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Rafsanjani says proposed nuclear deal would 'humiliate' Iran
Tehran (AFP) Jul 21, 2006 An international proposal aimed at resolving a crisis over Iran's nuclear programme is "humiliating" because it demands that the country suspend uranium enrichment work, a senior Iranian cleric said on Friday. "They have included something in their offer either to humiliate Iran or to make the proposal practically unacceptable," influential former president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani said in a Friday prayer sermon in Tehran. "They have set a precondition. They say first suspend, and then negotiations," he said of the offer, which was drawn up by Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States. An acceptance of the offer by Tehran would "mean submission on Iran's part", he added. The five permanent Security Council members plus Germany want Iran to freeze enrichment to ease fears it is seeking nuclear weapons. Iran says it only wants to enrich to make atomic energy reactor fuel, but the process can be extended to make weapons. In return for a suspension of uranium enrichment, the so-called 5+1 group are offering multilateral negotiations -- also involving the United States -- on a package of trade, technology, diplomatic and other incentives. Last week, ministers of the six nations agreed at a meeting in Paris to send the Iran nuclear dossier back to the Security Council after Tehran failed to respond to the offer. And on Thursday, France circulated a revised draft resolution in the UN Security Council that would legally require Iran to suspend all uranium enrichment and reprocessing activities. It "decides that Iran shall suspend all enrichment-related and reprocessing activities, including research and development, to be verified by the IAEA (the UN nuclear watchdog), and suspend the construction of a reactor moderated by heavy water." The text, which was made available to reporters, invokes articles 39 and 40 of Chapter Seven of the UN charter that stipulate "provisional measures" to be taken ahead of imposing tougher steps such as sanctions. Community Email This Article Comment On This Article Related Links
US still open to talks on North Korea weapons
Washington (AFP) Jul 20, 2006 Washington remains committed to multiparty talks with North Korea over its nuclear weapons, despite Pyongyang's defiant ballistic missile test launch earlier this month, the US pointman on North Korea said Thursday. |
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