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| Iran's Bushehr Nuclear Plant Exempted In UN Sanctions Draft |
| 2006-10-29 |
| The Russian-built Bushehr nuclear plant in Iran is specifically exempted from nuclear and missile-related sanctions against Tehran proposed by three European powers, according to their draft resolution seen here Thursday. The draft, a copy of which was obtained by AFP, was crafted by envoys of Britain, France and Germany in consultations with the United States and presented to their Russian and Chinese colleagues late Tuesday. It calls on UN member states to "take necessary measures to prevent the supply, sale or transfer directly or indirectly from their territories or by their nationals ... of all items, materials, equipment, goods and technology which could contribute to Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile programs." The states are also asked to take steps to bar "the provision to Iran of technical assistance or training, financial assistance, investment brokering or other services and the transfer of financial resources or services related to Iran's nuclear or ballistic missile programs." The text also provides for a freeze on assets related to Iran's nuclear and missile programs as well as travel bans on nuclear and weapons scientists involved in those programs. But in an apparent bid to mollify Moscow, the text specifically stresses that the proposed sanctions "shall not apply to supplies of items, materials, equipment, goods and technology, nor to the provision of technical assistance or training, financial assistance, investment, brokering or other services and the transfer of financial resources related to the construction Bushehr I, where these are being provided directly by the Russian federation." It also states that the travel bans "shall not apply where such travel, directly between Iran and the Russian Federation, is necessary for the construction of Bushehr I." Similarly, the assets freeze "shall not apply to funds, other financial assets or economic resources payable to the Russian Federation by Iran, related to the construction of Bushehr I," it noted. Last month, Russia and Iran officially agreed on a 12-month deadline for completing the controversial Bushehr project, despite earlier pressure from Tehran that the station be completed in half that time. Delays have plagued the project ever since the two countries entered into an initial agreement in 1995, with US officials pressing Russia to suspend the program. The Bushehr contract is worth about one billion dollars to Russia. Western powers suspect Iran is covertly trying to build nuclear weapons. But Tehran has repeatedly ignored UN Security Council demands that it halt uranium enrichment, a process which, if extended, can provide the raw material for a nuclear warhead. It insists that its nuclear program is peaceful and solely geared toward generating electricity. |
| Posted by:3dc |
| #6 I believe that the USA faces the perfect storm. I so very much want you to be wrong, but your words ring far too true to be ignored. The nacent Ballistic Missile Defense network and our huge cache of (still functioning) nuclear weapons may yet prove to be our savior. It is time for America to overcome any reluctance regarding perceptions of unilateralism. Aside from Britain, Australia and Japan (perhaps Taiwan and Denmark, too), we have no real allies. Our contry needs to begin acting in its own best interest regardless of world opinion. A world-wide campaign of snuffing the top jihadists would go a long way towards taking the starch out of Islam. |
| Posted by: Zenster 2006-10-29 21:49 |
| #5 Nkor's nukes. China plays the long game. Revanchist Russia stands in the background. Radical Islam is at war with the Anglosphere and are supported by whom? I don't believe the EU is feckless. I believe they are an enemy. Their actions align them with our enemies. I believe that the USA faces the perfect storm. |
| Posted by: SR-71 2006-10-29 20:35 |
| #4 Europe underwent a feck-ectomy a long while ago, it would appear. |
| Posted by: lotp 2006-10-29 19:11 |
| #3 but not exempted from the target list |
| Posted by: RWV 2006-10-29 18:59 |
| #2 Fecked. Up. |
| Posted by: Zenster 2006-10-29 18:38 |
| #1 Feck. Less. |
| Posted by: .com 2006-10-29 17:56 |