Sorry to step into the March stories, but this is a pretty big development:
Nuclear watchdog refers Iran to Security Council
The U.N. nuclear watchdog passed a resolution on Saturday requiring that Iran be reported to the Security Council for failing to convince the international community that its nuclear programme was entirely peaceful.
The International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) governing board approved the resolution despite threats by Iran to begin enriching uranium and curtail IAEA inspections.
(…)
With 22 votes for, one against and 12 abstentions, the outcome also highlighted the split between Western nations and others such as Russia, China and South Africa, which disagree with the EU three and Washington on how to deal with Iran.
Le Monde notes that the lack of a date in the resolution means that nothing will happen until the next meeting of the council of governors of the IAEA in November – i.e. negotiations continue. Interestingly, the only negative vote comes from Venezuela, with India voting with the Europeans and Americans. It is nevertheless very unusual for the IAEA decisions to come to a vote, so both sides can claim victory (the Europeans, that the resolution was approved, and the iranians, that it was watered down and not unanimous). The resolution does formally note that the numerous violations and breaches by Iran of its obligations constitute a case of non-respect of the NPT and deserve to be brough to the Security Council.
At this point, both sides can claim victory, which means that diplomacy have prevailed, which sounds like a good thing…
What a joke. Iran hasn’t breached anything and Europe has played right into the hands of the Americans. The west is a major proliferator of nuclear WEAPONS and also is in the middle of designing a new energy policy in which nuclear technology plays a major role. The double standard is ridiculous! I have also noticed that you didn’t mention the double digit abstentions. Why not? This is outrageous and of course all of the west is behind this horrific move because it was Europe’s resolution and not the United States.
Iran should react harshly as should all of the developing nations in the world. This is nothing more than the international powers that be throwing their weight around in an effort to keep the status quo in terms of economic might.
I had the same comment on Eurotrib but since you cross posted I figured I might as well
It’s there:
Negotiations continue, that’s the most important thing. Everybody can stay on board. This is not a failure yet. The West did not get its way, but neither did Iran, Russia or China. Nobody’s very clean in that story, you know.
(also crossposted…)
so a stall is a good thing? I hope there is more resistance to the warmonger position–even though I doubt it will stop Bu$co if they want to start their ‘shock and awe’. But, they got stopped in their tracks by the hurricanes, and by Cindy Sheehan,one woman on a mission– may we all bless her.
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UK – Israel – USA keeping threat in place of Al Zarqawi and Iraqi Al Qaeda insurgents – Iran Nuclear Development – Iran support infra red devices for IED – Moqtada Al Sadr. Support for Hamas in Gaza and Hizbollah in Lebanon, the terror network has to be defeated.
What happens when you discover there are no WMDs, nuclear and bio-chemical research in Iraq and you still want to occupy the oil fields in the Persian Gulf region?
Old enemies reaching out – Iraqi premier’s Iran visit “unique opportunity”
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Jerome,
Read your diary at Daily Kos, and commented there that the EU seemed disjointed and the Iran issue likely to be blocked by Russia.
Bush’s grisly gang tried to pump the atomic bomb card before Iraq, and you see what sort of catastrophe that was, and many here see this as little more than “more of the same” only this time using proxies.
What is the truth in this? We can’t rely on Bush or Blair and only a nincompoop of a fool would trust Bolton.
What is the truth?