IRAN: Iran defiant against U.N. Security Council over nuclear enrichment

Iran conducted more war games on Sunday (August 20) as the country said it would not suspend uranium enrichment, ruling out the main demand in a package of proposals backed by six nations aimed at resolving its nuclear standoff with the West. The war games were held in the southeastern province of Sistan Va Baluchestan. The Iranian army tested 700 km range surface-to-surface Saeqa missiles. Ataollah Salehi, the commander-in-chief of Iran's army, could be seen on state television talking on the telephone as missiles were being launched. It is not known how long the manoeuvres would last. Iran has so far shown no sign it will accept the offer made in June by the United States, Russia, China, France, Britain and Germany, but Tehran has said it would give its formal response by Tuesday, August 22. "We are not going to suspend (enrichment). The issue was that everything should come out of negotiations, but suspension of uranium enrichment is not on our agenda," Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Hamid Reza Asefi told a weekly news conference. Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki had said on Wednesday (August 16) Iran was ready to discuss the issue of suspending uranium enrichment in talks with the West but would seek to explain that Tehran believes any halt would be "illogical". Western diplomats say Iran must suspend enrichment, a process that has military and civilian uses, before any talks can start. Any response that falls short of that step is likely to be considered a rejection of the offer in Western capitals. The package included offering Iran state-of-the-art nuclear technology, easing of some trade restrictions and other incentives. Iran's file has already been sent back to the U.N. Security Council because the August 22 deadline was deemed too late to reply. Last month, the council passed a resolution demanding Iran suspend enrichment by Aug. 31 or face possible sanctions. "The resolution is unacceptable and without legal grounds. The Islamic Republic of Iran will not accept four or five people deciding for the rest of the world," Asefi said, reiterating Iran's previous rejection of the Security Council's decision. Western nations accuse Iran of seeking to develop nuclear weapons. Tehran denies the charge, saying its atomic programme is designed to produced electricity to meet soaring demand for power in the world's fourth largest oil exporter. Western diplomats who follow the work of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) say Iran has been "complicating" the U.N. watchdog's work in monitoring nuclear sites in the runup to the Aug. 31 deadline, denying entry to a senior inspector and cutting back on multiple-entry visas for IAEA staff. Asefi said one inspector had been "replaced on Iran's request" although he said Iran could continue to give routine access. But he suggested this policy could change. President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has threatened to quit the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty if Iran feels undue pressure. Analysts say Iran's defiance may be based on a calculation that divisions at the United Nations mean it will only face modest measures such as travel restrictions on officials or asset freezes. The world's fourth largest oil exporter, brimming with petrodollars, feels it can cope with such steps. Permanent Security Council members United States, Britain and France back sanctions, but China and Russia, the two other members with veto powers, oppose such steps. IRANIAN MILITARY

ITN Source | August 20, 2006

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