July 21st, 2008 by Sarah

Paul Richter and Borzou Daragahi in the L.A. Times report that Iran has refused to say whether it would suspend its uranium enrichment program as a precondition to negotiations over its nuclear program.  Iran has been given a 2-week deadline to provide its final answer.

Michael Rubin in the Wall Street Journal argues that “diplomacy is not wrong, but President Bush’s reversal [by sending a U.S. representative to talk with Iran] is diplomatic malpractice on a Carter-esque level that is breathing new life into a failing regime.”  Additionally, Rubin argues that “Washington is signaling to Tehran that it need not adhere to three current U.N. Security Council resolutions. Rather than reinforce diplomacy, the White House reveals that its red lines are illusionary.”

An editorial in the Arab News, however, suggests that even if Iran eventually refuses to accept the incentives package, “the very fact that Iran and the US got together at one table for the first time concerning the nuclear issue represents a huge turnaround for both sides and provides distinct signs that a collision course is being averted.” 

Meanwhile, UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown calls on Iran to either halt its nuclear program or face stronger sanctions. “We stand ready to lead in taking firmer sanctions and will ask the whole international community to join us.”

Posted in Diplomacy, EU, Iran, US foreign policy |