Reidblog [The Reid Report blog]

U.S. Wins Support In Iran Dispute
China, Russia Join Call to Suspend Nuclear Program
By Mary Jordan and Dafna LinzerWashington Post Foreign ServiceTuesday, January 17, 2006; A01

LONDON, Jan. 16 -- China and Russia agreed with the United States, Britain, Germany and France on Monday that Iran must completely suspend its nuclear program, the British Foreign Office said. Although the countries failed to agree on whether Iran's case should be referred to the U.N. Security Council, the Europeans applied new pressure on the Iranian government by calling for an emergency meeting of the U.N. nuclear watchdog agency on Feb. 2.

With all six nations declaring that they sought a diplomatic solution to the escalating confrontation with Iran, Russian President Vladimir Putin offered a glimmer of hope for a compromise. Putin said the Iranian government was considering a proposal from Moscow that Russia would produce enriched uranium for Iran, to ensure the material could be used only for peaceful purposes.

Blair plays down international splits over IranBy Simon Freeman and agencies

Tony Blair today said that he remained hopeful of a diplomatic solution to the deadlock over Iran's nuclear programme, as efforts began to play down public divisions between world powers.

A spokesman for the Prime Minister said that the international community was united in its condemnation of Tehran for breaking the seals on its nuclear plants, and was working towards an acceptable solution. He said that the Islamic republic was slowly but surely becoming more isolated, despite the split in opinion abroad.

Germany, France and the UK - who comprise the E3 which has been in negotiations with the Middle Eastern country for two years - have voted to convene an emergency board meeting of the International Atomic Energy Commission on February 2, the first step in a referral to the UN Security Council and possible sanctions.

However, Russia and China, which both have major trade and energy links with Iran, today appeared to undermine the threat. Both countries wield a veto as permanent members of the Council and hinted that they could not support such measures.
The extent of the split emerged today as the various world leaders gave their pronouncements following a seven-hour meeting in London yesterday.

Sergei Lavrov, Russia's Foreign Minister, said: "Sanctions are in no way the best, or the only, way to solve the problem." Mr Lavrov referred to the ongoing instability in Iraq as an example of how international sanctions could fail to rein in a rogue state.

Russia has a $1 billion contract with Iran to build its first civil nuclear reactor and is also reluctant to risk its relations with the republic, which wields influence in the turbulent Caucasus.

A spokesman for the Chinese Government said that punitive measures would "complicate" the issue. China obtains 12 per cent of its oil from Iran.

Powers disagree over Iran crisis

The UK has taken a hard line on an Iranian offer to continue discussing its nuclear programme, indicating major powers disagree on how to proceed.

Russia says a compromise offer is still on the table, and China has urged all parties to continue negotiations. But the UK, France, Germany and the US want the UN Security Council to consider punishing Iran.

Iran broke seals on three nuclear facilities last week, but says it does not aim to build nuclear weapons.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov says a compromise offer is still on the table which could see Iran sending uranium to Russia for enrichment - which would be an obstacle to Iran developing nuclear weapons of its own.

Iran has also offered to return to talks with the EU-3 of France, Germany and the UK.

But on Tuesday the UK Foreign Office appeared to reject both that offer and the Russian compromise. Unnamed Foreign Office officials were quoted by news agencies as saying the Iranians were stalling.