept this offer, their true motivations will be clear.

http://www.johnkerry.com/issues/national_security/strategy.html

[Wolfhound777]

"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."

Did Hillary send copies of the FBI files to Iran to use as leverage for these demands?

[TaxRelief]

They are debating on how best to deliver Israel into Iranian hands at maximum profit to Europe.

If that's truly the case, than France, et al may have to be disabled FIRST.

[raygun]

1 Lb large Portabella mushrooms
lemon juice
5 Tbsn butter
1 small onion (minced)
4 cloves garlic (crushed)
1/4 Lb lean ground pork
salt
ground pepper
3 TBsp bread crumb
1 TBsp Spanish brandy (or Cognac) - or something
1 1/2 TBsp minced parsely
1 1/2 TBsp chopped pine nuts (almonds or something too)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Clean 'shrooms. Remove and finely chop stems. Sprinkle 'shroom caps w/lemon juice.

Melt 4 TBsp in medium skillet and saute onion and garlic until wilted. Add meat and cook - sprinkling with salt and pepper - until it loses its color. Add chopped 'shroom stems and cook for an additional 180 seconds. Turn off heat.

Stir in bread crumbs, brandy (or whatever), pine nuts (or whatever), more salt and pepper if required.

Pile mixture into 'shroom caps and dot with butter. Slam into oven for 900 seconds.

Eat as an appetizer, or along side different things.

[GeronL]

Iran is now trying to blackmail Briain??

[LiberalBassTurds]

Do you think that it is an accident that we are on their East and West flank? Go George Bush

I think it's a brilliant strategy to firewall the problem nations. Frankly I'm surprised more of the conservative press hasn't picked-up on the overall game plan. I knew the Libs would never get it. :)

Go George Bush is right!

LBT

-=-=-

[Calpernia]

Ping

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/1189134/posts

Live Iranian news thread

[George W. Bush]

I registred in response to it, in order to comment. For those who know diplomacy: this is the diplomatic equivilant of the middle finger.

My first thought too when I saw the headline. I was reminded of Hitler's demands to France and Britain to acquire the Sudetanland and other territories. Well, perhaps Iran thinks they can play the same game...

Welcome.

[Mo1]

They then stunned the Europeans by presenting a letter setting out their own demands.

Wrong answer Iran

[George W. Bush]

Either Bush does something, or Israel will.

The sooner, the better. I don't like the neocons generally but they're right on this one.

[WoofDog123]

"Iran wouldn't behave this way if they weren't right on the verge of getting nukes."

Surely they already have enough to not be worried about conventional attack if they are saying stuff like this.

This is thumbing their nose at the west, DPRK-style.

[WoofDog123]

"Even the EU can no longer deal with these people."

Yes and no, meaning for some types of trade this will cause the UK and maybe germany to erect barriers. For oil, it IS business as usual.

[WoofDog123]

"They are pushing us to take them out before the election... "

You mean like N Korea pushed us?

The US isn't about to attack a nuclear-capable country until there is literally no alterative except attack or be attacked immediately instead.

[William Terrell]

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.

So? What does Iran offer to the bargan, besides payment?

[Robert_Paulson2]

Wrong...
national policy is now preemption.

we are being prepared for that to happen NOW.
the subject is being broached... and the lefties will howl.

[Antoninus]

The mullahs are probably HOPING that Israel hits them with nukes so they can cling to power. I fervently hope that our government is arming and training the democratic opposition at this very moment. Patriotic Persians need to prevent this trajedy by overthrowing the mad mullahs before the nukes begin to fall.

If Israel hits them, there will be no uprising in Iran. Instead, there will probably be an uprising in southern Iraq--against us. Not a good situation.

Iran needs to be spanked hard. Unfortunately, I think its the Europeans who need to do it. But they won't. They don't even qualify as paper tigers anymore. More like paper bunny rabbits.

[Grampa Dave]

You nailed al Kerri on both bs statements:

"Yeesh... what an utter load of nothingness from the Kerry camp. That statement says almost nothing at all.

"Agree to give them "fuel" for reactors? Tell me, John, what does an oil *exporting* country need with *nuclear* power generation in the first place?"

No middle east country that has the oil that Iran, Iraq or Saudi land has, needs nuclear reactors for fuel. Only the rats buy that bs.

I will gurantee you that quote will disappear of his web site very soon. Of course now we have it.

[Grampa Dave]

The MSM mediots have pledged to protect Kerri against all of his lies including his white Christmas in Cambodia.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Does this look Presidential?

[Grampa Dave]

My 5 year old grand daughter knows that is stupid and dangerous. However my 3 year old grandson, who about the same mental age of al Kerri doesn't know any better. He will by the time he is five. The Dork, le jacquestrap Kerri will never be that mature.