| | lizzy | Dec 7, 2007 5:39am | We have reacently witnessed the devestaion of the illegal war in Iraq..can they do this again?
UN must ditch plan for 'illegal' sanctions, declares Tehran
A statement from the UN nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, which has long been at odds with the US on the Iran crisis, said the new US estimate vindicated the agency's position that there was no concrete evidence of a weapons programme.
While the chances of a US military strike on Iran's nuclear facilities were receding, the Israeli government continued to insist that Tehran posed a serious danger and that the US was misreading the intelligence.
US and European diplomats said yesterday that the new intelligence estimate would not derail movement towards a new set of sanctions. A senior Russian official agreed, adding the new measures could come in the next few weeks.
On Saturday senior officials from the five permanent members of the security council and Germany - the six-strong contact group - met in Paris and agreed in principle on a new set of UN sanctions.
guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,,2221951,00.html [guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,,2221951,00.html]
The US president denied the national intelligence estimate (NIE) - which said Tehran's determination to develop nuclear weapons "is less ... than we have been judging" - had undercut his administration's repeated assertions that Iran was building nuclear weapons.
"Iran was dangerous. Iran is dangerous. And Iran will be dangerous if they have the knowledge necessary to make a nuclear weapon," Bush told his first White House press conference in nearly seven weeks.
He said the US would continue to work to "isolate" Iran
"I think it is very important for the international community to recognise the fact that if Iran were to develop the knowledge that they could transfer to a clandestine program, it would create a danger of the world.
As recently as October, Bush was invoking the threat of a third world war if Iran was not prevented from obtaining the necessary knowledge to make a nuclear weapon.
Asked if he had been "hyping" the threat from Iran, Bush insisted it had changed nothing. "I still feel strongly that Iran is a danger, My opinion hasn't changed."
The US intelligence estimate is unfortunate timing for the Bush administration because it could take the steam out of its efforts to push for further sanctions against Iran at the UN.
Iran today welcomed the NIE as proof of its peaceful nuclear intentions.
The Iranian foreign minister, Manouchehr Mottaki, speaking before Bush, said he welcomed the US move to "correct" its previous assertions.
"those countries who in the past have questions and ambiguities about this case... now amend their views realistically, The condition of Iran's peaceful nuclear activities is becoming clear to the world."
Israels defence minister, Ehud Barak, claimed that Iran had restarted its military nuclear programme.
"It's apparently true that in 2003 Iran stopped pursuing its military nuclear programme for a time. But in our opinion, since then it has apparently continued that programme," he told army radio.
Israel has not ruled out military action against Iran.
Israel has backed US-led efforts at the UN to impose sanctions on Iran for its refusal to halt uranium enrichment.
Britain, which has backed the US campaign for sanctions against Iran, also said the risk remained of Iran acquiring nuclear weapons.
The report, Downing Street said, "shows the intent is there and the risk of Iran acquiring a nuclear weapon remains a very serious issue".
The Democratic leader of the US senate, Harry Reid, urged the White House to adjust its policy and pursue "a diplomatic surge" to engage with Iran.
guardian.co.uk/israel/Story/0,,2221664,00.html [guardian.co.uk/israel/Story/0,,2221664,00.html] |
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