US, Iran vie for Chinese support on nuclear issue

NUKEWARS

US Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte.

Bush backs 'full scope' of Iran findings
US President George W. Bush endorses the "full scope" of last month's US intelligence findings on Iran, the White House said Thursday after Bush seemed to distance himself from the report. "The president stands by the full scope of the findings in that they were put together by incredibly dedicated people that did their best work and put their best views out," spokesman Tony Fratto told reporters. On Tuesday, the president had emphasized that the US National Intelligence Estimate (NIE) was crafted by "independent" spy agencies that "come to conclusions separate from what I may or may not want." And his chief spokeswoman, Dana Perino, refused to say that he endorsed the NIE's chief finding that Tehran shelved a nuclear weapons program in 2003, in what was seen as a blow to Washington's efforts to confront its archfoe. Media accounts of Bush's message to Middle East leaders during a week-long trip to the region cited anonymous officials as saying that he distanced himself from the NIE, which is the consensus of all 16 US spy agencies. "He does encourage people -- and that's the point that he made repeatedly on his trip -- to look at the full conclusions and implications for what the NIE asserted in those conclusions, and they include the fact that Iran had a weapons program," said Fratto. "Iran continues to move on two other components of what would be necessary to deliver a nuclear weapon, both on enrichment and on delivery mechanisms," said Fratto. "And that is a crucial fact that should be read the right way." The NIE found that the Islamic republic has defied international pressure including UN sanctions to freeze uranium enrichment, which can be a key step towards getting a nuclear weapon.

by Staff Writers
Beijing (AFP) Jan 17, 2008
A top US diplomat urged China on Thursday to back a new UN resolution against Iran over its nuclear programme, as Tehran's top atomic negotiator arrived in Beijing to lobby against such a move.

Visiting US Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte told reporters in Beijing he would raise the issue in a high-level meeting in southwest China's Guizhou province, which began late Thursday.

The US-China talks, which were to continue through Friday, were expected to touch on a wide range of issues including Taiwan, human rights, trade, North Korea and Sudan, Negroponte said.

"We think it is important that there be an additional Security Council resolution because Iran is out of compliance with previously passed resolutions," Negroponte said.

"That is the argument that will be presented to the Chinese authorities."

Negroponte's comments came as Iran's top nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili arrived in Beijing.

Jalili was to meet with Chinese officials over the next two days including Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi, a Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman told reporters.

"The two countries will exchange views on bilateral relations and the nuclear issue," spokeswoman Jiang Yu said.

But she declined to offer support for Negroponte's call for a new UN resolution, instead reiterating Beijing's oft-repeated preference for further negotiations.

"On the Iranian nuclear issue, our position is consistent. We hope that Iran will abide by (an existing) UN resolution and demonstrate flexibility and work with the international community," she said.

"We also hope the international community will intensify diplomatic efforts for an early resumption of negotiations," she said.

Although a recently issued US intelligence report said Iran has likely suspended research into designs of a nuclear warhead, Negroponte said it was violating an existing UN resolution by carrying out uranium enrichment.

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is to seek Beijing's support for a new resolution when she meets Yang in Berlin next week, Negroponte said.

Rice will join her counterparts from Britain, China, France, Germany and Russia to discuss new sanctions and other elements of a resolution, US officials announced in Washington on Wednesday.

Iran denies it is seeking to develop nuclear weapons, insisting its atomic programme is peaceful and aimed at providing energy for its growing population.

China, which has growing energy ties with Tehran, routinely calls for further talks rather than aggressive UN action against Iran.

In comments quoted by Iran's state news agency IRNA, Jalili poured cold water on the idea of a new resolution.

"Iran's rational behaviour and international developments will not allow anyone to do such things," he was quoted as saying in Beijing, adding that Tehran expected continued Chinese support.

"Our Chinese friends have so far replied to Iran's 'goodwill' and we expect that they will continue these good relations."

On Taiwan, Negroponte reiterated Washington's opposition to a referendum planned by President Chen Shui-bian on the island's UN membership, calling the vote "provocative."

Chen and his ruling Democratic Progressive Party has planned a referendum alongside March presidential polls on joining the UN under the name "Taiwan."

China has strongly opposed the referendum as a move that would bring Taiwan closer to formal independence, an act that Beijing has vowed to counter even if it means military action.

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NUKEWARS

Israel says all options open to stop Iran going nuclear

Jerusalem (AFP) Jan 14, 2008
Israel warned on Monday that all options were on the table in preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons, echoing Washington in ratcheting up the rhetoric against their archfoe.

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