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Iran rejects UN ultimatum
Iran has rejected a UN Security Council demand that it halt uranium enrichment to reassure the world that its nuclear programme is peaceful.
Aliasghar Soltaniyeh, Iran's ambassador to the Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), told Reuters: "We will not, definitely, suspend again the enrichment."
Soltaniyeh spoke as six world powers were meeting in Berlin on Thursday to discuss their next steps on Iran, with Russia and China seeking assurances that force would not be used.
On Wednesday, the UN Security Council unanimously adopted a statement calling on Iran to freeze its uranium enrichment work, which can produce fuel for power plants or atom bombs.
It also asked the UN nuclear watchdog in Vienna to report in 30 days on Iranian co-operation with agency demands.
The council statement was the product of three weeks of negotiations among the five veto-wielding permanent members of the Security Council - Britain, France, China, Russia and the US. The final text was softened to remove language Moscow and Beijing feared could lead to punitive measures.
One voice
Oil held above $66 a barrel, in sight of its $70 record, after the UN statement.
Frank-Walter Steinmeier, the German foreign minister, said the Berlin talks should show the world speaking with one voice.
"For us it's about having the greatest possible unity in the international community. A similar meeting in London on January 31 achieved important progress," he told the Handelsblatt business daily.
More
http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/FD11658E-3B20-43E5-BBC2-9D3D7EDB3A23.htm
Soltaniyeh spoke as six world powers were meeting in Berlin on Thursday to discuss their next steps on Iran, with Russia and China seeking assurances that force would not be used.
On Wednesday, the UN Security Council unanimously adopted a statement calling on Iran to freeze its uranium enrichment work, which can produce fuel for power plants or atom bombs.
It also asked the UN nuclear watchdog in Vienna to report in 30 days on Iranian co-operation with agency demands.
The council statement was the product of three weeks of negotiations among the five veto-wielding permanent members of the Security Council - Britain, France, China, Russia and the US. The final text was softened to remove language Moscow and Beijing feared could lead to punitive measures.
One voice
Oil held above $66 a barrel, in sight of its $70 record, after the UN statement.
Frank-Walter Steinmeier, the German foreign minister, said the Berlin talks should show the world speaking with one voice.
"For us it's about having the greatest possible unity in the international community. A similar meeting in London on January 31 achieved important progress," he told the Handelsblatt business daily.
More
http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/FD11658E-3B20-43E5-BBC2-9D3D7EDB3A23.htm
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"Iran has a choice between isolation brought about through [uranium] enrichment" or a return to talks, Germany's foreign minister said.
His comments reinforced a deadline in a statement by the UN Security Council, which urged Iran to halt enrichment.
Iran has rejected the call, and insists its nuclear activities are peaceful.
However, the ministers at the talks in Berlin said the US, Russia, China and Europe remained intent on a "diplomatic solution" to the dispute.
The UK's Jack Straw warned sanctions could follow if Iran remained defiant, but Russia ruled out such a move.
'Miscalculated'
The meeting included the five veto-wielding permanent members of the Security Council - the US, China, France, Russian and the UK - as well as Germany.
More
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4859540.stm
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice
"I think this does send a very strong signal to Iran that the international community is united and expects Iran to adhere to the just demands... that its nuclear activities be demonstrably for civilian purposes and that there are ways that Iran can have a civil nuclear programme, that's not an issue.
UK Foreign Secretary Jack Straw
"The onus is on Iran to show the international community that its programme is entirely for civil purposes and for no other. We have shown very great patience with Iran. They, in turn, have miscalculated. They thought the international community would be divided on this issue but truthfully it has become more and more united."
Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Qin Gang
"We think under the present circumstances there is still room to resolve the Iran nuclear issue through diplomatic negotiations. The international community shouldn't give up their efforts. We hope relevant parties should remain restrained and patient, and create a favourable environment for the resolution of the Iran nuclear issue through diplomatic means."
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov
"Russia believes that there is no other solution to this problem and if we follow this route it must be with the full cooperation of Iran. Only then will it be possible for Iran to make peaceful use of nuclear technology."
More
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4861298.stm
That means, in practice, an air attack against Iran's nuclear facilities by the United States and/or Israel.
The US could certainly carry out such an attack, with cruise missiles and with B-2, other Stealth bombers and B-52 bombers armed with satellite guided bombs.
However Iran's nuclear plants are widely spread out and one is buried deep underground, so an attack would need to be sustained and wide-ranging.
Israel might also be able to do it. Not long ago it bought some bunker-busting bombs from the US, but it would be much more of a challenge.
'Civilian programme'
Nobody involved in the diplomatic round says this is an active proposition at the moment.
However, President Bush has stated that the US will not accept Iran as a nuclear-armed state.
More
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4860492.stm