U.N. tackles Iran nuclear crisis
March 9, 2006
CNN
Original Source: http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/03/09/iran.nuclear/index.html

UNITED NATIONS -- The five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council have begun talks over Iran's nuclear program following a formal report by the head of the agency's atomic watchdog.
Diplomats from the veto-wielding powers -- Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States -- met briefly in New York on Wednesday before the full council tackles the issue next week.
The 15-nation council is expected to issue a statement urging Iran to comply with resolutions by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
But there are differences among the permanent council members over what the statement should say, and diplomats from the five nations are expected to meet again on Friday, Reuters reported.
On Wednesday, IAEA director Mohamed ElBaradei sent a February 27 report on Iran to the Security Council after presenting it to the 35-nation IAEA board of governors in Vienna, Austria.
The IAEA meeting with marked by tension between the West and Iran, which warned that the U.S. could face harm and pain for its role in pushing Tehran to end its nuclear program. 
Washington dismissed the comments as provocative and said Iran had only contributed to mounting international concerns about its pursuit of nuclear weapons. 
U.S. officials believe Iran's program is aimed at developing nuclear weapons. Iran says it is for civilian purposes only.
Britain has suggested the Security Council ask for a report from the IAEA in 14 days on whether Iran has made any progress in complying with its requests, diplomats said.
But Russia's U.N. Ambassador Andrei Denisov said two weeks was not enough time and warned that the controversy should not spin out of control of the IAEA.
U.S. Ambassador John Bolton, who chaired the meeting, told reporters, We talked about the role and reaction of the Security Council to the continued Iranian violation of the (nuclear) Nonproliferation Treaty.
It has been a core element of our position since I have been working on this that Iran has to cease enrichment activities. And I think what comes next is the word 'period,'  Reuters quoted Bolton as saying.
In Washington, U.S. Undersecretary of State Nicholas Burns suggested that if appeals and demands failed, the United States would push for sanctions against Iran.
We believe that next Monday or Tuesday the United Nations Security Council will begin a very active debate about Iran's nuclear ambitions, Burns said Wednesday.
That debate will be designed to shine a very large, intensive spotlight on what we believe to be a clear Iranian (weapons) program.
He told a congressional committee that Washington would like to see the Security Council consider a statement condemning Iran, if not something stronger that would entertain the possibility of a resolution to isolate and hopefully influence (Iran's) behavior.
He also indicated that if action failed in the Security Council, the United States would look elsewhere.
It's going to be incumbent upon our allies around the world, and interested countries, to show that they are willing to act, should the words and resolutions of the United Nations not suffice, Reuters quoted Burns as saying.
However, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said sanctions against Iran would be ineffective and military action was not a solution.
I don't think sanctions as a means to solve a crisis have ever achieved a goal in the recent history, Lavrov told reporters after meeting U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan.
He added that Russia was convinced that there is no military solution to this crisis.
We should all strive for a solution which would not endanger the ability of the IAEA to continue its work in Iran, while of course making sure that there is no danger for the nonproliferation regime, Lavrov said.
In Beijing, China's Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing called for more negotiations, saying, There is still room for cooperation and we support the European Union and Russian engagement with Iran, Reuters reported. China is known to oppose sanctions.
On Thursday, Iran's president accused the Western world of bullying and called for a reign of justice, peace and security in every nation, according to the state-run Islamic Republic News Agency.
Iranians are not used to bullying and will not also surrender to bullying, IRNA quoted President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as saying. The Iranian nation has just one slogan: 'Nuclear energy is the Iranian nation's inalienable right.'
Certain powers think that by holding meetings they can force the Iranian nation to capitulate. But the era of bullying has passed and real power is in the hands of nations.
We should help bring peace, tranquility and security to the world and for a reign of justice, peace and security in every nation.