TERRORISM: U.N. Nuke Watchdog Criticizes Iran, Prompts Fury

The International Atomic Energy Agency has criticized Iran for hiding nuclear activities, but put off sending the matter to the United Nations Security Council.
Iran reacted angrily to the resolution, saying the United States had imposed its will on the board.

Reuters

The U.N. atomic watchdog sharply reprimanded Iran on Saturday for withholding sensitive nuclear information, in a resolution that diplomats said left open the option of U.N. sanctions if Tehran did not cooperate.

Iran's chief nuclear negotiator, Hassan Rohani, angrily denounced the resolution by the International Atomic Energy (IAEA), telling the official IRNA news agency it was "like an ugly demon with dangerous horns and sharp teeth."

Iranian officials also acknowledged that expectation of the resolution was part of why they called an abrupt halt on Friday to U.N. inspections -- a move the United States, which says Iran is trying to build an atomic bomb, called "very troubling."

The resolution by the IAEA Board of Governors "deplores" Iran's omissions of sensitive atomic technology from an October declaration -- including undeclared research on advanced "P2" centrifuges that can make bomb-grade uranium.

It said the board would decide in June how to respond to the omissions -- a clause that several diplomats said keeps the door open for a possible report to the U.N. Security Council and economic sanctions.

The passing of the resolution followed a week of intense haggling over a toughly-worded text drafted by Australia and Canada and backed by Washington. European and non-aligned states, Russia and China wanted milder wording.

A compromise was struck after the U.S.-led camp agreed to soften some language, although U.S. ambassador Kenneth Brill said it remained a strong warning to Tehran.

"This information calls for Iran to provide proactive cooperation instead of having information dragged out of it," he told reporters after the meeting.

"DECEPTION AND DELAY"

In remarks prepared for delivery in the closed-door meeting, Brill said "Iran...is continuing to pursue a policy of denial, deception and delay."

"Is it possible that, even as we meet, squads of Iranian technicians are working at still undeclared sites to tile over, paint over, bury, burn or cart away incriminating evidence so that those sanitized locations can finally be identified to the agency as new evidence of Iran's full cooperation and transparency?" he asked.

Related ATSNN stories
- Iran: Tehran Threatens To End Cooperation With UN Nuclear Watchdog
- UN Nuke Watchdog Rejects Iran's Call to Close Case
- Israel Cracks Iran Code. Reveals Iran's Nuclear Program

[Edited on 13-3-2004 by Zion Mainframe]

They sound pretty angry.
Iran Halts Nuke Inspections

This coming a day after they suddenly "postponed" next week's scheduled inspection until April.
Something is amiss.

-B.

Whats more troubling is that the US is the only real outspoken, highly critical, and very against Iran having nukes 'voice'....

Seems that France, Germany, and Great Britain are not overly concerned.
Then again, if we, the US or Israel were 'overly' concerned, I'm positive that "action(s)" would have been taken, just as they were when Israel waxed a Iraqi nuclear facility.....

Iran postpones so as to CONTINUE their uranium enrichment?

Here's a sure bet though, in the next coming month's, you will see alot of "deja vu", in regards to this matter.



regards
seekerof

On the Islamic Republic Websites they are calling for Isreal to open its nuclear programs to the IAEA.

I read that, along with their condimnation of the ruling against Iran and wondered, yeah why not? Why is Isreal getting a free pass on their programs.

I believe in fairness for all and if we are calling for the region to have it's programs regulated then we should INSIST that Isreal conform as well. Even if they keep their nukes they should be under the same regulations as everyone else. This double standard is going to be a big issue for us in the future. If Iraq is to be the great leader of democracy in the region can we believe they will not insist upon the same?

Couple of links for you to read
Nam Calls for Israel to comply

Irans response to decision

That's great news nativeokie....in such, I suppose that Iran's or even the Islamic World's "justification" for having nukes is because your hereditary enemy has them? Gee, and Israel had them long before 'they' did? But hey, according to you and others, its only fair right? Double standard? How so? Israel has been attacked (wars/conflicts)on at least one or two different occasions (which it did have nukes) and has not resorted to using nukes! Can you say the same or even assure the same for Syria, Saudi Arabia, Iran? Israel's action speak volumes for their being trusted to have a level head when it comes to matters of nuclear stability.... Israel has had nuclear capabilities and a program for how long, when compared to Iran? Sounds like selective bargaining to me, and it smells to high heaven and that alone, is a "double standard".

The US will not INSIST that Israel conform, on the matters of nuclear accountability....on the other hand, those new nations that are seeking nuclear capability, such as Iran or Syria, will have to conform and their nuclear programs to be held accountable within the world community.

Bah, sorry, IMHO, its boils down to a lame excuse by the Islamic World for their furthered Jihadic "justifications".
Why isn't the Islamic Republic Websites not calling for the US, Russia, France, UK, and others programs to be opened to the IAEA?!

Why isn't NAM or the IAEA calling for a world universial disarmament of all nuclear stockpiles....not just a selected "few"...namely Israel? Biased bullcrap to me and it starts with and from the defunct, "we will bail azz with the first explosion", blue-helmet United Nation's.

You want to solve the problem of proliferation.....the world will have to come together and unanimously opt to rid the world community of all nuclear, chemical, and biological instruments of death...period. Then a unbiased, neutral organization will have to be created, with full national powers, to implement and enforce such an agreement and then make sure that it stays enforced, even with the threat of military power.


regards
seekerof

[Edited on 13-3-2004 by Seekerof]

Well going from your reasoning for Israel what about Iraq not using any of their WMD when the US invaded? Does that mean they've made a mistake and should apologise to Saddam and turn a blind eye because he didn't use them?

Oh no wait I forgot, they didn't have them in the first place.

There will be NO apologizing to Saddam..even the Arab world admits that his removal was his own doing.

As to his WMD, the case is certainly still out on this, despite what proponents argue to the contrary.


seekerof

Yes, the basic problem is the attitudes and not the nuclear weapons.

Iran's foreign minister (e.g. like Colin Powell) has stated on the record that Israel's existence is against the national interests of Iran.

There is always plenty of "you bad you bad neener neener" from time and time again.

But when somebody that important says "against the national interests" in such a way it is very chilling. When an official says things like that, they usually mean it, and mean that it is serious national policy.

The logical conclusion from all evidence is that the authorities in Iran plan to make nuclear weapons not for defense but to actually obliterate Israel. this is quite possible and feasible, thanks to the capabilities of Hizbullah or, launching from disguised merchant ships in the Mediterranean or Persian gulf.

I don't think that the overall population of Iran would approve of such a thing if there were a really representative government, but the hardliners seem to have sealed their control until they get nukes.

At that point, they figure they will be untouchable, like Kim-Jong Evil.