Quad18star
06-08-2006, 11:41 AM
Not sure how many of you guys and girls follow this at all , but Iran has agreed to slow down their nuclear enrichment for the time being to talk about the concerns the UN has with them . What's your thoughts on this issue ???
Here's the article taken from www.ctv.ca
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Iran slowing nuclear enrichment, UN watchdog says
CTV.ca News Staff
Iran has slowed its nuclear enrichment work over the past month, says a report by the UN's International Atomic Energy Agency.
But the UN nuclear watchdog's confidential report, which was made available to The Associated Press, says Iran continues its experiments with the technology.
The document report, which was distributed to the IAEA's 35 member nations, also suggested nuclear inspectors have made little headway on clearing up other concerning aspects of Tehran's past nuclear activity.
Details of the report were released as president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Iran is ready to discuss "mutual concerns" over its nuclear program but warned that threats would not work to defuse the standoff.
While Ahmadinejad refused to first suspend uranium enrichment, he did not say, however, whether Iran would accept a Western proposal for resuming negotiations.
The proposal demands Tehran suspend uranium enrichment in return for a package of incentives.
"On behalf of the Iranian nation, I'm announcing that the Iranian nation will never hold negotiations about its definite rights with anybody, but we are for talks about mutual concerns to resolve misunderstandings in the international arena," Ahmadinejad said in a televised speech that was his first public comment since a plan backed by six world powers was presented to Iran.
"If they (the international community) think they can threaten and hang a stick over the head of the Iranian nation and negotiate at the same time, they should know the Iranian nation will reject such an atmosphere," he said at a rally in Qazvin, west of the capital Tehran.
The international community is awaiting Iran's response to the proposals presented by European Union foreign police chief Javier Solana on Tuesday.
Shortly after it was delivered, Iran's top nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani said the package of incentives contained some "positive steps" -- but also some "ambiguities."
"We hope, after we study the proposal in detail, we will have another round of talks and negotiations to achieve a balanced and logical conclusion," he added.
Details of the package have not been made public, but diplomats close to the negotiations told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity that the U.S. would give Iran nuclear technology.
Washington said Iran must suspend enrichment work during any talks but Western diplomats said the package would allow Iran to eventually resume such work after strict conditions were met.
The package also reportedly offers economic and political rewards if Iran abandons domestic uranium enrichment and contains the implicit threat of UN sanctions if Tehran remains defiant.
The Associated Press, citing diplomatic sources, reports that Washington sweetened the original offer drawn up by France, Britain and Germany, saying it will lift some trade sanctions on Tehran.
Officials from the United States and Germany said the world powers would discuss the other terms in the proposal if Iran suspends uranium enrichment. The plan's other backers are China and Russia.
Ahmadinejad and other Iranian officials have previously rejected Western demands to abandon uranium enrichment, saying it is a national right. But officials have hinted Iran might discuss the scope of their nuclear program.
Western nations fear Iran is enriching uranium to build weapons-grade uranium for nuclear warheads while Tehran says its nuclear program is for the purposes of peaceful energy production.
Iran is the world's fourth-largest oil exporter and the second-largest producer in the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).
With files from The Associated Press
Here's the article taken from www.ctv.ca
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Iran slowing nuclear enrichment, UN watchdog says
CTV.ca News Staff
Iran has slowed its nuclear enrichment work over the past month, says a report by the UN's International Atomic Energy Agency.
But the UN nuclear watchdog's confidential report, which was made available to The Associated Press, says Iran continues its experiments with the technology.
The document report, which was distributed to the IAEA's 35 member nations, also suggested nuclear inspectors have made little headway on clearing up other concerning aspects of Tehran's past nuclear activity.
Details of the report were released as president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Iran is ready to discuss "mutual concerns" over its nuclear program but warned that threats would not work to defuse the standoff.
While Ahmadinejad refused to first suspend uranium enrichment, he did not say, however, whether Iran would accept a Western proposal for resuming negotiations.
The proposal demands Tehran suspend uranium enrichment in return for a package of incentives.
"On behalf of the Iranian nation, I'm announcing that the Iranian nation will never hold negotiations about its definite rights with anybody, but we are for talks about mutual concerns to resolve misunderstandings in the international arena," Ahmadinejad said in a televised speech that was his first public comment since a plan backed by six world powers was presented to Iran.
"If they (the international community) think they can threaten and hang a stick over the head of the Iranian nation and negotiate at the same time, they should know the Iranian nation will reject such an atmosphere," he said at a rally in Qazvin, west of the capital Tehran.
The international community is awaiting Iran's response to the proposals presented by European Union foreign police chief Javier Solana on Tuesday.
Shortly after it was delivered, Iran's top nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani said the package of incentives contained some "positive steps" -- but also some "ambiguities."
"We hope, after we study the proposal in detail, we will have another round of talks and negotiations to achieve a balanced and logical conclusion," he added.
Details of the package have not been made public, but diplomats close to the negotiations told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity that the U.S. would give Iran nuclear technology.
Washington said Iran must suspend enrichment work during any talks but Western diplomats said the package would allow Iran to eventually resume such work after strict conditions were met.
The package also reportedly offers economic and political rewards if Iran abandons domestic uranium enrichment and contains the implicit threat of UN sanctions if Tehran remains defiant.
The Associated Press, citing diplomatic sources, reports that Washington sweetened the original offer drawn up by France, Britain and Germany, saying it will lift some trade sanctions on Tehran.
Officials from the United States and Germany said the world powers would discuss the other terms in the proposal if Iran suspends uranium enrichment. The plan's other backers are China and Russia.
Ahmadinejad and other Iranian officials have previously rejected Western demands to abandon uranium enrichment, saying it is a national right. But officials have hinted Iran might discuss the scope of their nuclear program.
Western nations fear Iran is enriching uranium to build weapons-grade uranium for nuclear warheads while Tehran says its nuclear program is for the purposes of peaceful energy production.
Iran is the world's fourth-largest oil exporter and the second-largest producer in the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).
With files from The Associated Press