WORLD / Asia-Pacific
US says Iran proposal falls short
(AP)
Updated: 2006-08-24 08:41
WASHINGTON - The Bush administration said Wednesday a proposal by Iran
for nuclear negotiations falls short of UN demands that it cease uranium
enrichment, and the US began plotting unspecified "next moves" with other
governments.
Those could include UN sanctions against Iran unless it reverses course
and agrees to a verifiable halt to enrichment activities that can be
central to making nuclear weapons.
US President George W. Bush speaks at a news conference at the new
briefing room at the White House Conference Center, across Pennsylvania
Avenue from the White House, in Washington August 21, 2006. [Reuters]
The State Department, in a terse statement, acknowledged that Iran
considered its proposal to be a serious one. "We will review it," the
statement said in what appeared to be a conciliatory gesture to a
government it regularly denounces as a sponsor of terror.
But the statement went on to say that Iran's response to a joint offer of
US and European trade and other benefits if the enrichment program was
halted "falls short of the conditions set by the Security Council" --
full and verifiable suspension of all uranium-enrichment activity.
"We are consulting closely, including with other members of the Security
Council, on next steps," it said. The United Nations has set a deadline
of next Thursday for a formal reply by Tehran.
US President Bush met with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice at the
White House and then discussed Iran's proposal in a telephone call with
UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan.
The call was initiated by Annan, White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said.
The administration has cautioned Iran that it will seek sanctions in the
Security Council if Tehran does not step enriching uranium.
Administration officials have refrained from outlining what punishment
they might have in mind. It could include economic or political
penalties, perhaps international curbs on trade.
Rice, meanwhile, telephoned Javier Solana, the senior European Union
diplomat who oversees exchanges with Iran. No account of their
conversation, nor of her meeting with the president, was provided.
By not rejecting Iran's proposal outright, the administration indicated
there may be a basis for dealing with long-held concerns that Tehran is
developing nuclear weapons, an allegation the Iranians deny.
"The diplomats are continuing to look at it," Perino said. "We're working
with our allies."
France took a firm and quick stand. Foreign Minister Philippe
Douste-Blazy said Iran must suspend uranium enrichment if it wants to
return to negotiations.
Russia's foreign ministry, evidently ambivalent, said it would continue
to seek a negotiated solution. And China appealed for dialogue, urging
"constructive measures" by Iran and patience from the United States and
its allies.
Iran met its self-imposed deadline Tuesday for responding to the
US-European offer, which includes the possibility of U.S. help for
civilian nuclear programs -- but only if Iran stops uranium enrichment.
On Capitol Hill, meanwhile, the House Intelligence Committee issued a
report that concluded Iran was a strategic threat and a country focused
on developing nuclear weapons capability. It also linked Iran to
Hezbollah, Hamas and other terrorist groups.
"Iran's support of radical Islamists with weapons and money demonstrates
in real terms the danger it poses to America and our allies," said the
committee's chairman, Rep. Peter Hoekstra, R-Mich. He said Iran "will not
be satisfied until it poses a threat to the entire world."
The report also said there are gaps in the ability of US intelligence
agencies to keep up with developments in Iran's nuclear program and
suggested hiring more intelligence agents who speak Farsi.
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