nuclear-news

Caution advised on international action about Iran’s nuclear plans

Russia warns against ‘hasty conclusions’ over Iran NewsDay February 22, 2012  
 GEORGE JAHN (Associated Press) VIENNA – – Russia said Wednesday the world should not draw “hasty conclusions” over Iran’s most recent rebuff of U.N. attempts to investigate allegations the Islamic Republic hid secret work on atomic arms, but the U.S. and its allies accused Tehran of nuclear defiance.

Under international pressure to show restraint, Israel, which has warned repeatedly that it may strike Iran’s nuclear facilities, pointedly urged major world powers to mind their own business, saying it alone would decide what to do to protect the Jewish state’s security……

German officials were cautious when asked about the possibility of imposing yet more sanctions against Iran in response to the latest setback.

Britain, which would join the U.S., China, Russia, France and Germany in any nuclear negotiations with Iran, said it wasn’t yet clear what impact the IAEA visit’s failure might have on the international community’s response to Tehran’s recent offer of renewed talks.

“We share the IAEA’s disappointment. The IAEA genuinely wants to make progress and we want the Iranians to engage in meaningful talks,” a spokesman for Britain’s foreign ministry said on customary condition of anonymity in line with policy.

Russia urged renewed efforts to engage Iran on its suspected secret nuclear work.

“We must not make hasty conclusions,” Gatilov, Russia’s deputy foreign minister, told reporters, calling for the IAEA to “continue contacts” with Iran on the issue.

The IAEA said no further talks were planned for the moment. But Iran’s envoy to the IAEA, Ali Asghar Soltanieh also said “more time was needed” for final agreement on the issue. http://www.newsday.com/news/nation/russia-warns-against-hasty-conclusions-over-iran-1.3548016

February 23, 2012 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | general