Iran heads for showdown in nuclear row

TEHRAN – Iran appeared headed for a showdown at the UN Security Council next week over its nuclear programme, facing the threat of sanctions after failing to freeze key fuel cycle work.

Western nations reacted coolly to Iran’s response to a international offer of incentives in return for a halt to uranium enrichment, with the United States warning it fell short of UN demands and France insisting Tehran immediately suspend nuclear activities. However, fellow permanent Security Council members China and Russia have appealed for a peaceful solution to the long-running standoff.The Security Council adopted a resolution last month giving Iran until August 31 to freeze its uranium enrichment programme or face sanctions.The US State Department said Washington was still consulting with fellow Security Council members after Tehran said it was ready for talks but declined to announce a moratorium on enrichment.”We acknowledge that Iran considers its response as a serious offer, and we will review it,” spokesman Gonzalo Gallegos said.”The response, however, falls short of the conditions set by the Security Council, which require the full and verifiable suspension of all enrichment-related and reprocessing activities,” he said.Iran’s top nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani said Tuesday Tehran was ready for “serious talks” but no details were made public of its response to a package of trade, technology and security incentives offered by the five permanent Security Council members plus Germany.The United States and other powers suspect the nuclear programme is a smokescreen for an attempt to produce a bomb.Enrichment can make fuel for nuclear power stations or be extended to create the core of atomic weapons.However, Iran, the world’s fourth-largest oil producer, insists it is purely for peaceful power generation and that it has the right to the technology as a signatory of the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).Government spokesman Gholamhossein Elham said Tehran was “waiting for a logical and just reaction from the major powers (but) we are ready to face any situation.Nampa-AFPHowever, fellow permanent Security Council members China and Russia have appealed for a peaceful solution to the long-running standoff.The Security Council adopted a resolution last month giving Iran until August 31 to freeze its uranium enrichment programme or face sanctions.The US State Department said Washington was still consulting with fellow Security Council members after Tehran said it was ready for talks but declined to announce a moratorium on enrichment.”We acknowledge that Iran considers its response as a serious offer, and we will review it,” spokesman Gonzalo Gallegos said.”The response, however, falls short of the conditions set by the Security Council, which require the full and verifiable suspension of all enrichment-related and reprocessing activities,” he said.Iran’s top nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani said Tuesday Tehran was ready for “serious talks” but no details were made public of its response to a package of trade, technology and security incentives offered by the five permanent Security Council members plus Germany.The United States and other powers suspect the nuclear programme is a smokescreen for an attempt to produce a bomb.Enrichment can make fuel for nuclear power stations or be extended to create the core of atomic weapons.However, Iran, the world’s fourth-largest oil producer, insists it is purely for peaceful power generation and that it has the right to the technology as a signatory of the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).Government spokesman Gholamhossein Elham said Tehran was “waiting for a logical and just reaction from the major powers (but) we are ready to face any situation.Nampa-AFP