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Recognise ground realities: Iran

Atul Aneja

Talks on nuclear crisis to begin in Moscow today

DUBAI: Iran has counselled the five permanent members of the Security Council and Germany to recognise new ground realities and not to issue threats ahead of their nuclear dialogue that begins in Moscow on Tuesday. "I think the era of threats and bullying is over. I believe the current situation should be taken into account," said Ali Larijani, head of Iran's supreme national security council. Mr. Larijani's remarks follow President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad declaration on April 11 that Iran had broken into the nuclear technology club after successfully carrying out uranium enrichment on its own.

On another occasion, Mr. Ahmadinejad had stressed that Iran, from now on, would negotiate from a position of strength. U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice had said Iran could be subjected to the provisions of Chapter seven of the U.N. charter, which provided for a range of punitive options including economic sanctions and military action.

Mr. Larijani reiterated that Iran would not cease uranium enrichment, defying the U.N. Security Council's demand that it should cease all uranium enrichment activities, till it was established that it was not pursing nuclear weapons. The state-run Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) quoted Mr. Larijani as saying that, "Iran believes suspension of nuclear research would not be wise. We will continue research within the IAEA framework."

The Security Council wants Iran to stop enrichment by an April 28 deadline. Deputy head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organisation Mohammad Saidi also said Iran would pursue enrichment.

Mr. Larijani said that the Moscow talks could yield positive results "if the proposals were rational and with perspective". Russia and China, while seeking Iran's compliance to a nuclear freeze have opposed imposition of sanctions or military action against Teheran so far. China's Deputy foreign minister Cui Tiankai, who has just concluded a visit to Teheran, has advocated "patience" to resolve the Iranian nuclear crisis.

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