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Russia, U.S. Press Iran; Cheney Cites `Consequences'
By Janine Zacharia
03/07/06 -- (Bloomberg) -- Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov
today denied that his country is working on a new ``compromise''
plan aimed at resolving an international dispute about Iran's
nuclear program.
``There is no compromise, new Russian proposal,'' Lavrov said after
meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in Washington.
Less than an hour before Lavrov spoke, U.S. Vice President Dick
Cheney told an audience that Iran might face ``meaningful
consequences'' for defying international demands to halt nuclear
enrichment work that could lead to a nuclear bomb.
Lavrov said that all Russian contacts with Iran have been ``about
finding a way to implement'' the Feb. 4 decision of the
International Atomic Energy Agency's board of governors, which
referred Iran to the United Nations Security Council. The IAEA told
Iran's government to freeze all enrichment activities and abide by
formal commitments, including full cooperation with inspectors.
``The Russians did not tell us of any new proposal that they have
made to the Iranians,'' Rice said at a joint press conference today
with Lavrov.
Diplomats in Vienna, where the IAEA is meeting, talked about a
Russian proposal to let Iran carry out uranium enrichment on a small
scale as research.
Russian Proposal
The only Russian idea that the U.S. supports is a plan to enrich
uranium for Iran in Russia, so as to keep the enrichment process
from Iran's direct control, Rice said. The U.S. is concerned that
the aim of Iran's research effort is to build a nuclear weapon and
destabilize the Middle East.
Rice and Lavrov said Iran should cooperate with the UN nuclear
watchdog agency to reveal more about its nuclear energy program.
While the IAEA says Iran is not sufficiently ``transparent'' about
its nuclear research, the agency also says there is no evidence that
nuclear material has been diverted for weapons.
``Any solution should take into account the very high desirability
to continue to investigate into the past program of Iran'' so
inspectors can determine the effort's intent, Lavrov said.
Russia is working with Iran to build a commercial nuclear reactor.
China Weighs In
China, the other major power with close commercial ties to Iran,
urged the Iranian government to comply with IAEA demands.
``We hope Iran will cooperate closely with the IAEA and adopt more
measures that are helpful to building confidence,'' Foreign Minister
Li Zhaoxing said in Beijing.
``There is still time for a settlement of the issue within the
framework of the IAEA,'' Li said.
U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Robert Zoellick said last week that
the U.S. wanted China to be more direct with Iran about the need to
avoid nuclear enrichment and developing weapons. China is seeking
oil and gas from Iran, which holds the world's second-largest
reserves of both commodities.
China should consider the effect of Iran's policies on ``energy
security in the most vital energy-producing area in the world,''
Zoellick said in an interview on March 1.
While Cheney didn't specify what penalties Iran might face, he said
the U.S. is keeping ``all options on the table'' and joins other
countries in sending the Iranian leadership ``a clear message'' that
they won't be allowed to have a nuclear bomb.
The vice president, speaking to the American Israel Public Affairs
Committee in Washington, made a distinction between the Iranian
government and the Iranian people. ``Iranians desire and deserve to
be free from tyranny and oppression in their own homeland,'' he
said.
Pace of Diplomacy
While rhetoric aimed at Iran's leaders intensifies, UN sanctions
against the country may not be discussed for several months, U.S.
officials said.
The first step, once the Security Council takes up the issue, is
expected to be a statement from the body calling on Iran to fulfill
obligations outlined by the IAEA. Iran would then be given several
weeks before the IAEA evaluates its performance.
``We have been very clear that we did not think that, as a first
matter, we would try to move to sanctions in the first step of the
Security Council,'' Rice said today.
To contact the reporter on this story:
Janine Zacharia in Washington at jzacharia@bloomberg.net
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