INO.com News - Major Powers To Weigh Sanctions, Iran Dismisses Threats (rtt)

Major Powers To Weigh Sanctions, Iran Dismisses Threats

(RTTNews) - Major world powers are to meet Friday in Brussels to discuss Iran's partial rejection of a U.N.-brokered nuclear fuel deal, a top European Union (E.U.) official said, close on the heels of a warning of "consequences" for Tehran from U.S. President Barack Obama.

"Tomorrow (Friday) in Brussels there will be a meeting of the three-plus-three at the level of political directors, hosted by the European Union," said Cristina Gallach, spokeswoman of E.U. foreign policy chief Javier Solana.

She said the meeting would bring together foreign ministry officials from the U.N. Security Council's five permanent members--Britain, China, France, Russia and the U.S.--plus Germany--"to take stock of the situation."

Iran partly rejected Monday a proposal agreed upon in Geneva October 1, saying it was not too keen on sending its own nuclear fuel out of the country before the fuel it was to receive for the Tehran Research Reactor (TRR)landed on its soil. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the nuclear watchdog, however, said that such an exchange was unacceptable to the western powers.

Under a deal brokered by the IAEA, Iran agreed in principle to send the bulk of its low-enriched uranium to Russia and then to France for further processing.

The deal envisages Iran to ship 1200 kg of 3.5 per cent low-enriched uranium (LEU) to Russia, where it would be enriched to 20 per cent. The 20 per cent LEU would then be sent to France for fabrication into fuel rods. Eventually, the rods would be shipped to Iran for use at its Tehran reactor, which produces medical isotopes.

The deal aimed to end a long-running stand-off with the West over Tehran's controversial uranium-enrichment program.

Meanwhile, Iran's Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said he did not expect fresh sanctions against Iran, as the imposition of internationally-approved economic curbs became outdated.

"Sanctions were the 'literature' of the '60s and the '70s," he was quoted as saying Thursday at a news conference during his visit to the Philippines. "I think they [the world powers] are wise enough not to repeat failed experiences. Of course, it is totally up to them," he added.

Earlier, Obama told reporters in Seoul that Iran would have to face "consequences" after Tehran partially rejected a U.N.-brokered nuclear fuel deal.

He said even after taking several weeks to consider the matter, Iran did not show its acceptance to this proposal...and, "as a consequence, we have begun discussions with our international partners about the importance of the follow-up."

Though Obama seemed to advance the prospect of the imposition of sanctions, he held out the option of diplomacy when he said that he still hoped Iran would change its mind.

"I continue to hold on to the prospect that they may decide to walk through this door," he said at a brief news conference in Seoul with his South Korean counterpart President Lee Myung-bak.

He said Iran must get a "clear message", and described a "package of potential steps that we could take that will indicate our seriousness to Iran." He did not elaborate the nature of any new sanction--possibly, targeting its oil
sector--which would require international support.

However, Russia has played down the prospect of imposing fresh sanctions, but France ruled out further talks on the technical aspects of the deal.

A Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman said there was currently "no discussion" about imposing more sanctions, and believed that there was every chance of implementing the Geneva agreements fully.

And, a French Foreign Ministry spokesman said the dialogue could continue with Tehran on its nuclear program, but ruled out talks on "technical issues." Iran had clearly rejected the proposed deal, he said.

Meanwhile, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu is to meet with Ahmadinejad in Tabriz Friday. Turkey has offered to store Iran's uranium in a possible end to the stand-off, and is awaiting Tehran's reply.

The latest development came as U.N. nuclear inspectors Thursday visited Iran's recently-disclosed Fordo nuclear plant, near the city of Qom, for the second time in three weeks following an agreement reached at the Geneva talks October 1.

Iran disclosed the existence of its second nuclear facility at Qom only two months ago, though satellite images indicated that the work at the site began as early as 2002. The IAEA expects the Qom site to start enriching uranium by 2011.

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