troung

Mostly usual stuff but read what I bolded...

U.S. Ready to Offer Incentives to Iran

2 hours, 20 minutes ago World - AP


By ANNE GEARAN, AP Diplomatic Writer

WASHINGTON - In a policy shift, the Bush administration will go along with European efforts to stop Iran (news - web sites) from building a nuclear weapon by using diplomatic carrots now, with the threat of U.N. sticks later.


Meantime, the Europe Union is warning Tehran that it could face U.N. Security Council action unless it agrees to scrap technology that can be used to make nuclear arms, according to a confidential document obtained by The Associated Press.

President Bush (news - web sites) agreed to offer modest economic incentives to Iran in exchange for Tehran's abandoning its nuclear enrichment program, two senior administration officials said Thursday.

The three European countries leading diplomatic talks with Iran were expected to announce their side of the deal first on Friday, followed later in the day by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice (news - web sites)'s announcement of the U.S. decisions.

As recommended by the European leaders who have been negotiating with Iran, the incentives include possible membership for Iran in the World Trade Organization (news - web sites) and the sale of commercial aircraft parts to Tehran.

In exchange for offering incentives, the United States obtained a firm agreement from Britain, France and Germany to refer the matter to the U.N. Security Council for sanctions if Iran does not permanently drop its nuclear program, said the two officials. They spoke on condition of anonymity.

The United States agreed not to oppose talks on WTO membership for Iran — a process that normally takes years — and to permit the aircraft part sales, they said. The part sales would be considered on a case-by-case basis, one official said.

The European countries wanted U.S. support on the theory that a united front was most likely to persuade Iran to comply. So long as the United States remained apart, Iran would delay meaningful steps to end its nuclear program, the Europeans argued.

They also argued that the United States risked looking like the odd man out if the Europeans did win a nonproliferation deal. The Europeans urged the United States to join the talks, but the Bush administration wanted to remain at arm's length from Iran.

"We shall have no choice but to support referring Iran's nuclear program to the U.N. Security Council," says the document reflecting the state of play of negotiations between Iran and Germany, France and Britain on behalf of the European Union (news - web sites).

Iran and the United States have not had diplomatic relations since 1979, when Iranian militants occupied the U.S. Embassy in Tehran and held its staff hostage.

The administration has opposed any reward for Iranian activities the administration views as a violation of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. The treaty bars Iran from enriching spent nuclear fuel to make it suitable for nuclear weapons.

Until now, Bush, who also objects to Iran's support of militant anti-Israeli groups like Hezbollah, has focused instead entirely on the possibility of U.N. sanctions against Iran.

Rice drew a hard line on Iran during her meetings last month with representatives of all three Europeans nations, despite a direct public appeal for her support from French Foreign Minister Michel Barnier.

Rice made it clear that U.S. patience was wearing thin on Iran and that Bush expected the Europeans to produce results or move for U.N. Security Council action.

The matter came up repeatedly when Bush went to Europe later in February, and he began to show greater willingness to look at backing the European approach.

"The president was very much in a listening mode," White House press secretary Scott McClellan said when Bush returned to Washington.

Iran insists its uranium enrichment program is strictly designed to produce electrical power, not weapons. Tehran has refused to permanently give up its program, but has agreed to temporarily suspend enrichment-related activities as part of the talks with the Europeans.

Referral to the Security Council could result in economic sanctions or even tougher action against Iran.

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http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmp...t_pe/us_iran_8

Anon

The only incentive they should need is as follows:

"To whomever mullah it may concern,

Please be advised that your continuing pursuit of nuclear weapons is about to get your airforce destroyed, your navy sunk, and your nuclear program obliterated.

Have a nice day,

The Cowboy in Washington"

Julie

Iran wants sanctions lifted and membership to WTO. Iran does not need money incentives since they are the 2nd largest oil exporter globally.

Confed999

Amen...

__________________
No man is free until all men are free - John Hossack
I agree completely with this Administration’s goal of a regime change in Iraq-John Kerry
even if that enforcement is mostly at the hands of the United States, a right we retain even if the Security Council fails to act-John Kerry
He may even miscalculate and slide these weapons off to terrorist groups to invite them to be a surrogate to use them against the United States. It’s the miscalculation that poses the greatest threat-John Kerry

RogerBenno

The Iranian nuclear program is too spread out for the US to destroy it, even if it wanted to. And Iran is a very mountainous country, perfect for hiding things in.

So all you are left with is air strikes against military and civilian targets. And those never work by themselves to change another countries mind on a chosen course. In fact, it tends to make them more steadfast in their resolve.

After all, how would you feel if someone threatens you by saying 'do this, or I will destroy your house?' - you would tell them to $%^$%^ %^$%.

Julie

And....then what?

Confed999

If I were living in a totalitarian regime, I would welcome anything that weakened it.

Veni Vidi Vici

errr... what else is their to hit? Camels?

__________________
"Our citizenship in the United States is our national character. Our citizenship in any particular state is only our local distinction. By the latter we are known at home, by the former to the world. Our great title is AMERICANS…" -- Thomas Paine

Veni Vidi Vici

No kidding.

Praxus

Your missing one fundamental point: We're the good guys.

Commando

The USA is left with three options with Iran.

1. Offer Iran incentives and show the world if you manage to build a deterrent you will benefit economic and security incentives from the USA.
2. Hit Iran with numerous air raids and eventually with a coalition form a large enough ground force to topple the government. However this comes with enormous consequences within the USA itself with mass demonstration and those people who know nothing about how ignorant Iran is demonstrate globally with there little no war banners.
3 This is what i feel is the smart option. The USA should keep referring Iran to the security council and wait until Israel makes a Pre Emptive Strike against Iran. The USA has the excuse to back up an ally. And with the USA in here comes Britain and Australia. And that is quite easily enough power needed to topple the Iranian government. Although global demonstrations against Israel.