Iran Nuclear NewsU.S. urges Iran to pursue diplomacy not confrontation

U.S. urges Iran to pursue diplomacy not confrontation

-

Reuters: The United States on Wednesday called on Iran to pursue diplomacy in the standoff over its nuclear ambitions and warned that a confrontational approach would affect U.N. Security Council deliberations. By Carol Giacomo and Vicki Allen

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The United States on Wednesday called on Iran to pursue diplomacy in the standoff over its nuclear ambitions and warned that a confrontational approach would affect U.N. Security Council deliberations.

Responding to Iranian threats against the United States, State Department deputy spokesman Adam Ereli urged Iran to address international concerns and “match our commitment to diplomacy with the actions of a responsible state.”

“So far every step they’ve taken has been in the opposite direction, has been one of hostility and confrontation,” he told reporters.

Adding to the pressure, the House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly to expand U.S. sanctions against Iran, despite administration concerns that this would hinder diplomatic efforts to curb Iran’s nuclear ambitions.

The Senate has not moved on its version and the White House was expected to try to block or dilute the bill — which is aimed at foreign investors in Iran’s energy sector — before the legislation is sent to President George W. Bush.

In Tehran, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei vowed Iran would strike American interests worldwide if attacked by the United States, which is keeping its military options open in case diplomacy fails to curb Tehran’s nuclear program.

He also said Iran was ready to share nuclear technology with other countries, suspend relations with the U.N. nuclear watchdog agency if sanctions are imposed and withdraw from nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty commitments.

POWER STRUGGLE?

U.S. officials said they take Iran’s threats seriously. But they added that the rhetoric may reflect a power struggle among Iranian leaders as well as an effort to “get ahead of” what is expected to be a critical report on its nuclear activities by the International Atomic Energy Agency, due Friday.

The U.S. officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the threats may play well in Iran but could backfire internationally by undermining Tehran’s claim that it is only pursuing nuclear energy, not weapons.

“I think there is a real competition within Iran as to whose in charge” among President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Khamenei and influential former president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani and the nuclear issue is part of that, said one American official.

Many of the threats have been made before, but Washington has to take them seriously because “you don’t really know what they might do,” the official said.

As for sharing nuclear technology with other countries, the officials said Iran does not have much to offer, although this could change if its nuclear program keeps progressing.

The United States, backed by Britain and France, has been pushing for sanctions if IAEA reports on Friday that Iran has defied U.N. Security Council demands to halt nuclear enrichment.

Russia and China, the council’s other two veto-wielding members, have opposed such penalties because of concerns this could force Iran into a corner or lead to U.S. military action.

Critics said the House bill would alienate countries Washington is working with to present a united international front against Iran’s nuclear program. Some also worried that it could push Bush closer to military intervention in Iran.

Latest news

 Statistics show that New Year accidents’ deaths in Iran reached 585

Ahmad Shirani, the head of the Information and Traffic Control Center of the Iranian regime’s police, announced that the...

Land Subsidence in Critical Conditions in Isfahan

Mehdi Toghyani, a member of the Iranian regime’s Majlis (parliament), pointed to the occurrence of land subsidence in various...

Iran’s Actual Inflation Rate Higher Than Official Stats

The state-run Donya-e-eqtesad newspaper, in a report analyzing the "general sentiment" regarding inflation in 2023, has stated that households...

Iranian Workers’ Monthly $136 Wages Can’t Cover $500 Expenses

The lives of a significant portion of the Iranian population are marked by uncertainty, largely because the Iranian economy...

Iranian Nurses Earn Twice Their Wages in Ride-Hailing Services

Reza Aryanpour, a member of the regime’s Majlis (parliament) Health and Treatment Commission, highlighted the growing trend of nurses...

Iran: Unprecedented Record of 152 Million Liters of Gasoline Consumption Per Day

On March 19, Iran set a new historical record in gasoline consumption with 152 million liters consumed in one...

Must read

2 divisive figures enter Iran’s presidential race

AP: A pair of powerful and divisive figures registered...

US the main obstacle to Mideast peace: Iran leader

AFP: Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Thursday...

You might also likeRELATED
Recommended to you