Iran has so far refused to respond to a UN-brokered uranium enrichment deal aimed at easing fears about its nuclear program by the agreed deadline of today
The plan, agreed last year by Russia, the US, China, Britain, France and Germany, calls on Iran to hand over 1,200 kilograms of low-enriched uranium to Russia which would enrich the material for use in a research reactor in Tehran that makes radio-isotopes for medical use. Russia would them sub-contract to France the process of turning the enriched uranium into fuel rods for the reactor.
In October the Iranians conditionally nodded the deal adding that they wanted a "positive" response to their own demand for immediate deliveries of higher-grade nuclear fuel for the Tehran reactor. The demand was quickly turned down by the IAEA and Tehran was given additional time to consider the proposal.
The deadline came and went but, instead of accepting the international plan, the Iranians came up with their own ultimatum. In televised remarks Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki gave the Western nations until the end of this month to accept Tehran's proposal or see Iran producing its own nuclear fuel. The Iranians earlier announced plans to build ten new uranium enrichment plants.
P5-plus-one may now insist on an international embargo on the supply of gasoline and other oil refinery products to the Islamic Republic. The United States, meanwhile, is holding out for even tougher sanctions and the UN Security Council may take up the issue in about two weeks' time.
Russia, for its part, rejects the idea of imposing new sanctions on Tehran and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov made this point very clear in a statement made late last year.
Russia, just like the international community as a whole and the UN Security Council in particular, fully acknowledges the Iranians' right to develop peaceful nuclear energy, provided this is done fully in line with the provisions of the nuclear nonproliferation treaty and pertinent documents approved by the IAEA, Lavrov said. If we deal with the matter on exactly this premise I believe the problem will be solved, the minister said adding that the whole issue defies any military solutions.
One can only add to this that the policy of using pressure against Tehran is simply not working and only plays into the hands of the Iranian radicals...
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