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| Iran | |
| Straw warns against interference in Iran | |
| 2003-06-17 | |
| Al-Guardian - watch the spin! The foreign secretary, Jack Straw, today gave Washington's hawks notice that Britain would not back interference in Iran, but also urged the Iranian government to let weapons inspectors investigate suspicions that it is developing nuclear weapons. Mr Straw told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that the government's approach to Iran was different from the US administration in that "it is one of constructive and conditional engagement with the government of Iran". Mr Straw's comments come after the US president, George Bush, praised recent anti-government demonstrations in Iran's capital Tehran. However, Mr Straw also said that EU ministers were prepared to "park" negotiations on a trade agreement with Iran if there was insufficient progress on inspections. Iran has recently refused to sign up to a tougher inspection regime by the International Atomic Energy Authority (IAEA). See? We're not that different! We're likely to "park" a JDAM on that frigging reactor "On this issue of the Iranians' possible nuclear systems, what we have said to the Iranians is 'Look, if it is correct that you have nothing to hide, then you have nothing to fear by the kind of enhanced inspections which now the whole world wishes you to undertake,' he said. "Iran wants a trade and cooperation agreement which would give much better trade arrangements between Iran and the EU. We have linked that very closely to progress on human rights and, for example, to progress on the kind of weapons inspections which they are going to allow under the International Atomic Energy Authority. We had an interim review of progress. It has not been satisfactory. We will look again following negotiations with Iran in the autumn to see how far they have got. It is inevitable from Iran's point of view that, if they are not making progress on each of these tracks, on human rights and cooperation with the IAEA as well as progress on the trade negotiations, then it is highly probable that European ministers will decide to have to park the negotiations on the trade and cooperation agreement."
Now, how is that so different from the U.S. position? "Nice job", Guardian | |
| Posted by:Frank G |
| #6 SOG, All the mullahs have to report to Somalia for piecekeeping duties - keep this piece of real estate picked up, that piece picked up, etc. Of course, much of what will have to be picked up are the leftover land mines, unexploded bombs, and dead bodies from the fighting between the various factions in the area. It's the right thing to do.... |
| Posted by: Old Patriot 2003-06-17 11:42:36 |
| #5 Give the amount of information that Iran is about to implode in civil war between the educated middle class and the mullahs and their brainwashed minions, it does not surprise me at all that the U.S. is not rolling to Teheran right now. The country is a mess and the nuclear program may be the last straw to the people of that country seeing the Billions spent on THAT when they have so many social and infrastructure problems in that country. I would be inclined to sit back and watch the fun and be "invited" to join in as a constabulary after the mullahs tuck their skirts and flee to Saudi Arabia. Question though, if these radical mullahs are deposed, where do they go in exile...will the Saudis take them in or what? I say that if the Mullahs in Iran go down, the piece process in the middle east take the fast freight to the station. |
| Posted by: SOG475 2003-06-17 10:43:38 |
| #4 Syria has a Shia minority but they are in charge of the nation and have been Iranian allies for some time. If I were a Mullah on the run that's probably where I would go. On the other hand if I were Assad Jr. I would not welcome fleeing Mullahs as it might attract unwanted attention. |
| Posted by: Yank 2003-06-17 16:57:07 |
| #3 The Mullahs in Iran are Shia. As I recall, Saudi Arabia is primarily Sunni... so they won't be finding a new home there. Seems like the most likely place for them to flee is to liberalizing Iraq... where religious freedom is being supported by the "Great Satan". How about THAT for irony? |
| Posted by: Leigh (a guy) 2003-06-17 16:07:00 |
| #2 Syria has a Shia minority but they are in charge of the nation and have been Iranian allies for some time. If I were a Mullah on the run that's probably where I would go. On the other hand if I were Assad Jr. I would not welcome fleeing Mullahs as it might attract unwanted attention. |
| Posted by: Yank 6/17/2003 4:57:07 PM |
| #1 SOG, All the mullahs have to report to Somalia for piecekeeping duties - keep this piece of real estate picked up, that piece picked up, etc. Of course, much of what will have to be picked up are the leftover land mines, unexploded bombs, and dead bodies from the fighting between the various factions in the area. It's the right thing to do.... |
| Posted by: Old Patriot 6/17/2003 11:42:36 AM |