Uh Oh! Here we go again......
Posted by Peat
Blair threatens UN action on Iran
Western powers suspect Iran's nuclear ambitions are not peaceful
UK Prime Minister Tony Blair says Iran's decision to resume its nuclear activities is likely to result in a referral to the UN Security Council.
He said Tehran's move had caused real and serious alarm across the world.
Speaking in parliament, Mr Blair said European ministers meeting in Berlin on Thursday would decide how to proceed.
The West fears Iran is seeking nuclear weapons after it broke seals on a research facility. Tehran says it only wants to produce electricity.
'Colonial arrogance'
Iran's former President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani has lashed out at foreign condemnation of Iran's nuclear plans, saying it amounted to "bullying".
IRAN'S NUCLEAR STANDOFF
Sept 2002: Work begins on Iran's first nuclear reactor at Bushehr
Dec 2002: Satellite photographs reveal nuclear sites at Arak and Natanz; Iran agrees to an IAEA inspection
Sept 2003: IAEA gives Iran weeks to prove it is not pursuing atomic weapons
Nov 2003: Iran suspends uranium enrichment and allows tougher inspections; IAEA says no proof of any weapons programme
June 2004: IAEA rebukes Iran for not fully co-operating with nuclear inquiry
Nov 2004: Iran suspends uranium enrichment as part of deal with EU
Aug 2005: Iran rejects EU proposals and resumes work at Isfahan plant
Jan 2006: Iran removes seals at Natanz facility
In depth: Nuclear fuel cycle
In quotes: World reaction
Mr Rafsanjani, who still wields considerable influence, said he was "astonished" by the "bullying, particularly in the era of democracy, freedom and human rights".
On Tuesday, Iran removed UN seals from equipment at the Natanz nuclear facility. The UN nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), said Tehran would start small-scale nuclear enrichment.
Addressing MPs in the House of Commons, Mr Blair described the current situation as "very serious indeed".
"I don't think there is any point in us hiding our deep dismay at what Iran has decided to do," he said.
"When taken in conjunction with their other comments about the state of Israel they cause real and serious alarm right across the world."
His sentiments were echoed by the Russian Defence Minister, Sergei Ivanov, who said it was a personal disappointment giving him cause for alarm.
Course of action
On Thursday UK Foreign Minister Jack Straw will meet French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy, Frank-Walter Steinmeier of Germany and Javier Solana, the EU foreign policy chief to discuss the crisis.
Iranians speak out
The EU meeting could trigger an emergency meeting of the IAEA's board of governors - probably in two to three weeks' time.
The board could then refer the matter to the UN Security Council in New York.
At the Security Council there are still many options, ranging from a statement endorsing the IAEA's efforts to full-scale sanctions.
The likelihood is that action, if any, will be towards the less dramatic end of the scale, reports the BBC's diplomatic correspondent Jonathan Marcus.
bbc.co.uk
Perhaps we ought to sort out the mess in Iraq before we start on somewhere new!!!
Western powers suspect Iran's nuclear ambitions are not peaceful
UK Prime Minister Tony Blair says Iran's decision to resume its nuclear activities is likely to result in a referral to the UN Security Council.
He said Tehran's move had caused real and serious alarm across the world.
Speaking in parliament, Mr Blair said European ministers meeting in Berlin on Thursday would decide how to proceed.
The West fears Iran is seeking nuclear weapons after it broke seals on a research facility. Tehran says it only wants to produce electricity.
'Colonial arrogance'
Iran's former President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani has lashed out at foreign condemnation of Iran's nuclear plans, saying it amounted to "bullying".
IRAN'S NUCLEAR STANDOFF
Sept 2002: Work begins on Iran's first nuclear reactor at Bushehr
Dec 2002: Satellite photographs reveal nuclear sites at Arak and Natanz; Iran agrees to an IAEA inspection
Sept 2003: IAEA gives Iran weeks to prove it is not pursuing atomic weapons
Nov 2003: Iran suspends uranium enrichment and allows tougher inspections; IAEA says no proof of any weapons programme
June 2004: IAEA rebukes Iran for not fully co-operating with nuclear inquiry
Nov 2004: Iran suspends uranium enrichment as part of deal with EU
Aug 2005: Iran rejects EU proposals and resumes work at Isfahan plant
Jan 2006: Iran removes seals at Natanz facility
In depth: Nuclear fuel cycle
In quotes: World reaction
Mr Rafsanjani, who still wields considerable influence, said he was "astonished" by the "bullying, particularly in the era of democracy, freedom and human rights".
