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EU foreign policy chief Javier
Solana, listens to a journalist's question at a news conference
at residency of German's Ambassador in Tehran on Saturday June 14,
2008.(Xinhua Photo)
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by Che Ling
TEHRAN, June 15 (Xinhua) -- The stalemate
surrounding Iran's nuclear issue seems to remain hard to break up although an updated package
of incentives offered by six major world powers -- Britain, China, France,
Germany, Russia and the United States was handed over to Iranian officials by EU
foreign policy chief Javier Solana on Saturday.
NEW PACKAGE OF
INCENTIVES
The new package based on the proposals presented to
Iran in June 2006 was given to reporters after a news conference Saturday
afternoon in Tehran which still calls for suspension of enrichment-related and
reprocessing activities of Iran in order to start negotiations.
Iran's semi-official Mehr News Agency said that no
fresh points appeared in the new package which just replaced the direct
requirement for enrichment halt by demanding implement of UN Security Council
Resolution 1803.
In the package, six major powers stated their
readiness to treat Iran's nuclear program in the same manner as that of any
Non-nuclear Weapon State Party to the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) once
international confidence in the exclusively peaceful nature of Iran's nuclear
program is restored, what local analyst called a "play of words".
The package presented possible cooperation between
the two sides in nuclear energy such as provision of technological and financial
assistance necessary for Iran's peaceful use of nuclear energy and support for
the resumption of technical cooperation projects in Iran by the International
Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
Other economic cooperation also mentioned in the
package, including some possible removal of restrictions such as exporting
aircraft to Iran and improving Iran's access to the international economy.
Local analysts said that the Islamic Republic will
not be interested in negotiations at various levels with the EU, which does not
want to drop the demand for suspension of uranium enrichment from its
discussions with Tehran.
Nuclear affairs analyst Alireza Akbari argues that
suspending uranium enrichment will not resolve the long-running standoff between
the West and Tehran, saying that the Western powers' insistence that enrichment
be frozen is a "waste of time and energy".
IRAN'S
RESPONSE
Iran's government spokesman Gholam Hossein Elham said
on Saturday that the country will reject any nuclear deal offered by major world
powers that demands a suspension of its uranium enrichment, while Solana was
handing over the new package in a meeting with Iran's Foreign Minister
Manouchehr Mottaki.
"Iran's stance is clear. The precondition of a halt
and suspension of nuclear activities cannot be brought up," Mottaki said after
receiving the package that Iran's answer to a new offer of trade and other
incentives by six major powers will be based on logical and constructive answers
to Iran's package.
"We are waiting to receive the precise points of view
of the six world powers about our package," he said.
Mottaki's remarks are believed to reflect Iran's
displeasure with the failure of the world powers to welcome Iran's proposals.
It shows that Iran has put great emphasis on its own
package submitted to the international community last month, saying it is an
all-embracing drive to solve world problems, including its nuclear standoff with
the West.
Analyst said that it is hard to persuade Iran to drop
its nuclear program with political and economic incentives raised by six powers
without answering Iran's own package of proposals.
A DIFFICULT DIPLOMATIC
PATH
Solana said on Saturday that the incentive offer is
"full of opportunities for Iran" and may become the "starting point for real
negotiations." But he also noted the six major world powers want Iran to suspend
enrichment during negotiations regarding the offer.
Analysts said that both sides' different views on
suspension of enrichment will be the main obstacle on a diplomatic path towards
proper solutions.
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad recently
refused to back down over the nuclear program, saying his country would not
trade in its dignity.
"They think they can trample on the Iranian nation's
dignity with such things," Iran's ISNA news agency quoted Ahmadinejad as saying,
referring to the incentive offers.
Iran's repeatedly ruling out of suspension of its
nuclear activities has aroused new tensions.
U.S. President George W. Bush expressed
disappointment on Saturday over Iran's rejection of an offer of incentives for
suspending uranium enrichment activities, saying that it was "an indication to
the Iranian people that their leadership is willing to isolate them further."
The West even warned Iran of further sanctions, which
will make the approach to compromise more difficult.
But both sides on Saturday still agreed to press
ahead with efforts to find a diplomatic solution to the Iranian nuclear issue.
"A new diplomatic path has been opened...this will be
a basis for fresh nuclear talks," an Iranian official told local media.
Analysts believe the best way to proceed with future
talks is to emphasize on common points in the two packages.
Solana said that Iran's package contains suitable
commonalities with the package of six major powers that can facilitate the start
of a new round of negotiations, While Mottaki expressed Iran's readiness to take
part in negotiations in different areas.
It seems that a fresh round of wrangling and haggling
over the Iranian nuclear issue just started, analysts say.
EU's Solana hopes for Tehran's
positive response to six-nation nuclear incentives package
TEHRAN, June 14 (Xinhua) -- EU foreign policy chief Javier
Solana said on Saturday that he hoped for a positive response from Iran soon to
the nuclear incentives package offered by the six major world powers. Full story
Iran rejects any halt of nuclear
enrichment
TEHRAN, June 14 (Xinhua) -- Iran's government spokesman
Gholam Hossein Elham said on Saturday that the country will reject any nuclear
deal offered by major world powers that demands a suspension of its uranium
enrichment, the official IRNA news agency reported. Full story
Bush disappointed at Iran's rejection
of incentives
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U.S. President George W. Bush delivers a
speech in Paris June 13, 2008. Bush and French President Nicolas Sarkozy
said on Saturday a nuclear-armed Iran would be a threat to peace, as they
sought to end tension over Iraq and forge a common front against Tehran.
(Xinhua/Reuters Photo)
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PARIS, June 14 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President George W.
Bush expressed disappointment here on Saturday over Iran's rejection of an offer
of incentives for suspending uranium enrichment activities.
"I'm disappointed that the leaders (of Iran) rejected
this generous offer out of hand," Bush told a joint press conference with his
French counterpart Nicolas Sarkozy after talks. Full story
