Despite early reports of some hope for progress with Iran on their nuclear program, it's now obvious no progress has been made at all. The offer amounts to the UN stopping any talk of sanctions and, in return, Iran would consider a two month halt to the program.
In the closed-door meetings Iran "had a long list [of conditions] including [a] complete and total halt in activity at the UN Security Council, an absolute stepping down from going for sanctions and that Iran would have the right to nuclear fuel technology on its soil," a Western diplomat said on Monday.
"In return for this, Larijani said the Iranians would consider -- consider, not actually carry out -- a two-month halt in enrichment. It was all very conditional," the diplomat said, in relating a briefing from Solana.
Early positive rhetoric from the State Department has changed, but Rice is starting to look foolish with her early optimistic statements, time and again.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 12 — Iran has not offered to temporarily suspend its uranium enrichment program as part of an effort to open talks over its nuclear program with six major powers, the State Department said on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, world power talks have broken down on even issuing a statement on Iran and Russia and China continue to refuse to support moving toward sanctions anytime soon. They had agreed to sanctions in a previous Security Council resolution, apparently, much like Iran halting its program, they are now only considering that position, too.
Clearly the world community is not prepared for even a diplomatic confrontation with Iran, which may ultimately force the US and possibly some allies to act if Iran is going to be deterred from carrying its nuclear development program out to completion.
Six world powers abandoned attempts Tuesday to issue a joint statement criticizing Iran's nuclear defiance after China and Russia refused to endorse U.S.-backed tough language, diplomats said.
The split, at a 35-nation meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency's board, reflected indecision on how to react to Tehran's weekend suggestion that it might temporarily suspend uranium enrichment - but only on its own terms.
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