In Malaysia, Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki reiterated this
stance on Monday.
"The main incentive for Iran is to recognize the essential right of Iran to
have nuclear technology," he said. "The time of (issuing) threats to other
nations is over. Selective approach to humanitarian issues is over."
The Security Council gave Iran until the end of April to suspend all
activities linked to enrichment. Instead of complying, Iran upped the ante,
announcing last month that it had for the first time successfully enriched
uranium and was doing research on advanced centrifuges that would let it produce
more of the material in less time.
Indirectly linked to any deal up for approval by the foreign ministers would
be agreement on a key issue that for months has hobbled joint action by the
Security Council's permanent members on formulating a possible Security Council
resolution tough enough for Washington while also acceptable to Moscow, a close
ally of Tehran.
Wrangling within the council has hampered its work since it became actively
involved in March, two months after Iran's nuclear file was referred to it by
the 35-nation board of the International Atomic Energy Agency, the U.N.'s
nuclear monitoring agency.
Russia and China have opposed calls by the United States, Britain and France
for a resolution that would threaten sanctions and be enforceable by military
action.
The compromise proposal is meant to break that deadlock.
In the event that Iran remains defiant, the proposal — as outlined to the AP
by diplomats familiar with the text — calls for a Security Council resolution
imposing sanctions under Chapter VII, Article 41 of the U.N. Charter. But it
avoids any reference to Article 42 — which is the trigger for possible military
action to enforce any such resolution.
And it specifically calls for new consultations among the five permanent
Security Council members on any further steps against Iran. That is meant to
dispel past complaints by the Russians and Chinese that once the screws on Iran
are tightened, it would automatically start a process leading to military
involvement.
Still other potential hurdles remain. The proposed resolution still would
declare Iran a threat to international peace — something also opposed by Moscow
and Beijing.
Among the possible sanctions, according to a draft proposal shared in part
with the AP, are a visa ban on government officials, the freezing of assets,
blocking financial transactions by government figures and those involved in the
country's nuclear program, an arms embargo and a blockade on the shipping of
refined oil products to Iran.
If Tehran agrees to suspend enrichment, enter new negotiations on its nuclear
program and lift a ban on intrusive inspections by the IAEA, they would be
offered rewards including agreement by the international community to "suspend
discussion of Iran's file at the Security Council."
The package also promised help in "the building of new light-water reactors
in Iran," offered an assured supply of nuclear fuel for up to five years, and
asked Tehran to accept a plan that would move its enrichment program to Russia.
