Senior officials from France, Britain and Germany will meet Iranian counterparts Thursday to issue Tehran with an incentive-backed last chance to end uranium enrichment plans or face possible U.N. sanctions. Diplomats said the European Union's "Big Three" had the reluctant blessing of the United States to make the offer, despite a U.S. belief that Iran was using talks with the EU to buy time to acquire the capability to build a nuclear bomb.
"At this point Iranian compliance doesn't seem likely ... based on Iran's history and their current expressions and the things that they're saying and doing right now," State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said Wednesday.
Iran, which maintains its nuclear program is only for power generation, says it is open to talks but will never give up uranium enrichment -- a process which can be used to make fuel for nuclear reactors or material for atom bombs.
"If our rights are recognized and they admit Iran can have peaceful nuclear technology we will present everything necessary to prove that Iran will not produce an atomic bomb. But we will not give up our rights," said President Mohammad Khatami.
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I just don't get why everyone is still suspicious of Iran. It has been so forthright, honest, and honorable with the world and the IAEA. Peaceful intent is written all over their program - ignore those nasty messages they put on their missiles... that was just a misunderstanding. Sheesh! What's a Mad Mullah gotta do? |