Calling this a "story" is a real stretch. All it really shows is that, if anything, the UN is succeeding at blocking US efforts to guard against nuclear proliferation in Iran by giving Iran wiggle room to avoid confrontation. They bury the best part at the very end of the article.
VIENNA (Reuters) - The United Nations said on Monday that, as far as it knew, Iran had not diverted any nuclear materials to a weapons program -- a verdict diplomats said undermined the U.S. case for U.N. sanctions on Tehran. Even though the U.N. atomic watchdog said it could not rule out covert nuclear activities in Iran, its report, coming a day after Tehran promised France, Britain and Germany that it would freeze its uranium enrichment program, severely weakened Washington's argument.
Gee, we're sorry about that mushroom cloud, world ... but, AS FAR AS WE KNEW, things looked pretty good from here. Are they kidding? Unfortunately, no, they're not.
A Western diplomat close to nuclear talks between Iran and the European Union the two developments meant "the U.S. doesn't stand a chance" of having Iran referred to the U.N. Security Council for sanctions when the U.N. agency meets on Nov. 25,
"All the declared nuclear material in Iran has been accounted for, and therefore such material is not diverted to prohibited activities," Monday's report by the U.N. International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said.
But the IAEA added some caution to this statement by making it clear the case was not closed. "The agency is, however, not in a position to conclude that there are no undeclared nuclear materials or activities in Iran," it said.
In essence, they are saying nothing. This is simply more of the same from the UN. It isn't there, but it "might" be there. We were just counting on the mullahs to roll the stuff out in the open. I mean, what's a world without trust, ay?
Taking further pressure off Iran, the report said IAEA chief Mohamed ElBaradei would only issue future reports on Iran "as appropriate," but would continue to investigate the discovery of traces of enriched uranium found in Iran.
This would be the same ElBaradei who sought to influence our recent election, yes? Perhaps he would expound a bit on just what "appropriate" means. But I doubt it.
Iran's chief nuclear negotiator Hassan Rohani said Tehran would never renounce enrichment, a process of purifying uranium for use as fuel in power plants or weapons, and declared the Europeans had assented to that goal.
He also confirmed what Iran said repeatedly in recent months -- that the suspension would be short-lived and temporary -- though he gave no hints as to when it might be resumed.
The Western diplomat said a freeze was only the first step for the Europeans as negotiations continued.
"We still want Iran's uranium enrichment program terminated," he said.
So, Iran says it will "never" renounce enrichment, to the west that's a requirement - and we're making progress? The only progress seems to take the form of reducing pressure on Iran, so far as I can tell. Oh, but they're talking - isn't that just "special." And the bit they save for the close is absolutely priceless.
In October 2003, the Iranians and Europeans announced a similar deal on the suspension of Iran's enrichment program.
But within six months it had virtually collapsed as the Iranians continued producing and assembling centrifuges, which purify uranium by spinning at supersonic speeds.
Apparently the new operative slogan here is, Fool me once shame on you, fool me twice - I'm a UN diplomat. And fool me a third time, no big deal, I guess it's just kiss my ass goodbye time. Where's Kerry when you need him? This most certainly calls for a summit. Oh wait, is that an Israeli fighter bomber I hear?
Nevermind ...
Comments