The U.N Security Council Monday ratcheted up a new round of sanctions on Iran for refusing to suspend nuclear enrichment and other sensitive activities. However, Iran said the decision was illegal, considering current and previous resolutions to be violations of international law; and stated the resolutions only tarnished the Security Council's credibility.
On Wednesday, Iran rejected a call by world powers for more nuclear talks. Meanwhile, it states that it would in the future discuss its uranium enrichment program only with the UN nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
As it brushed aside a third round of sanctions imposed on it; Tehran claimed its economy would be unaffected.
The three EU powers – Britain, France and Germany – sponsored more extensive Security Council sanctions on the Islamic Republic on Monday; and reminded the IAEA of Iran's "abysmal" record of cooperation with IAEA inspectors. This came as a harsher judgment than that reached by the watchdog itself.
A February 22 IAEA report said that improved Iranian cooperation has helped inspectors resolve all but one question about its past work: Iran had not explained intelligence on alleged explosives and missile studies applicable to atom bombs.
Most on the 35-nation IAEA Board, while recognizing that information Iran had provided has relieved some concerns about its past activity, said Tehran has much to do to earn a clean slate. They are alluding to Iran's intelligence data which suggests links between processing uranium for nuclear fuel; testing large explosives; and modifying a missile cone for an atomic payload.
However, Iran would not bow to the unanimously agreed upon sanctions. A senior Iranian official said Ahmadinejad meant Tehran would not accept talks with the EU based on their demand for a nuclear halt in exchange for trade benefits and a halt to sanctions.
"This carrot and stick policy does not work with us. So, they should review their policy," he told a gathering of reporters. He added that, instead, Iran was ready to discuss issues such as regional security, trade or nuclear power plants.
Currently the EU, together with the United States, Russia and China, insisted that EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana should meet Iran's chief nuclear negotiator, Saeed Jalili, to re-open talks with Iran to negotiate incentives for halting its nuclear activity.
Iran's ambassador to the IAEA said that the latest Security Council sanctions would have no effect on Iran's "exclusively peaceful nuclear activity."
Tehran, nevertheless, would open a channel for talks exclusively with the IAEA.
By People's Daily Online
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