US offers direct talks with Iran

[dreamer]

The US says it is ready to join direct multilateral talks with Iran on its nuclear programme if Tehran suspends disputed nuclear activities.
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said the US would join EU nations in talks if Iran suspended uranium enrichment and reprocessing work.
President Bush said he believed the issue could be solved diplomatically.
The Iranian state news agency dismissed the offer as a "propaganda move", in the first official reaction from Iran.
EU countries and the UN nuclear watchdog welcomed the offer, which is seen as a significant US policy shift.
Washington broke off diplomatic ties with Iran in 1979 and the two sides have had little official contact since.
Proposal
Ms Rice said "as soon as Iran fully and verifiably suspends its enrichment and reprocessing activities, the United States will come to the table". link http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/mid...st/5034228.stm it seems the USA is backing down.
Dreamer.

[MarsBarKid]

The only propaganda is on the part of Iran, imho they have absolutely no intention of doing anything but what they think is their destiny. to take down the Great Satin and win the war for Islam.

[dreamer]

Quote by: MarsBarKid The only propaganda is on the part of Iran, imho they have absolutely no intention of doing anything but what they think is their destiny. to take down the Great Satin and win the war for Islam.

Iran's foreign minister has said his country is ready to talk to the US - but insisted that it will continue with uranium enrichment.
The US on Wednesday said it would join EU states in talks if Iran first halted sensitive nuclear activities.
Analysts said it was a major US policy change and an attempt to regain the initiative in the Iran nuclear issue.
The world's major powers are meeting in Vienna later to discuss a package of incentives to offer to Iran.
Tehran says its nuclear activities are aimed at energy production.
The US and Western allies suspect Iran of trying to build a nuclear weapon.
Talks between Iran and European powers have been suspended since Iran resumed uranium enrichment.
Room for manoeuvre
In comments reported on Iranian state-run television, Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said Iran "will not give up our nation's natural right [to enrichment], we will not hold talks over it. But we are ready to hold talks over mutual concerns". The link if needed
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/mid...st/5036082.stm .
Dreamer.

[Samildanach]

Iran basically said f$%k U. You want to talk lets talk, but you aren't going to get anything for talking to us. I'm with Iran on this one. Why should they stop enrichment just to talk to the US? Its just a stall tactic.

[Autolykos]

Also note that Iran is free to proceed with uranium enrichment under the Non-Proliferation Treaty:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Non-pro...ear_technology

Basically, the people in power here in the US are acting on "faith" -- namely, the "faith" that Iran is enriching uranium not for nuclear power, but for nuclear weapons, which they will proceed to use against the US. :rolleyes:

- Rob

[RickSp]

This is just another game being played by the US to isolate Iran. The one precondition for talks - that Iran stop enriching uranium, guarantees that the Iranians won't join in the talks. We are witnessing just part of the Bush chess game intended to lay the ground work for another war. Unfortunately, this war may just trigger World War III.

[Autolykos]

Yes, Rick, I definitely agree. Furthermore, the actions of the US government here are serving only to provoke anti-US sentiment in Iran and the rest of the Middle-Eastern and Islamic worlds. The US government is engaging in de facto imperialist tactics: "Do as we say, or else we will hurt you." In the name of "security" and "war on terror(ism)", the US government seeks to prevent Iran from generating its own nuclear power.

I'm afraid that I'm beginning to see just how much of a disease "war fever" really is, and just how prevalent among the American people it remains today.

- Rob

[Samildanach]

the real question is what is so bad about Iran being able to generate its own nuclear power? Assuming they aren't producing weapons. They might become energy self sufficent. where do they get their power from currently? Do they buy it and if so from whom?

[Samildanach]

Hmm they are 97.1% fossil fuel dependent.

[RickSp]

Quote by: Samildanach the real question is what is so bad about Iran being able to generate its own nuclear power? Assuming they aren't producing weapons. They might become energy self sufficent. where do they get their power from currently? Do they buy it and if so from whom?

Iran is the world's fourth largest producer of crude oil. It has the second largest natural gas reserve and the fifth largest reserve of crude oil. They are already energy independent.

[Samildanach]

Iran is the world's fourth largest producer of crude oil. It has the second largest natural gas reserve and the fifth largest reserve of crude oil. They are already energy independent.

so what would happen in theory if they started to use nuclear power instead......I suppose they gain some street cred in the middle east....but apart from that and the whole 'mastering of the technoogy side of it' What do they gain? albeit its a 'cleaner form' of power...and I guess the threat will always be there that they COULD have wmd which would act as a deterrent to invasion.

I guess thats what the US doesn't really like. After all if you can't invade the middle east every 6 years what happens when it pops round to election time and the people want a war president?
who do you invade then? Venezuela?

[dreamer]

update http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/mid...t/5037678.stmb .Iran responded that it would talk to the US only if it was allowed to continue uranium enrichment.
But a White House spokeswoman said it was hoped this was not Iran's last word on the subject.
US President George W Bush warned that if Iran failed to change its mind the US and its Western allies would go to the UN Security Council, where they could seek sanctions.
Analysts say the US move was a major policy change and an attempt to regain the initiative in the Iran nuclear issue.
Tehran says its nuclear activities are aimed at energy production.
The US and Western allies suspect Iran of trying to build a nuclear weapon.
Talks between Iran and European powers have been suspended since Iran resumed uranium enrichment.
Potential punishments
At the meeting in Vienna, the five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany are expected to work on a "carrot and stick" package for Iran.

