posted June 06, 2006 11:41 PM              

quote:

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Bush is using US sanctions, 3rd party diplomacy and the threat of UN sanctions to get Iran to abandon it's nuclear weapons program--jwhop

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Wednesday, June 7, 2006. 12:00pm (AEST)
US President George W Bush has welcomed the reaction from Iran over nuclear talks.

US President George W Bush has welcomed the reaction from Iran over nuclear talks. (ABC TV)

Bush welcomes possible Iran breakthrough

By Washington correspondent Kim Landers

US President George W Bush has welcomed Iran's initial reaction to a proposal designed to end the stand-off over the Islamic country's nuclear program.

During a trip to Tehran the European Union's foreign policy chief laid out the potential rewards and consequences if Iran doesn't suspend its nuclear program.

In response, Iran's top nuclear negotiator says the package contains some positive steps, but also some ambiguities.

It is enough to encourage Mr Bush that this latest diplomatic overture holds promise.

"Sounds like a positive response to me," he said.

The United States reversed course last week and offered to talk directly with Iran if it first put its disputed nuclear program on hold.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200606/s1657260.htm

"yeeeeehaw!!, i done did good this time, din't i jwhop?"

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The offer made by the United States, Russia, China, France, Britain and Germany requires Iran to freeze its uranium enrichment and reprocessing or face an array of possible penalties.

The package, agreed on in Vienna on Friday, includes specific rewards to Iran like new commercial planes and light-water nuclear reactors if it suspends enrichment and reprocessing activities while talks over the deal are continuing, the officials said.

The Iranian foreign minister, Manouchehr Mottaki, also welcomed the initiative and said after a separate meeting with Mr. Solana that the talks had "ushered in a new prospect," according to Iran's official IRNA news agency.
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/07/world/middleeast/07iran.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

posted June 08, 2006 11:26 PM              

Ahmadinejad: Iran to Talk, USA Gave In...

Ahmadinejad: Iran Ready for Nuclear Talks
Jun 08 9:28 AM US/Eastern
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By ALI AKBAR DAREINI
Associated Press Writer

TEHRAN, Iran

Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Thursday Iran was ready to discuss "mutual concerns" over his country's nuclear program, but he refused to first suspend uranium enrichment.

"On behalf of the Iranian nation, I'm announcing that the Iranian nation will never hold negotiations about its definite rights with anybody, but we are for talks about mutual concerns to resolve misunderstandings in the international arena," Ahmadinejad told thousands of people in Qazvin, west of the capital Tehran.

"Negotiations should be held in a fair atmosphere and on the basis of equality," he said. "If they think they can threaten and hold a stick over Iran's head and offer negotiations at the same time, they should know the Iranian nation will definitely reject such an atmosphere."

"International monopolists have been defeated in the face of your resistance and solidarity, and have been forced to acknowledge your dignity and greatness," Ahmadinejad told the crowd, referring to the U.S. and its allies.