Iran Intel Brief. Road to War? Next step up to EU

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Intelligence Brief: Iran
Drafted By: Erich Marquardt
http://www.pinr.com


In an interview with Time Magazine on May 8, Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi said, "There will not be any permanent freeze , because is our legitimate right to have this technology and produce what we need for the country. No incentive can substitute for our legitimate right." He continued, explaining, "Our engagement with the European side was not to stop enrichment but to continue with enrichment in a manner that would assure the other side that we would not divert material for weapons."

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The Europeans have threatened that they will join Washington in referring Iran to the U.N. Security Council if it resumes the enrichment-related activities.

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On May 9, Iran confirmed that it had converted 37 tons of uranium into gas. Nuclear scientists believe that this conversion would give Iran enough materials to develop around five nuclear weapons. Therefore, its capabilities to develop these weapons are increasing.

What's Next?

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The Europeans enjoy good trade relations with Iran, and they do not wish to see the country turned into a pariah state. This explains why they have offered Iran political and economic incentives to back off its current drive to control the nuclear fuel cycle. . . But if the Europeans were to join the United States in referring Iran to the U.N. Security Council for vote on possible economic sanctions, it is far from clear whether a resolution would pass. For one, China and Russia have assisted Iran in its growth, and will be unlikely to support such a resolution. Furthermore, if conclusive evidence is not presented that Iran has actually taken steps toward the creation of a nuclear weapon, states such as China and Russia will be in a decent position to veto such a resolution. As of now, no such conclusive evidence is known to exist.

May 24 will see the next step of negotiations between Iran's top negotiator, Hassan Rowhani, and the foreign ministers of Great Britain, France and Germany.

Tick, tick, tick, tick . . . :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :bounce:

[whistle]

1. Yep, next MSM attraction coming this June...