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Lula visit may be last shot on Iran engagement: U.S.
Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (L) take their seats during a signing ceremony at the Itamaraty Palace in Brasília November 23, 2009.
Credit: Reuters/Roberto Jayme
WASHINGTON |
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's visit to Iran this weekend may be the last chance to engage Iran over its nuclear program before fresh U.N. sanctions, a senior U.S. official said on Thursday.
The official, who spoke on condition that he not be named, said President Barack Obama has not given up on seeking a diplomatic solution but Washington has concluded Tehran will not curb its nuclear ambitions without further sanctions.
The United States and some of its allies accuse Iran of seeking to use its civilian nuclear program as a cover for pursuing nuclear weapons. Iran denies this, saying its program is solely to generate electricity.
Brazil and Turkey, which hold rotating seats on the U.N. Security Council, have talked to Iran to try to revive a moribund agreement under which it would send low-enriched uranium abroad and receive a higher grade uranium in return.
"I think we would view the Lula visit as perhaps the last big shot at engagement," the senior U.S. State Department official told reporters.
U.S. officials stress in public that they support Brazil and Turkey's efforts while saying in private that should these fail, they hope countries will be more disposed to imposing a fourth round of U.N. Security Council sanctions against Iran.
"It's not that we've given up on engagement. We just remain skeptical that Iran is going to move on its own absent some additional pressure," the official said.
He said that if Tehran did not change its stance following Lula's visit "countries like Brazil, Turkey and others on the council should very definitely draw conclusions from that."
Lula is due to visit Iran on Sunday and Iran's Foreign Ministry has said Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan was also expected to be in the Iranian capital on that day.
The U.S. official said there were some signs that Iran might try to arrange a broader meeting over the weekend, though he declined to say which nations might attend.
The Obama administration has accused Tehran of trying to buy time by accepting Brazil's offer to mediate and said Washington would be undeterred in its push for new sanctions.
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton spoke by telephone with Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu and argued that Iran shows no sign of ceasing uranium enrichment as required by several Security Council resolutions.
Uranium enrichment can produce fuel for nuclear reactors or, if perfected, yield fissile material for atomic bombs.
State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley said if Iran did not change course after Lula's visit it should pay a price.
"At that point we believe that there should be consequences for a failure to respond," Crowley said.
(Editing by Xavier Briand)
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The Time is referred to is the Zionists time. Meaning the two state peace treaty will need to show some progress, it is not. The Zionists have pegged this peace treaty to the Iran nuclear program and will not go through with it unless Iran is Sanctioned or bombed. That is Mr. Yahoo’s demand to president Obama.
In promoting this deal, imposed by a nuclear Israel on a much weaker region, the United States is affirming that it certainly pays to be a nuclear power — you get things done on your terms — and providing further incentive and determination to other Mideast countries to seek to achieve that same prize.
(17 May 2010)
Having met in Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran, the undersigned have agreed on the following Declaration:
1) We reaffirm our commitment to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and in accordance with the related articles of the NPT, recall the right of all State Parties, including the Islamic Republic of Iran, to develop research, production and use of nuclear energy (as well as nuclear fuel cycle including enrichment activities) for peaceful purposes without discrimination.
2) We express our strong conviction that we have the opportunity now to begin a forwardlooking process that will create a positive, constructive, non-confrontational atmosphere leading to an era of interaction and cooperation.
3) We believe that the nuclear fuel exchange is instrumental in initiating cooperation in different areas, especially with regard to peaceful nuclear cooperation including nuclear power plant and research reactors construction.
4) Based on this point the nuclear fuel exchange is a starting point to begin cooperation and a positive constructive move forward among nations. Such a move should lead to positive interaction and cooperation in the field of peaceful nuclear activities replacing and avoiding all kinds of confrontation through refraining from measures, actions and rhetorical statements that would jeopardize Iran’s rights and obligations under the NPT.
5) Based on the above, in order to facilitate the nuclear cooperation mentioned above, the Islamic Republic of Iran agrees to deposit 1200 kg LEU in Turkey. While in Turkey this LEU will continue to be the property of Iran. Iran and the IAEA may station observers to monitor the safekeeping of the LEU in Turkey.
6) Iran will notify the IAEA in writing through official channels of its agreement with the above within seven days following the date of this declaration. Upon the positive response of the Vienna Group (US, Russia, France and the IAEA) further details of the exchange will be elaborated through a written agreement and proper arrangement between Iran and the Vienna Group that specifically committed themselves to deliver 120 kg of fuel needed for the Tehran Research Reactor (TRR).
7) When the Vienna Group declares its commitment to this provision, then both parties would commit themselves to the implementation of the agreement mentioned in item 6. Islamic Republic of Iran expressed its readiness to deposit its LEU (1200 kg) within one month. On the basis of the same agreement the Vienna Group should deliver 120 kg fuel required for TRR in no later than one year.
8) In case the provisions of this Declaration are not respected Turkey, upon the request of Iran, will return swiftly and unconditionally Iran’s LEU to Iran.
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