Bolton at UN tries to push IAEA report aside that doesn't convict Iran

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The IAEA report says that Iran's intentions are suspect but can't prove them. Also, they cite Iran for wanting their own uranium enrichment program, but they ignore the negotiations with the Russians, which seem to be progressing, where Russia would do the enrichment.


February 28. 2006

VIENNA, Austria - Iran appears determined to expand its uranium enrichment program - a key international concern because of fears it could eventually make nuclear weapons, the International Atomic Energy Agency said in a new report Monday.

The 11-page report emphasized that a more than three-year probe has not revealed "any diversion of nuclear material to nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices."

Still, it declared that - because of lack of sufficient cooperation from the Iranian side - the IAEA remained unable "to conclude that there are no undeclared nuclear materials or activities in Iran."

The finding was essentially an admission that the agency cannot establish whether Iran is hiding aspects of its nuclear program that it is obligated to report to the IAEA, the U.N. atomic watchdog, under the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty.

http://www.gainesville.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060228/WIRE/202280308/1117/news



There doesn't seem to be much of a case for anything here, especially if the Russian deal goes through. Looks like Bush's scheme to isolate Iran against the international community when the U.N. take this up isn't going to get any help from this report.

But, Bolton, likely aware of this, tries to get the U.N. to press on without the report:



UNITED NATIONS, March 1 (KUNA) -- US envoy John Bolton on Tuesday said the Iranian case should be a test for the Security Council which deals with threats to peace and security.

"The UN Charter says the council is responsible for the threats to peace and security. The council does not need a report from the IAEA. The council is fully capable at the motion of any member to take up these threats which we clearly believe that the Iranian nuclear weapons programme is," Bolton told reporters.

The council is awaiting a report to be issued by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) next week on Iranian nuclear file to take action.

He said he cannot predict what that action might be, but "I do believe that it is a test to the council. If you say an Iran with nuclear weapons is unacceptable and that it is appropriate to have Iran in the council, which all permanent members have said, then you have to ask what is the council going to do about it".

http://www.kuna.net.kw/Home/Story.aspx?Language=en&DSNO=834473

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1. Bolton tries to talk Japan out of their oil deal 'cause he thinks Iran'll

get their vote . . .


http://www.tmcnet.com/usubmit/-bolton-urges-japan-think-through-azadegan-project-iran-/2006/03/01/1421996.htm

(Japan Economic Newswire Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge)NEW YORK, March 1_(Kyodo)

U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations John Bolton urged Japan on Wednesday to think through its $2 billion project to tap into one of the world's largest oil fields, given what he thinks is Iran's tendency to use resources as leverage, especially when the country faces possible action from the U.N. Security Council over its nuclear ambitions.