Pressure mounts on Iran

There is a sudden surge in diplomatic activities aimed at putting more pressure on Iran to give up its nuclear ambitions. President Bush and Prime Minister Gordon Brown have threatened further and stricter sanctions against the Islamic Republic if it does not stop its programme of uranium enrichment. Two days before the London summit of these leaders, the EU foreign policy chief, Javier Solana on behalf of six Europeans nations, presented in Tehran a package of incentives to Iran to stop its nuclear research and facilities. Meanwhile Dr A.Q. Khan's name has again surfaced by way of renewed Western fears that advanced nuclear-weapon designs may have been provided to Iran and North Korea through the smuggling network run by Pakistani nuclear scientist Abdul Qadeer Khan. Latest move by six countries including United States in the form of a package containing incentives asked Iran to give up its atomic ambitions, which has been rejected by Iran on June 14. Javier Solana, who presented the proposal to Iranian authorities said that the latest offer was "generous and comprehensive and a starting point for real negotiations on the country's nuclear programme. But Iranian say that they would not consider any proposal that included halting its uranium enrichment as a condition to talks adding that if the package which includes suspension, it is not debatable at all. Gholam Hossein Elham, Iran's government spokesman said that the Iranian stand was clear. "Any precondition regarding suspension would be out of the question."
The IAEA, Western, American scientists and experts have cast doubts over the Islamic Republic's intentions to develop its nuclear agenda. They are not convinced that Iran requires nuclear power for energy generation given its huge oil resources. Emphasising Iran's rights to nuclear related energy generation, Solana said, "We are ready to fully recognise Iran's right to nuclear energy for peaceful purposes." According to New York Times (June 15), the package of incentives promises Iran light-water, nuclear reactors and built-in cooperation with the six countries. It also includes binding guarantees for supplying fuel to these installations and cooperation between the two sides on the management of nuclear waste. Non-nuclear parts of the proposal involve regional security cooperation and trade liberalisation between Iran and the six countries. It also mentions technological assistance for Iran's telecommunications infrastructure and support to help modernise its agriculture sector, education and emergency responses. Independence from the influence of other countries is an important theme for the Iranian authorities, who say the nuclear issue is an international litmus test that will indicate how world powers will respond to developing countries . Non-nuclear parts of the proposal involve regional security cooperation and trade liberalisation between Iran and the six countries. It also mentions technological assistance for Iran's telecommunications infrastructure and support to help modernise its agriculture sector, education and emergency responses.