So Iran has finally admitted what anybody with any common sense already knew. They have no intention of permanently ceasing their atomic weapons program. Since they’ve stated they were only halting uranium enrichment while “negotiations” were ongoing, there is no need for those talks to continue. The next step should be to devise and implement a real plan for dealing with this very dangerous rogue nation.
Middle East News, TEHRAN: A top Iranian nuclear official said here Tuesday that Iran’s suspension of uranium enrichment activities was only a temporary move and would never be indefinite.
“The Islamic republic has not renounced its nuclear fuel cycle and it will use it,” Hassan Rowhani, secretary of the Supreme National Security Council and Iran’s chief nuclear negotiator, toldreporters.
“The suspension will only last as long as the related negotiations go on. It should be for months but not for years,” Rowhani said, adding that both a UN resolution and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed that the suspension was not obligatory and legal.
Rowhani said Iran had obtained a great success in recent nuclear negotiations, stressing that the United States had been frustrated on its attempt to refer Iran’s nuclear case to the UN Security Council.
Rowhani further noted that Iran’s nuclear dossier should be closed.
“The resolution of the IAEA explicitly confirms that Iran’s nuclear program is peaceful, so the country’s nuclear case should no longer remain a top issue of the agency,” Rowhani said.
The UN nuclear watchdog on Monday adopted a resolution presentedby the European trio of France, Germany and Britain, in which the agency decided not to refer Iran’s case to the UN Security Council.
So how does the EU respond to confirmation that their negotiations with Iran have been a farce? Why, by proposing another set of negotiations of course. In fact, they seem to be rather pleased with this whole turn of events.
BRUSSELS (AFP) – The EU hailed a “new chapter” in ties with Iran and confirmed plans to resume trade talks rapidly, after a UN-brokered deal under which Tehran pledged to freeze uranium enrichment activities.
But anticipation of renewed relations after prolonged tensions was clouded by an immediate warning from Tehran that it will only continue the freeze so long as negotiations are ongoing with the Europeans.
European Union (EU) foreign policy chief Javier Solana welcomed the adoption by the UN’s nuclear watchdog, of a toned-down resolution seen as a compromise between Europe’s constructive engagement with Tehran and hardline US demands.
“Now the work on solid long-term arrangements can proceed rapidly. This work should aim at providing lasting confidence in the peaceful nature of Iran’s nuclear programme.
Solana thinks the IAEA is going to be able to give us “lasting confidence” that Iran’s program is peaceful. What planet is this guy living on? Of course, he knows well that the program is not peaceful, but probably figures, as long as they promise not to use their weapons on us, there’s no reason to put ourselves out trying to stop them.
