Russians Derail Plans for UN Sanctions Against Iran
Jim Kouri, CPP
November 25, 2005
Iran appears to be off the hook, at least temporarily, as the European Union agreed to debate and consider a Russian proposed compromise that would prevent the procedures by the United Nations' Security Council that could result in UN sanctions.
Many anticipated that the UN's International Atomic Energy Agency would refer Iran to the Security Council due to its continued nuclear weapons program. IAEA chief and the French, Germans and British are backing the Russian plan thereby stalling a referral to the UN.
The new regime of President Mohammed Ahmadinejad rejected previous proposals that would have mandated the Iranians to curtail their nuclear program, including their nuclear fuel activities. Most intelligence agencies throughout the free world believe Iran has nuclear weapons ambitions, although Iran denies any such programs or plans exist. Iran's President claims its nuclear ambitions are peaceful and it has a right to enrich uranium under international law.
Under the Russian plan, Iran will be permitted to convert uranium into gas at one facility, but the questionable part of the nuclear fuel cycle, uranium enrichment, will be done in Russia as part of a joint venture. The enrichment of uranium is already occurring at Iran's civilian nuclear reactor at Bushehr which is being built with a Russian contractor.
The IAEA director general, Mohammed ElBaradei, is expected to travel to Iran to discuss the Russian proposal, although intelligence officials in the United States are not certain it would benefit any nation except Russia.
In spite of Iranian denials, intelligence agents obtained documents from Tehran showing that the Iranians had obtained a blueprint from a Pakistani black market network detailing how to construct the core of a nuclear warhead.
The decision to pursue the Russian proposals is not being dismissed by the US State Department since it is considered part of the American strategy to utilize diplomatic means in order to thwart the crisis with Iran.
"We're encouraging Iran to get back to the negotiating table with the EU-three [British, French and Germans] at this point," said Sean McCormack of the State Department.
Iran has created much suspicion in the last few months regarding their providing help to terrorists entering Iraq with explosives and weapons. The British military commanders believe Iran is also training terrorists to be deployed in Iraq.
President Ahmadinejad also created a international incident in October when he called for Israel to be "wiped off the map". He also verbally attacked the West by calling for the destruction of "Anglos."
Correction to Previous Article:
In a previous article titled, "Rwanda II: UN Frets Over Dafur Death and Chaos" I mentioned that General Wesley Clark convinced President Clinton to "stand down" and not get involved in the horrors occurring in Rwanda. According to spokespersons for General Clark and his Political Action Committee WesPAC, this is not accurate. Below is a statement from one spokesperson:
"Your website serves an important role in our democracy and I am sure you share my interest in fairness and accuracy. Your unattributed report today that General Clark 'convinced' President Clinton to 'stand down' is incorrect and misleading and therefore should be either attributed to a source as gossip or withdrawn completely as soon as is convenient. At the time in question, General Clark was Director of Strategic Plans and Policy, J5, for the Joint Staff (April 1994-June 1996) where he was responsible for world-wide politico-military affairs and U.S. military strategic planning. And regarding Rwanda, in fact General Clark submitted a proposal to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to deploy as many as 20,000 troops to Rwanda as part of an enhanced UN package. However, General Clark was not President Clinton's military advisor and never gave any advice to President Clinton on this matter," said Erick Mullen, a spokesman for General Clark.
Also, visit Security America, an excellent website: www.securingamerica.com.
Many anticipated that the UN's International Atomic Energy Agency would refer Iran to the Security Council due to its continued nuclear weapons program. IAEA chief and the French, Germans and British are backing the Russian plan thereby stalling a referral to the UN.
The new regime of President Mohammed Ahmadinejad rejected previous proposals that would have mandated the Iranians to curtail their nuclear program, including their nuclear fuel activities. Most intelligence agencies throughout the free world believe Iran has nuclear weapons ambitions, although Iran denies any such programs or plans exist. Iran's President claims its nuclear ambitions are peaceful and it has a right to enrich uranium under international law.
Under the Russian plan, Iran will be permitted to convert uranium into gas at one facility, but the questionable part of the nuclear fuel cycle, uranium enrichment, will be done in Russia as part of a joint venture. The enrichment of uranium is already occurring at Iran's civilian nuclear reactor at Bushehr which is being built with a Russian contractor.
The IAEA director general, Mohammed ElBaradei, is expected to travel to Iran to discuss the Russian proposal, although intelligence officials in the United States are not certain it would benefit any nation except Russia.
In spite of Iranian denials, intelligence agents obtained documents from Tehran showing that the Iranians had obtained a blueprint from a Pakistani black market network detailing how to construct the core of a nuclear warhead.
The decision to pursue the Russian proposals is not being dismissed by the US State Department since it is considered part of the American strategy to utilize diplomatic means in order to thwart the crisis with Iran.
"We're encouraging Iran to get back to the negotiating table with the EU-three [British, French and Germans] at this point," said Sean McCormack of the State Department.
Iran has created much suspicion in the last few months regarding their providing help to terrorists entering Iraq with explosives and weapons. The British military commanders believe Iran is also training terrorists to be deployed in Iraq.
President Ahmadinejad also created a international incident in October when he called for Israel to be "wiped off the map". He also verbally attacked the West by calling for the destruction of "Anglos."
Correction to Previous Article:
In a previous article titled, "Rwanda II: UN Frets Over Dafur Death and Chaos" I mentioned that General Wesley Clark convinced President Clinton to "stand down" and not get involved in the horrors occurring in Rwanda. According to spokespersons for General Clark and his Political Action Committee WesPAC, this is not accurate. Below is a statement from one spokesperson:
"Your website serves an important role in our democracy and I am sure you share my interest in fairness and accuracy. Your unattributed report today that General Clark 'convinced' President Clinton to 'stand down' is incorrect and misleading and therefore should be either attributed to a source as gossip or withdrawn completely as soon as is convenient. At the time in question, General Clark was Director of Strategic Plans and Policy, J5, for the Joint Staff (April 1994-June 1996) where he was responsible for world-wide politico-military affairs and U.S. military strategic planning. And regarding Rwanda, in fact General Clark submitted a proposal to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to deploy as many as 20,000 troops to Rwanda as part of an enhanced UN package. However, General Clark was not President Clinton's military advisor and never gave any advice to President Clinton on this matter," said Erick Mullen, a spokesman for General Clark.
Also, visit Security America, an excellent website: www.securingamerica.com.
Print
Email
