by Matthew Hay Brown
Now that U.S. intelligence has concluded that Iran suspended its quest for a nuclear weapon four years ago, the Islamic republic is asking the secretary-general of the United Nations to call off the Security Council.
With diplomats still considering new sanctions against the country, the Iranian envoy to the United Nations cited last week’s National Intelligence Estimate in a letter to Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.
“The very pretexts, by which Iran’s nuclear program was refered [sic] to the Security Council have been, from the outset, flawed and unfounded,” Ambassador Mohammad Khazee wrote this week. “Moreover, the report has exposed the United States’ past attempts to distort intelligence to pursue its politically motivated ends with regards to Iran’s peaceful nuclear program.”
While some Democrats in Congress and some foreign diplomats have said the NIE findings call for a new approach to Iran, President Bush has indicated no interest in changing policy.
“Here's what we know,” he told reporters last week. “We know that they're still trying to learn how to enrich uranium. We know that enriching uranium is an important step in a country who wants to develop a weapon. We know they had a program. We know the program is halted.
“I think it is very important for the international community to recognize the fact that if Iran were to develop the knowledge that they could transfer to a clandestine program it would create a danger for the world. And so I view this report as a warning signal.”
But in light of the NIE, which concluded that Iran had an active nuclear weapons program until 2003, the United States will likely find it more difficult to build support for tougher sanctions among the other permanent members of the Security Council.
“I think we all start from the presumption that now things have changed,” Chinese Ambassador Wang Guangya told reporters last week.
China and Russia have been a tough sell on sanctions; as permanent members, they may veto any Security Council resolution.
In his letter to Ban, Khazee repeats the Iranian assertion that it has never had a nuclear weapons program.
“I wish to make it clear that the NIE report contains certain baseless allegations, including, among others, its fictitious supposition that Iran had been working on a so-called ‘nuclear weapons program’ before 2003, that are totally unfounded and we categorically reject them,” he wrote. “Iran’s nuclear program has been, is, and will remain absolutely peaceful.”







Comments
No matter what Iran does or does not do, the Republicans intend to bomb it.
Controlling oil supplies and slaughtering thousnds of people is a combination Republican can't resist.
Posted by: JT | December 14, 2007 1:06 PM
The NeoClowns are angry because they want to "shock and awe" Iran they same way they did Iraq.
These nuts took tons of intelligence on Iraq that said Iraq DID NOT have WMD's and cherrypicked a couple pieces that said Iraq "might have" WMD's and then launched their pre-emptive war.
Poor little warmonger Repubs :o(
Posted by: John E | December 14, 2007 1:24 PM
“Here's what we know,” he told reporters last week. “We know that they're still trying to learn how to enrich uranium. We know that enriching uranium is an important step in a country who wants to develop a weapon. We know they had a program. We know the program is halted.
Oh great, does this mean the left is going to send Joe Wilson out on another junket to sip tea with other "empty suits" and conclude that "nope, no weapons here!" " Thanks for the free tea!"
Back to my liberal fantasy land life in Santa Fe!!!
Woo Hooo
Posted by: JD | December 14, 2007 1:29 PM
JD-
There were no WMDs there. Joe Wilson was right.
You are the one living in the Conservative nightmare life of endless destruction for destruction's sake.
Posted by: JT | December 14, 2007 1:54 PM
Iran's case: "Trust us even though we continue to say we want to wipe Israel off the face of the earth." Oh, and by the way, would you like to buy the Brooklyn Bridge?
Posted by: Abraham | December 14, 2007 3:04 PM
Iran's case: "Trust us even though we continue to say we want to wipe Israel off the face of the earth." Oh, and by the way, would you like to buy the Brooklyn Bridge?
Posted by: Abraham | December 14, 2007 3:04 PM
Abe,
The Bushie Republicans have "mission accomplished" the near impossible, they have less worldwide credibility and a worse track record (Iraq) than Iran does.
Posted by: John E | December 14, 2007 3:41 PM
JD,
No what will happen is a pathetically forged document from a banana Republic in Africa will be presented that falsely declares Iran is trying to purchase significant quantities of Uranium.
Posted by: jethro | December 14, 2007 3:50 PM
"Joe Wilson was right."
What was Joe Wilson right about JT?
Posted by: JD | December 14, 2007 5:00 PM
First of all, Ahmadinejad never said: "wipe Israel off the map". I do read and speak Farsi and read his speech twice as well as asking my persian friends to point me in his speech, where it says that. They all said there is no mention of that. It is obvious certain powers in main stream media can twist the truth and repeat it often so it becomes reality in the mind of unsuspecting audience. As for the knowledge of enriching uranium, Iran already has that and it is entitled to it under NPT agreement which signed decades ago. So much hypocrisy and double standard is ruining the international law. Israel, India, Pakistan without signing the NTP have been able to make the bomb without even a slap on the wrist. In fact we are helping them in nuclear technology and no UN inspector is allowed in their facilities. It all boils down to this: Iran refuses to be a client state of America and refuses to be dominated by US or Israel in its own neighborhood. No matter what Iran does, it will be the target of Zionist neocons / Israel agents who have infiltrated the US congress and government. Here is a link to how Jews are treated in Iran, unlike what we have been fed by the media in our country:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2Skmj8q0Wg
Posted by: James Smith | December 14, 2007 5:14 PM
What was Joe Wilson right about JT?
Posted by: JD | December 14, 2007 5:00 PM
That Iraq did not have an active nuclear weapons program in 2002, let alone actual bombs.
Posted by: JT | December 14, 2007 5:47 PM
And what do you think of Obadiah Shoher's arguments against the peace process ( samsonblinded.org/blog/we-need-a-respite-from-peace.htm )?
Posted by: Alex | December 15, 2007 8:03 AM
These people were, are & will be searching for WMD in Iraq with no results.
Now they are after Iran again the results will be the same.
Posted by: shoukath ali | December 15, 2007 9:00 AM
And what do you think of Obadiah Shoher's arguments against the peace process ( samsonblinded.org/blog/we-need-a-respite-from-peace.htm )?
Posted by: Alex | December 15, 2007 2:25 PM
The Democrats in Congress have been using the NIE Report for Dummies released by spooks deep inside government to show Bush to be wrong.
Now taking advantage of Democrats traitorus behavior in War Time Mahmoud is asking the UN to set his country free.Mahmoud sounds like a Democrat running for re-election with all the DNC talking points.
Not so fast Mahmoud you don't have top secret clearance to know what the NIE report really says to those with a need to know who are cleared for daily reports.
The NIE report was only a snapshot in time. Whats important is what's happening now in Iran in real Top Secret Reports given to the President and Vice President daily. Jerry White, Springfield, IL
Posted by: Jerry White | December 15, 2007 3:24 PM
Ok people, it's time to ignore israel, what have they done to help us in the war, we have been their pawns long enough, let them get wiped off the map, how many of our soldiers and our people have to die for them?!
Posted by: angus | December 15, 2007 11:06 PM
Too Bad Bush lost to Ahmadinejad.
All and all, President Bush was a decent man. Too bad he lost to Mr. Ahmadinejad. But again, in every battle there are only two sides. Today Ahmadinejad publicly announced he has beaten the nose of Mr. Bush to the ground, defeated USA. President Bush, on his way out, is on his way to Israel. For words of encouragement. Next round will be Far Left in power and the world needs to make as many white flags as possible!
Posted by: Yari | December 18, 2007 4:39 PM
The United States will likely find it more difficult to build support for tougher sanctions among the other permanent members of the Security Council.
Posted by: Chan | January 1, 2008 11:42 PM