|
|||||
|
|||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
 |
 |
    |
|
|
|||
 |
|
||
|
|||
|
|
|
|
||||||||
|
Deal Still Possible in Iranian Crisis, Analysts Say
Although Iranian and EU officials have recently appeared to be entrenched in incompatible positions over the crisis surrounding Iran’s nuclear activities, compromise solutions remain available and both sides are anxious to prevent the situation from escalating, diplomats told the Financial Times (see GSN, April 20). A solution has so far eluded negotiators as Iran has vowed to operate uranium enrichment centrifuges and EU diplomats, pushed by the United States, have called for an end to all Iranian enrichment activity, according the Times. However, outside analysts have suggested that a deal could be struck if Iran agreed to suspend its enrichment efforts for a fixed term, while keeping its facilities intact, the Times reported. Such a solution might receive support from Washington, which would be called upon to join the EU incentives package, and from Iranian hard-liners, according to the Times. The next round of talks is scheduled to begin April 29, but no major progress is expected then because of uncertainty over the outcome of Iran’s June 17 presidential election. “Neither the Europeans nor the U.S. [is] willing to go into a decision without knowing who is president,” said one Western diplomat. “An arch-conservative would not be good” (Khalaf/Smyth, Financial Times, April 21). Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon urged the international community to resist Iran’s nuclear pursuits. “I am troubled by the fact — we hear this perhaps more in Europe than in the United States — that the world is beginning to grow accustomed to the idea that the day will come and Iran will be a member of the nuclear weapons club,” he said today on Israel Radio. “Ultimately, I don’t think there will be any alternative but to bring (Iran) to the U.N. Security Council and to take diplomatic and economic steps as pressure to stop this (nuclear effort),” Sharon said (Reuters, April 21).
| ||||||||||
Back to top
