U.S. and UK United Against Iran Nuclear Program

by Tabassum Zakaria (Reuters)

The leaders of the United States and Britain on Thursday pledged a united effort to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon, possibly by expanding sanctions against Tehran.

"Our position is clear: that we’re going to work together along with other nations to make it abundantly clear to the Iranian regime that they must not have the capability of developing a nuclear weapon," President George W. Bush said at a Rose Garden news conference with Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

Posted on: 04/18/08

Rice to Shun Iran at Meeting of Iraq’s Neighbors

by Matthew Lee (The Associated Press)

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Thursday she has no plans to meet Iran’s foreign minister at a conference of Iraq’s neighbors next week, amid increasing U.S. complaints about Iranian support for Iraqi insurgents.

Rice renewed U.S. calls for Iran to end its backing for Shia militias and said she would repeat that message at the neighbors’ meeting in Kuwait. But she said she would not press the point directly with her Iranian counterpart, Manouchehr Mottaki, who is also expected to attend Tuesday’s conference.

Posted on: 04/18/08

Envoys at Talks on Iranian Nuclear Program Reach Some Agreements on Incentives for Tehran

by The Associated Press

Talks on incentives aimed at persuading Iran to stop its nuclear program ended with no clear result, though the meeting’s chairman said diplomatic efforts would continue.

The five permanent U.N. Security Council members as well as Germany and the European Union "reached agreements on some major parts" during the closed-door meeting, said Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister He Yafei, who hosted the session. He did not give details of the talks, which ended Wednesday.

Posted on: 04/18/08

Ahmadinejad Lashes Out at ‘Powerful Networks’ of Domestic Political Rivals

by Agence France-Presse

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad launched a furious new attack on his domestic rivals Wednesday, vowing to "cut their hands" to break networks of economic and political corruption. "These powerful networks have infiltrated decision making and legislative bodies and execute their will," he told a rally in the holy city of Qom broadcast live on state television.

"It is a time-consuming job; we should cut these hands, change the law but there is strong resistance. I will go to the end to change and uproot all these corrupt people or who show a lack of determination. I fear nothing." Ahmadinejad’s attacks appeared to be targeted at the allies of his rival, former President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, who have lashed out at the president over his confrontational nuclear stance and expansionary economic policies.

Posted on: 04/18/08

Using All of the Diplomatic Tools

“[G]iven what I’ve said we’re essentially headed for a major conflict with Iran that won’t end nicely so we have to figure out how to defeat Iran. The earlier you defeat them, the earlier you bring the regime down, the less of a cost this war will eventually bring."
–David Wurmser, former Middle East advisor to Vice President Cheney, briefing to the Middle East Forum, “Iran’s Stake in the Levant,” March 6, 2008.

VS.

"The United States must use all of its tools of influence in its foreign policy arsenal—political, diplomatic, economic, cultural, and military—if we are to achieve any level of sustainable stability with Iran. America cannot afford any longer to refuse to consider the strategic choice of direct talks with Iran.“
–Senator Chuck Hagel (R-NE), New York Review of Books, February 20, 2008