Iran Rejects Russian Nuke Compromise
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James Joyner | Monday, January 2, 2006 |
Iran has rejected Russia’s compromise offer to enrich uraniam for its “peaceful” nuclear program, virtually assuring that the U.N. Security Council will vote for sanctions.
Tehran on Monday rejected an offer by Russia to allow Iran to enrich uranium for its nuclear reactors in Russia. Ha’aretz reports that the proposal had been put forward by Russia, which is helping Iran develop and build the reactors, as a way to allay concerns about Iran’s nuclear program and its potential to be turned into a weapons program. Iran continues to insist its program is being developed solely for peaceful purposes.
The European Union had been pushing for Iran to accept Russia’s offer, as it would be a way to ensure that only low-grade uranium, suitable for power stations, would be processed. But Iran’s top nuclear negotiator, Ali Larijani, told Iranian TV that Iran will continue to insist on its right to enrich the material in Iran itself. He did add, however, that Iran would be willing to consider conducting certain phases of the process outside Iran.
Mr. Larijani will meet with European negotiators this month in an effort to work out some kind of understanding before the next meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency in February. If an agreement about Iran’s nuclear program is not reached, experts say, it is very likely that the country will be referred to the UN Security Council for possible sanctions.
The piece rounds up several recent press accounts speculating on possible preemptive strikes against Iran’s facilities by the United States and/or Israel, including an OTB post from last week:
James Joyner, editor of the Outside the Beltway blog and a management analyst for a Washington-area defense contractor, examines the scenarios for a US and/or Israeli preemptive strike against Iran, and finds that, at this point in time, there is “not a good set of options.”
The lack of those options would seem to preclude a strike from taking place but, it seems, not derail speculation.
About the Author: James Joyner is the publisher of Outside the Beltway and the managing editor of the Atlantic Council. He's a former Army officer, Desert Storm vet, and college professor with a PhD in political science from The University of Alabama. He lives just outside the Beltway in Alexandria, Virginia with his wife and infant daughter.
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And the Iranian rejection of the Russian compromise is a surprise? Sounds like the usual "buy some time" ruse applied by friendly nations such as North Korea.
and what is the argument against Iran having nukes when India, Israel, Pakistan, China, France, UK, USA do ?
One non-hypocritical argument; waiting.
and what is the argument against Iran having nukes when India, Israel, Pakistan, China, France, UK, USA do ?
Because Iran is a rogue nation with no respect for international law that might attack other countries for no good reason ...
Um, wait, did you say NON-hypocritical? Sorry.
paul, I will let someone from Israel answer that for you.
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