Reporting from Tehran and Beirut - Iran's president today appeared to lend support to an International Atomic Energy Agency proposal to ship the bulk of his country's enriched uranium abroad, casting it as a victory for Iranian steadfastness as the world awaits Tehran's formal response to the deal.
TEHRAN, Iran — The Iranian president says the West and Iran are now cooperating on the nuclear issue on the international scene.
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad says the West has moved "from confrontation to interaction" with Iran over its controversial uranium enrichment, which he called the nation's "inalienable right."
Speaking to a rally on Thursday in the northeastern city of Mashhad, Ahmadinejad said "ground has been paved for nuclear cooperation" and that Tehran is ready to work on nuclear fuel supplies and technical know-how with the U.N. nuclear watchdog.
The speech came as Iran was to respond to a U.N.-drafted plan on shipping the country's low enriched uranium abroad for further enrichment. The plan curtails any covert nucelar arms making abilities by Iran.
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.
TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — The Iranian president says the West and Iran are now cooperating on the nuclear issue on the international scene.
Mahmoud Ahmadienajd says the West has moved "from confrontation to interaction" with Iran over its controversial uranium enrichment, which he called the nation's "inalienable right."
Speaking to a rally on Thursday in the northeastern city of Mashhad, Ahmadinejad said "ground has been paved for nuclear cooperation" and that Tehran is ready to work on nuclear fuel supplies and technical know-how with the U.N. nuclear watchdog.
The speech came as Iran was to respond to a U.N.-drafted plan on shipping the country's low enriched uranium abroad for further enrichment. The plan curtails any covert nucelar arms making abilities by Iran.
As predicted by strategist; recent Obama administration & EU sound diplomatic overtures have made it nearly impossible for Ahmadinejad & Co. to sing the same old tune of “Evil West”.
If Obama pulls this off without us or Israel having to fight for it, then I give him even more credit than I have been and I will admit I was wrong about Iran. He may have avoided WW III. That in itself is a positive achievement that will carry him through history, no matter what else happens.
BRUSSELS — European leaders pressed Iran Friday to stick by a deal that would limit its uranium enrichment, voicing "grave concern" over the country's nuclear program.
Western diplomats said this week that Tehran had rejected a plan proposed by International Atomic Energy Agency chief Mohamed ElBaradei at talks involving Iran, the U.S., Russia and France.
The plan calls for Iran to export most of its enriched uranium. Iran missed an initial deadline of last Friday to respond, and instead this week offered to enrich its uranium to a higher level inside the country under U.N. supervision.
EU leaders expressed "grave concern over the development of Iran's nuclear program, and Iran's persistent failure to meet its international obligations," according to a draft statement circulating on the second day of a two-day EU summit in Brussels.
Did folks really expect Iran to hold to its word?
Todays politics remind me of an old saying. - "Ideas are more powerful than guns. We would not let our enemies have guns, why should we let them have ideas?" - Joseph Stalin
Israel PM: Iran nuclear deal 'a positive first step'
Friday, 30 October 2009
JERUSALEM — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday called the UN-brokered plan for nuclear cooperation between arch-foe Iran and major powers "a positive first step."
Speaking at the start of a meeting with US Middle East envoy George Mitchell, the premier hailed President Barack Obama's "ongoing efforts to stop Iran from acquiring nuclear military capability.
"I think that the proposal that the president made in Geneva to have Iran withdraw its enriched uranium, or a good portion of it, outside Iran is a positive first step in that direction," Netanyahu said.
"I support and appreciate the president's ongoing efforts to unite the international community to address the challenge of Iran's attempts to become a nuclear military power," he added.
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Thursday conditions were ripe for nuclear cooperation with major powers, but US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said on Friday Washington was still trying to determine the extent of Tehran's response to the plan.
Drawn up by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and approved by Western governments, the plan calls for Iran to export to Russia more than 1,200 kilos (2,640 pounds) of its 3.5 percent low-enriched uranium (LEU) for refining up to 20 percent to fuel a Tehran reactor that makes medical isotopes.
France would then fashion the material into fuel rods for the reactor.
Tehran had originally been expected to respond to the proposals last week, but delayed its answer amid conflicting views within the regime.
Uranium enrichment is the sensitive process that lies at the heart of Western concerns over Iran's nuclear programme. It can produce fuel for nuclear reactors or, in highly extended form, the fissile core of an atomic bomb.
Western powers and Israel suspect Iran's atomic programme is aimed at making nuclear weapons, but Tehran strongly denies the charge.
Israel, believed to be the Middle East's sole but undeclared nuclear-armed state, has often claimed that a military strike on Tehran's nuclear facilities must always be an option to halt the Islamic republic's atomic ambitions.
What deal?? The Iranians already said they wouldn't hold to it. Guess news travels slow in the ME.
Todays politics remind me of an old saying. - "Ideas are more powerful than guns. We would not let our enemies have guns, why should we let them have ideas?" - Joseph Stalin
"The plan calls for Iran to export most of its enriched uranium. Iran missed an initial deadline of last Friday to respond, and instead this week offered to enrich its uranium to a higher level inside the country under U.N. supervision."
"The plan calls for Iran to export most of its enriched uranium. Iran missed an initial deadline of last Friday to respond, and instead this week offered to enrich its uranium to a higher level inside the country under U.N. supervision."
Do you have a link?
Also, I don’t see how this response is “bait and switch”? We made the proposal and they (apparently) countered with this…….
"None are more hopelessly enslaved than those who falsely believe they are free." -Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
