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| Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
| Iran May Negotiate With U.S. Over Nukes |
| 2004-12-14 |
| Iran is willing to talk with the United States about a nuclear program that Washington alleges is aimed at secretly acquiring the bomb, Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi said Monday. Germany, Britain and France launched new negotiations with Iran on Monday to try to persuade Tehran to abandon any nuclear program that could be used for weapons, in return for aid to build up its civilian energy program. Kharrazi told a news conference that talks with Washington could also be possible. The United States broke diplomatic relations with Iran after militant students seized the U.S. Embassy in Tehran in 1979. "If negotiations are on the basis of equality and mutual respect in the same way we are talking to Europeans now, there is no reason not to talk to others," Kharrazi said when asked whether Tehran was also willing to talk to the United States about its nuclear program. Iran's reformers support dialogue with Washington but hard-liners are opposed to any rapprochement, arguing that the only U.S. goal is to bring about the collapse of the ruling Islamic establishment. Some Europeans have hoped America's possible engagement in talks with Iran would increase pressure on Tehran to permanently abandon any weapons program and reassure its rulers that Washington was not seeking their overthrow. Kharrazi, addressing the news conference with his South African counterpart, Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, said Iran will assess the talks with European countries within three months if new negotiations do not meet Iran's demand to use its nuclear program for domestic energy purposes. "If we see that talks are waste of time and have no results, definitely we will make our own decisions," he said. Kharrazi described the talks as "very serious" and dismissed allegations that Tehran was stalling, insisting that Iran had "no interest in wasting time." Iran agreed to a temporary deal with the Europeans last month to suspend uranium enrichment but has insisted that the freeze is voluntary and short. Zuma, whose country is an influential member of the International Atomic Energy Agency, the U.N. nuclear watchdog, said South Africa defends "Iran's right for peaceful use of nuclear technology," but was opposed to a weapons program. |
| Posted by:ed |
| #12 I prefer Uncle Sam sitting down to the table with the big Mullah, the Bear, the Bulldawg and Mr H. Bomb. Have a sandwich and play a round of cards. John Q. Public can watch from the kitchen. |
| Posted by: Shipman 2004-12-14 7:39:16 PM |
| #11 LH-ABSOLUTELY NOT. America needs to stop volunteering for a black eye-as the policeman, the cowboy (ring a bell?)-every time the world whimpers for help, while Europe reclines on a featherbed of insouciance, being the self-appointed foreign policy 'genius' of the international community. Sharing costs and burdens is not limited to tangibles. I'm with tex. |
| Posted by: Jules 187 2004-12-14 4:49:52 PM |
| #10 devils advocate. Mr EU3 to Iran: Im on your side, let me help you, I dont want my colleague outside to come and do anything rash - Ill make you a really generous offer. Iran to EU3 : I aint talking MR EU3 to US: Well, im going out for some coffee and doughnuts, time for you to talk to him, Joe. |
| Posted by: Liberalhawk 2004-12-14 4:33:02 PM |
| #9 "If negotiations are on the basis of equality and mutual respect in the same way we are talking to Europeans now, there is no reason not to talk to others" Wait a sec. According to the MSM the EU Three are presenting a united front with us. Why then is it necessary to hold separate, additional talks with the US? Do you mean to say the EU Dwarves aren't representing our interests here? Perhaps they're n- n- n- not on our side? |
| Posted by: lex 2004-12-14 2:36:05 PM |
| #8 Eu is hoping for another oil for food boondoggle so those that missed out the first time can get rich on this one. This is a good opportunity for the US to buddy up with China and suggest that China can be the source of the pebble reactors (Anonymoose's info is correct). This would provide prestige and cash payments for China so they might go along. It would also force the Iranians to fish or cut bait. |
| Posted by: RJ Schwarz 2004-12-14 2:25:05 PM |
| #7 " Some Europeans have hoped America’s possible engagement in talks with Iran would increase pressure on Tehran to permanently abandon any weapons program and reassure its rulers that Washington was not seeking their overthrow " Is this not familar ?? EU relies on the the good ole USA to take care of all the messes then turn around and stick a knife in our back. Are the Russians interested ?? Oh yeah they are probably busy helping the Iranians build the program. |
| Posted by: tex 2004-12-14 12:39:36 PM |
| #6 Iran: "Let's talk about our nuclear program." Bush: "Okay. Drop it or we'll take it out." Done. Shouldn't take more than one minute even allowing for translations. |
| Posted by: Tom 2004-12-14 11:55:11 AM |
| #5 The Chinese are about to build literally hundreds of "pebble bed" nuclear reactors that cannot be used in any way to make nuclear weapons. We should loudly announce that if Iran 1) opens all of its facilities to unannounced IAEA inspections, including sites that are suspected of being used for such activities, then 2) it can have all the pebble bed reactors it wants to meet its energy needs. Otherwise, ultimatum time. |
| Posted by: Anonymoose 2004-12-14 10:48:04 AM |
| #4 Talk to the JDAMs, freaks. |
| Posted by: Laurence of the Rats 2004-12-14 10:15:25 AM |
| #3 Ladies and Gentleman, Allow me to refresh your memmory with the immortal quote from "The Good, The Bad and The Ugly" : " When you have to Shoot, Shoot, Don't Talk" |
| Posted by: Clint Eastwood 2004-12-14 10:06:38 AM |
| #2 "Iran May Negotiate With U.S. Over Nukes" ROFLMAO!!! No, son, we won't be talking this to death with you. You don't need the tech for any peaceful purpose, you have no "right" to nukies, and you're just too phreakin' insane to be allowed to sit at the big table. Q.E.D. |
| Posted by: .com 2004-12-14 10:01:18 AM |
| #1 Just stalling for time to build the bomb. |
| Posted by: Wo 2004-12-14 9:56:40 AM |