Western powers have decided to postpone any effort to impose new sanctions against Iran over its nuclear activities until September. European diplomats have said that they hope the delay will provide Iran "with an opportunity to improve cooperation with the UN inspectors".
Tehran has stepped up cooperation with the IAEA to remove 'outstanding ambiguities' about its nuclear activities. Tehran has also agreed to let inspectors revisit a heavy-water reactor in central Iran before the end of July.
"Diplomats said there were several reasons for the delay: the UN Security Council is busy with Kosovo and Darfur, the United States is preoccupied by fierce debate over its military role in Iraq, Russia is resisting further sanctions and diplomatic activity is slowing for the summer holiday season," a diplomat added.
EU Foreign Policy Chief Javier Solana might hold another meeting with Iran's top negotiator Ali Larijani this month, if there was progress on the IAEA track, the diplomats said.
Vienna diplomats familiar with IAEA operations said there appeared to have been some progress in Iran-IAEA negotiations."We are coming to a situation where five out of the six (powers) would support further talks, and only one would insist on a complete suspension before negotiations. In that case, the US would play into Iranian hands, "said an EU diplomat in Vienna.
Iran and the West have been at loggerheads over the country's drive to develop a nuclear program. Iran says its nuclear activities is solely aimed at producing electricity to meet the country's growing energy demands, with the US accusing Iran of running a secret program to acquire nuclear weapons. The UN nuclear watchdog has said there is no evidence that Iran has been deviated from peaceful purposes.
Poster Comment:
The dollar's taking a beating as it is. Still looks like a September event of some kind.