Major powers start talks over new Iran sanctions

[inanna]

Source: Reuters

WASHINGTON, Sept 19 (Reuters) - Major powers began negotiations on Friday for a fourth round of U.N. sanctions against Iran to curb its nuclear program, but Russia and China were expected to strongly resist more punitive measures.

Senior officials from France, Britain, Germany and the United States held a private session at the State Department early on Friday to discuss both Iran and Georgia, which Russia invaded last month.

Highlighting divergent views, China and Russia were excluded from the morning talks but were set to join other permanent members of the U.N. Security Council and Germany over lunch to discuss Iran, U.S. officials and diplomats said.

European and U.S. officials were unsure whether tensions with Russia over Georgia would delay or even scupper the imposition of more U.N. sanctions against Iran, which argues its nuclear program is intended to generate more power and not to build an atomic bomb as suspected by the West.

Read more: http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N19320968.htm

[lelgt60]

1. If I were Iranian, I would be pissed...

Why would I accept being told what to do by a bunch of bullies, all of whom already had (and in one instance, used) the very weapon they think I MIGHT be planning to get? If I were their equivalent of a Republican, I sure wouldn't.

Now, I don't want more countries to have nuclear weapons, but I don't understand on what basis we can argue that they shouldn't be able to develop one, let alone develop a peaceful nuclear power capability...something Bushco wants the U.S. and the rest of the world to do in spades.

I think we might be much better served (that is, safer) by telling them we welcome them into the nuclear power club, in fact will help them, but would like to be able to monitor the use of the fuel...and, of course, they could send inspectors here to monitor our use. Isn't that much more fair, and, more practically, likely to succeed?