The Times: Europe and Iran were last night headed for a serious diplomatic showdown, after Tehran vowed that it
would resume work on its controversial nuclear programme, appearing to snub a long-awaited compromise from Britain, France and Germany.
Showdown looms as Europeans give Iran a stark choice
Iran looks set to reject nuclear peace deal
Daily Telegraph: Iran gave a cool reception last night to a long-awaited series of European Union proposals aimed at staving off a confrontation over Teheran’s nuclear ambitions. Following two years of diplomacy, the “EU3” – Britain, France and Germany – offered a range of economic and political incentives to try to persuade Iran to abandon its controversial uranium-enrichment activities.
Canada threatens Iran with UN action on rights record
AFP: Canada threatened Friday to introduce a UN resolution
on Iran’s human rights record as it called on the Islamic republic’s new government to improve its human rights record and change its position on nuclear ploriferation.
U.S. Supports European Offer to Iran on Its Nuclear Program
New York Times: The United States gave its explicit support
on Friday to a European proposal to defuse the West’s confrontation with Iran over what is suspected of being its nuclear weapons program, while in Tehran the Iranian government received the proposal and said it would study its contents before commenting. “I can say that we very much support the E.U. 3’s negotiating effort,” said R. Nicholas Burns, under secretary of state for political affairs, referring to the proposal put together by Britain, France and Germany under the auspices of the European Union.
Some Bombs Used in Iraq Are Made in Iran, U.S. Says
New York Times: Many of the new, more sophisticated roadside bombs used to attack American and government forces in Iraq have been designed in Iran and shipped in from there, United States military and intelligence officials said Friday, raising the prospect of increased foreign help for Iraqi insurgents. American commanders say the deadlier bombs could become more common as insurgent bomb makers learn the techniques to make the weapons themselves in Iraq.
Fischer warns Iran not to escalate nuclear crisis
AFP: German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer called on Iran to renounce plans to resume sensitive nuclear activities and warned the Islamic Republic not to escalate the crisis, in an interview set to appear Saturday. Speaking with daily newspaper Suddeutsche Zeitung, Fischer said Germany, France and Britain took Iran’s intentions to break the seal on a uranium conversion facility in Isfahan very seriously.
EU calls for release of Iran dissident
Reuters: European Union president Britain on Friday called on Iran to free hunger-striking journalist Akbar Ganji, saying he was a prisoner of conscience, said a statement by the British embassy in Tehran. Ganji, an outspoken critic of Iran’s clerical leadership, was jailed for six years in 2001 for articles he wrote linking officials to the murders of dissidents.
US sceptical over EU approach to Iran: French diplomat
AFP: The United States has “enormous scepticism” over Europe’s approach to Iran’s nuclear programme, even if it has publicly backed the efforts, a French diplomat said Friday. “I have to say that the United States has followed our negotiations with enormous scepticism, thinking that it will lead nowhere and that we are being duped by the Iranians,” said the diplomat, who was briefing journalists on condition of anonymity.
Iran rejects ‘unacceptable’ EU nuclear offer
AFP: Iran on Friday rejected a broad package of trade and technology incentives offered by the European Union if it agreed to abandon all nuclear fuel work, risking an international crisis. “The proposals are unacceptable,” nuclear negotiator Hossein Moussavian said, describing them as a “clear violation” of agreements between Iran and the European Union. “They negate Iran’s inalienable right,” he said.
Iran to answer EU nuclear proposals by Sunday
Reuters: Iran said on Friday it would respond in the next two days to the European Union’s proposals for economic incentives in return for a suspension of nuclear fuel work, a senior nuclear negotiator told Reuters. “We will review this proposal today and tomorrow, and will definitely give our answer by Sunday,” said Hossein Mousavian. Asked if Iran would still resume work at a uranium conversion plant near the city of Isfahan, he said: “Yes, definitely.”
