Israel Matzav

Iran rejects six-power incentives to give up nuclear enrichment

On Monday, Iran rejected a six-power plan to grant it economic incentives to give up its quest to enrich uranium saying that uranium enrichment is its 'national right' and that it will not support any incentive that violates its 'rights or interests.'

Over the weekend, UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband said that the six powers agreed on the incentives package, adding "we hope (Iran) understands the gravity of the situation and reply to our offer in due time."

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Saturday that the six suggested Iran suspend its uranium enrichment plans during the negotiations regarding its nuclear program.

"Our first conditions are the freezing, suspension of uranium enrichment. The approach of the six (powers) is that Iran should suspend enrichment only for the period in which talks continue," Lavrov told Interfax and ITAR-TASS news agencies; adding there had been no discussion of imposing new sanctions on Iran.

"There wasn't anything about new sanctions although our American colleagues take the view that pressure on Iran must be maintained… It's necessary to explain to Iran the advantages it would receive from agreeing to start talks, on the basis of one condition -- the freezing of uranium enrichment," he said.

Tehran has made is clear in the past that it would not suspend its nuclear program, and has stood its ground on the matter.

That quip of Einstein's comes to mind. Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result. The world keeps offering Iran 'incentives' to give up uranium enrichment and expecting that one day it will accept them. Maybe it's time to try a different approach?

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 6:49 PM