Iran Rules Out Suspending Uranium Program - dum de dum dum

[spanone]

(CBS/ AP) A U.S. decision to bend policy and sit down with Iran at nuclear talks fizzled Saturday, with Tehran stonewalling Washington and five other world powers on their call for Iran to freeze uranium enrichment.

In response, the six gave Iran two weeks to respond to their demand, setting the stage for a new round of U.N. sanctions.

Iran's refusal to consider suspending enrichment was an indirect slap at the United States, which had sent Undersecretary of State William Burns to the talks in hopes the first-time American presence would encourage Tehran into making concessions.

Diplomats at the negotiating table refused to characterize the two-week time frame as an ultimatum - but it was clear the offer was a de-facto deadline for Tehran to show flexibility.

EU envoy Javier Solana said Iran still has to answer a request made on behalf of the five permanent U.N. Security Council members plus Germany to "refrain from any new nuclear activity."

"We have not gotten all the answers to the questions," Solana told reporters after apparently unsuccessful daylong talks, adding that the two weeks should allow Iran to come up with "answers that will allow us to continue."
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/07/19/world/printable4275225.shtml

[blues90]

1. who would expect Iran to give up their uranium program ?

I don't , this is just used by this admin not to have talks , always has been since bush first sais so .

[thewiseguy]

2. So we are going to have a confrontation?

[RaleighNCDUer]

3. Does ANYBODY remember the run up to Iraq?

This administration wants negotiations with Iran the way I want another root canal. It is chomping at the bit to declare that Iran is being instransigent, and therefore, despite all our efforts, we will have to resort to other means of persuasion.

They did the exact same thing with Iraq - pump up an incipient capitulation by Saddam, which never really existed, and then finally, give him one last chance to step down and leave the country within 48 hours - and then start bombing after 24.

[thewiseguy]

4. Unfortunately I think you are right

They supposedly made a gesture by having a US diplomat present in the negotiations and now they are giving Iran 2 weeks to say yes or else.

I am not sure what will happen when the two week timeline is up.

[alfredo]

5. An undersecretary is not serious negotiations. Show some respect and

see if they respond more favorable to your overtures. They want to be taken seriously. They want to be treated as equals. That would go a long way to cooling this situation.

Manhood and personal honor is important to them. If you really want to modify their behavior, stop treating them like dogs.

[gratuitous]

6. Now I'm glad we didn't negotiate or stuff

Gosh, those Iranians are just soooo stubborn. Didn't they see what happened to Iraq when it acquiesced to all of Bush's demands? And how well that worked out for them?