Major World Powers discuss Iran nuclear program
Local Editor, 20-11-2009
Major world powers met in Brussels Friday to discuss Iran's rejection of an international nuclear fuel deal, after US President Barack Obama warned Tehran must face the consequences.
Representatives of the five permanent UN Security Council members -- Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States -- plus Germany met behind closed doors.
Officials declined to say whether the six would respond to Tehran's move, with EU foreign policy Chief Javier Solana's spokeswoman saying only that "the meeting is to review the latest developments on the Iran nuclear issue."
Many in the West suspect that the Islamic republic is covertly trying to build a nuclear weapon. Tehran insists it is only developing a civil energy program, and has rejected attempts to force it to stop uranium enrichment.
The six have offered to reprocess some of Iran's low-enriched uranium abroad. But on Wednesday, Iran rejected those plans, involving more than 70 percent of its stock of low-enriched uranium (LEU) abroad, brokered by the UN atomic watchdog the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said that "if our nation sees they have changed their behavior, dropped their arrogant attitude ... and return Iranian nation's rights and assets, the nation will accept that," he said in a televised speech. Obama has pursued a carrot-and-stick policy, offering diplomatic engagement but also threatening tougher sanctions if Iran does not "come clean" over its nuclear program.
Major world powers met in Brussels Friday to discuss Iran's rejection of an international nuclear fuel deal, after US President Barack Obama warned Tehran must face the consequences.
Representatives of the five permanent UN Security Council members -- Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States -- plus Germany met behind closed doors.
Officials declined to say whether the six would respond to Tehran's move, with EU foreign policy Chief Javier Solana's spokeswoman saying only that "the meeting is to review the latest developments on the Iran nuclear issue."
Many in the West suspect that the Islamic republic is covertly trying to build a nuclear weapon. Tehran insists it is only developing a civil energy program, and has rejected attempts to force it to stop uranium enrichment.
The six have offered to reprocess some of Iran's low-enriched uranium abroad. But on Wednesday, Iran rejected those plans, involving more than 70 percent of its stock of low-enriched uranium (LEU) abroad, brokered by the UN atomic watchdog the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said that "if our nation sees they have changed their behavior, dropped their arrogant attitude ... and return Iranian nation's rights and assets, the nation will accept that," he said in a televised speech. Obama has pursued a carrot-and-stick policy, offering diplomatic engagement but also threatening tougher sanctions if Iran does not "come clean" over its nuclear program.
Comments
- Related News