On Tuesday, Iran removed UN seals from equipment at the Natanz nuclear facility. The UN nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), said Tehran would start small-scale nuclear enrichment.
Addressing MPs in the House of Commons, Mr Blair described the current situation as "very serious indeed".
"I don't think there is any point in us hiding our deep dismay at what Iran has decided to do," he said.
"When taken in conjunction with their other comments about the state of Israel they cause real and serious alarm right across the world."
His sentiments were echoed by the Russian Defence Minister, Sergei Ivanov, who said it was a personal disappointment giving him cause for alarm.
Course of action
On Thursday UK Foreign Minister Jack Straw will meet French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy, Frank-Walter Steinmeier of Germany and Javier Solana, the EU foreign policy chief to discuss the crisis.
Iranians speak out
The EU meeting could trigger an emergency meeting of the IAEA's board of governors - probably in two to three weeks' time.
The board could then refer the matter to the UN Security Council in New York.
At the Security Council there are still many options, ranging from a statement endorsing the IAEA's efforts to full-scale sanctions.
The likelihood is that action, if any, will be towards the less dramatic end of the scale, reports the BBC's diplomatic correspondent Jonathan Marcus.
bbc.co.uk
Perhaps we ought to sort out the mess in Iraq before we start on somewhere new!!!
how long till the 45-minute warning?
RIP Jules, never to be forgotten. #KeepFightingMichael
RIP Jules, never to be forgotten. #KeepFightingMichael
I've been reading lots on this, I think it's appalling! Iran want nuclear power, not nuclear weapons - I believe that IS totally innocent. That any country can even believe they have the power the launch a sanction into that is unbelievable.
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Since when has UN Sanctions meant bombing the arse out of them?
RedSam
Winner: Not the Nickv Comment of the Year 2009
Due to the voting system in Germany, Governments are always made up of coalitions of different parties. At the last election, an almost unprecidented result saw the CDU/CSU (rough equivilant of the Conservatives) go into Government with the SPD (rough equivilant of Labour)
Winner: Not the Nickv Comment of the Year 2009
Due to the voting system in Germany, Governments are always made up of coalitions of different parties. At the last election, an almost unprecidented result saw the CDU/CSU (rough equivilant of the Conservatives) go into Government with the SPD (rough equivilant of Labour)
The double standards of the situation never fail to astound me. How come America is allowed to have nuclear power and nuclear weapons, and yet if any other non-English speaking nation even considers it, they're up in arms?
Sorry, I feel in a minority here, but I have to side with Iran on this. The other countries (US in particular) are bullies to try and get the world to do their bidding. How can the US talk about sanctions when they got rid of Saddam in an illegal war and made a country descend into anarchy?
Everyone knows that million-to-one chances happen 9 times out of 10; indeed, it's a common requirement in fairy tales. If the human didn't have to overcome huge odds, what would be the point? Terry Pratchett - The Science Of Discworld
GPGSL S5 Race driver for IED.
Everyone knows that million-to-one chances happen 9 times out of 10; indeed, it's a common requirement in fairy tales. If the human didn't have to overcome huge odds, what would be the point? Terry Pratchett - The Science Of Discworld
GPGSL S5 Race driver for IED.
well duh, bush is a war monger, and all those countries, aus included, are not helping by pulling on USA's leg.
Andrew. Australia.
Andrew. Australia.
lets just hope hillary gets in next time and all we have to worry about is the interns shes shagging, not the countries she's bombing.
as for iran, give em nukes - give em all nukes
____
Tony
as for iran, give em nukes - give em all nukes
____
Tony
And the real truth is everyone has nuclear weapons and this is just cannon fodder for the 'real' agenda
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