[Samildanach]

I bet the Iranian president is quaking in his boots right now.

"Oh no, they are going to .....sanction us....no please anything but that"

[Short Round]

Quote by: Samildanach I bet the Iranian president is quaking in his boots right now. "Oh no, they are going to .....sanction us....no please anything but that"

It's times like these I miss Joseph Stalin. Now that was a MF'er you could hate AND respect.

[Kite]

I miss the old politically motivated dictators. They would at least listen to reason, albiet they didn't usually use it much in making decisions. These religious nuts are just crazy.

[bishop]

Quote by: Autolykos Also note that Iran is free to proceed with uranium enrichment under the Non-Proliferation Treaty: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Non-pro...ear_technology Basically, the people in power here in the US are acting on "faith" -- namely, the "faith" that Iran is enriching uranium not for nuclear power, but for nuclear weapons, which they will proceed to use against the US. :rolleyes: - Rob

there's more to it than simply the NPT..

article

On 18 December 2003, Ambassador Salehi of Iran and the Director General of the IAEA signed an Additional Protocol to Iran's NPT safeguards agreement, granting Agency inspectors greater authority in verifying the country's nuclear programme. Iran has stated that it is acting in accordance with the Protocol's provisions, pending the Protocol's formal entry into force. The Additional Protocol requires States to provide an expanded declaration of their nuclear activities and grants the Agency broader rights of access to sites in the country. Since February 2003, the IAEA has been heavily engaged in the verification of the Iranian programme and its history. As IAEA Director General Mohamed ElBaradei reported to the Agency's Board in November 2003, the IAEA's ability to reach a conclusion on the nature of Iran's nuclear programme and the correctness and completeness of Iran's declaration of its nuclear activities will very much depend on the Agency being allowed by Iran to implement in full the verification measures provided for in the safeguards agreement and the Additional Protocol that Iran has now concluded with the IAEA - and on Iran's pursuing a policy of full transparency and co-operation. In his report to the Board at that time, Dr. ElBaradei stated that "Iran has committed itself to a policy of full disclosure and has decided, as a confidence building measure, not only to sign the Additional Protocol, making way for more robust and comprehensive inspections, but also to take the important step of suspending all enrichment related and reprocessing activities and to accept IAEA verification of this suspension. These are positive and welcome steps which I very much hope will be sustained."

iran renegged on the additional protocols, so they are not currently acting in good faith. it is entirely reasonable for us to ask them to halt uranium enrichment so that we could begin to negotiate in good faith. this source from the iaea was documented in 2003.. iran's complete about face should not be so summarily ignored.

[dreamer]

update iran US intelligence chief.
Director of National Intelligence John Negroponte told BBC Radio's Today programme Tehran could have a nuclear bomb ready between 2010 and 2015.
His comments come after key world powers agreed proposals in Vienna to persuade Tehran to halt its research.
The UK said the UN Security Council would act if Iran did not comply.
But on Friday Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said the Vienna agreement meant that force was ruled out.
Lessons learned
Iran resumed enrichment of uranium this year but remains a signatory to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and maintains that its activities are aimed only at energy production.
However in his interview with the BBC, Mr Negroponte said: "[Iran] seems to be determined to develop nuclear weapons.link if needed
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/mid...st/5039956.stm .
Dreamer

[jose]

The Iranians are about to commit an "offense" far greater than Saddam Hussein's conversion to the euro of Iraq’s oil exports in the fall of 2000. Numerous articles have revealed Pentagon planning for operations against Iran as early as 2005. While the publicly stated reasons will be over Iran's nuclear ambitions, there are unspoken macroeconomic drivers explaining the Real Reasons regarding the 2nd stage of petrodollar warfare - Iran's upcoming euro-based oil Bourse.

http://www.globalresearch.ca/articles/CLA410A.html

[nm420]

Does anybody seriously believe there will be a diplomatic solution to this problem? There would be little need to even "sit at the table" if Iran were to halt all enrichment activity. Bush and his advisers know this as well as they know Iran would never agree to such unilateral submission. It is merely a publicity stunt to drum up support for yet more war, which will be on our doorstep in no time.

And what happens when we invade and find that the technology really was for peaceful purposes (not saying it is, but it is certainly within the realm of plausibility)? Oh, we were really liberating those poor Iranians from a despotism all along. Man, you'd think they could at least get a bit more creative with this story. It's getting a bit old and tired...

[dreamer]

well it looks like upping their game Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has said Tehran will not abandon its right to nuclear technology under Western pressure, local media say.
His statement comes a day after six world powers agreed proposals in Vienna to persuade Iran to halt its research.
But US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said she still hoped to meet ministers from Iran if it suspended its nuclear programme and agreed to talks.
A senior US official said Iran seemed determined to develop a nuclear weapon.
Director of National Intelligence John Negroponte said Iran could have a bomb within 10 years.
Iran resumed enrichment of uranium this year but remains a signatory to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and maintains that its activities are aimed only at energy production link http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/mid...st/5042592.stm . Dreamer