US Fails to Gather Anti-Iran Consensus
Source: alalam.ir, 23-01-2008
BERLIN -US anti-Iran efforts have failed to get consensus among 5+1 group at a meeting in Berlin, Germany.
5+1 group agreed on Tuesday on the outlines of a new resolution against Iran, but diplomats said the draft did not contain the punitive economic measures that Washington had been pushing for.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said after the talks that a new draft UN Security Council resolution on Iran's nuclear program envisages direct talks with Tehran that would include the United States.
"It's clearly confirmed by the resolution that direct negotiations on resolving all questions related to the Iranian nuclear program--with the participation of all six powers, including the United States--would be initiated if Iran accepts the proposals of the six," Lavrov said.
In his remarks to Russian journalists after the Berlin meeting, and reported by the Ria-Novosti news agency, the foreign minister added that the proposed text does not foresee fresh sanctions against Iran.
Lavrov said the new wording "not only acknowledges, but salutes progress made by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in clarifying aspects of Iran's nuclear program".
The resolution underlines "support" among the six powers--Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia, the United States--for the IAEA's efforts towards alleviating their remaining concerns, he said.
Iran has promised to deliver answers on outstanding questions put to it "within the next two or three weeks," Lavrov added.
German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said following a nearly 2-hour meeting with his counterparts from Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States, that the new draft would be presented to the UN Security Council in the coming weeks.
"Today we together agreed on the content of ... a new resolution. Germany, France and Britain will submit a draft resolution in the coming weeks which will be discussed with the members of the Security Council".
Washington has spearheaded a months-long drive for new sanctions and had been pushing for a new resolution to impose a ban on business with leading Iranian state banks.
But that drive appears to have failed. Russia and China, both commercial partners of Iran, have hardened their opposition to tough sanctions since a US intelligence report last month said Iran did not have a nuclear weapons program.
Iran vowed earlier on Tuesday that new restrictions would not stop it from pursuing its legitimate and legal right to nuclear energy.
Government spokesman Gholam-Hossein Elham dismissed the effectiveness of a possible new resolution against Iran, saying that "adoption of a possible new resolution will not have any effect on our people".
"The Iranian nation is striding on the path toward fulfilling its goals within the framework of its legal rights", he said.
Steinmeier was the only foreign minister to speak after the meeting and the ministers left the podium without answering questions from journalists.
While the United States declared victory in getting agreement on the resolution, details were scant and it appeared the measures may have been watered down for a show of unity.
A European diplomat, who requested anonymity, said the draft resolution did not include punitive economic sanctions and lacked the strong wording on Iranian state banks that the United States wanted.
Instead, the diplomat said, the draft urged "vigilance" on Iranian banks and on publicly provided credits to Iran--vague wording that Russia had favored.
Another European official described the talks as "open and constructive" and said the ministers had made last-minute changes to the draft only 15 minutes before the start of the news conference.
BERLIN -US anti-Iran efforts have failed to get consensus among 5+1 group at a meeting in Berlin, Germany.
5+1 group agreed on Tuesday on the outlines of a new resolution against Iran, but diplomats said the draft did not contain the punitive economic measures that Washington had been pushing for.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said after the talks that a new draft UN Security Council resolution on Iran's nuclear program envisages direct talks with Tehran that would include the United States.
"It's clearly confirmed by the resolution that direct negotiations on resolving all questions related to the Iranian nuclear program--with the participation of all six powers, including the United States--would be initiated if Iran accepts the proposals of the six," Lavrov said.
In his remarks to Russian journalists after the Berlin meeting, and reported by the Ria-Novosti news agency, the foreign minister added that the proposed text does not foresee fresh sanctions against Iran.
Lavrov said the new wording "not only acknowledges, but salutes progress made by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in clarifying aspects of Iran's nuclear program".
The resolution underlines "support" among the six powers--Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia, the United States--for the IAEA's efforts towards alleviating their remaining concerns, he said.
Iran has promised to deliver answers on outstanding questions put to it "within the next two or three weeks," Lavrov added.
German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said following a nearly 2-hour meeting with his counterparts from Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States, that the new draft would be presented to the UN Security Council in the coming weeks.
"Today we together agreed on the content of ... a new resolution. Germany, France and Britain will submit a draft resolution in the coming weeks which will be discussed with the members of the Security Council".
Washington has spearheaded a months-long drive for new sanctions and had been pushing for a new resolution to impose a ban on business with leading Iranian state banks.
But that drive appears to have failed. Russia and China, both commercial partners of Iran, have hardened their opposition to tough sanctions since a US intelligence report last month said Iran did not have a nuclear weapons program.
Iran vowed earlier on Tuesday that new restrictions would not stop it from pursuing its legitimate and legal right to nuclear energy.
Government spokesman Gholam-Hossein Elham dismissed the effectiveness of a possible new resolution against Iran, saying that "adoption of a possible new resolution will not have any effect on our people".
"The Iranian nation is striding on the path toward fulfilling its goals within the framework of its legal rights", he said.
Steinmeier was the only foreign minister to speak after the meeting and the ministers left the podium without answering questions from journalists.
While the United States declared victory in getting agreement on the resolution, details were scant and it appeared the measures may have been watered down for a show of unity.
A European diplomat, who requested anonymity, said the draft resolution did not include punitive economic sanctions and lacked the strong wording on Iranian state banks that the United States wanted.
Instead, the diplomat said, the draft urged "vigilance" on Iranian banks and on publicly provided credits to Iran--vague wording that Russia had favored.
Another European official described the talks as "open and constructive" and said the ministers had made last-minute changes to the draft only 15 minutes before the start of the news conference.
