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IRAN and Nuclear Issue -- 'The P5+1' and what REALLY is different now.

US STATE DEPT: The P-5+1 political directors discussed next steps in addressing international concerns about Iran’s pursuit of nuclear – of a nuclear weapons capability, and affirmed their unwavering commitment to a negotiated diplomatic solution to those concerns.

 

We, the United States, outlined the President’s and the Secretary’s goal on Iran, which is to explore diplomatic solutions to the very serious areas of concern.  A diplomatic solution necessitates a willingness to engage directly with each other on the basis of mutual respect and mutual interest.  We hope that the Government of Iran chooses to reciprocate.

 

On the nuclear issue, the U.S. remains committed to the P-5+1 process.  What is different is that the U.S. will join P-5+1 discussions with Iran from now on.  The P-5+1 has asked Dr. Javier Solana, EU High Representative for Common and Foreign Security Policy, to extend an invitation to the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran to meet with representatives of the P-5+1.

 

If Iran accepts, we hope this will be the occasion to seriously engage Iran on how to break the logjam of recent years and work in a cooperative manner to resolve the outstanding international concerns about its nuclear program.  Any breakthrough will be the result of the collective efforts of all the parties, including Iran.

 

The P-5+1 strategy is a dual-track approach, as you all know.  All P-5+1 members will be active in the engagement track.  In addition, all will continue to hold Iran to international standards of conduct, including Iran’s compliance with its international nuclear obligations.

US State Dept. Robert Wood, Acting Department Spokesman, Daily Press Briefing,  April 8, 2009

P-5+1 and other US - IRAN foreign policy issues continued to dominate the State Dept. Press Briefing:

QUESTION:  When you meet with the Iranian – well, if they come back to you and say, yes, we’d like to meet, do you plan to give them a new offer or an updated offer from the incentives package offered last June?

 

MR. WOOD:  Well, that incentive package remains on the table.  We hope that Iran will take up that package.  But we’re certainly looking forward to engaging the Iranians in a discussion of their nuclear program.  As I said, we will be – we will have a seat at the table from now on.

IRANIAN Press Notes Obama's Friendly Tone

This excerpted from Iran's PRESS TV:
...World powers have urged Iran to take the opportunity to engage in talks with the US as a move to find a diplomatic solution to its nuclear issue...

The statement by the major world powers comes as US President Barack Obama has declared that Washington would participate in future talks on Iran's nuclear program...

In a clear change of tone, the Obama administration said the United States would be ready to engage in direct talks on the nuclear issue.  "We strongly urge Iran to take advantage of this opportunity to engage seriously with all of us in a spirit of mutual respect," the six powers said...

Excerpted from report by PRESS TV

IRAN's Ahmadinejad: 'Israel...a nonentity'

Iran's PRESS TV, reports April 8th that President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has downplayed any Israeli comments about its nuclear program saying "The Iranian nation considers Israel as just a nonentity and the regime is too weak to threaten us...Today nobody dares to threaten the Iranian nation."

IRAN Diplomacy = P-5+1 and the IAEA

Secy. Clinton commented on the P5+1 (China, France, Germany, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States) process :
Under Secretary Bill Burns is now participating in the P-5+1 as a full participant, not just as an observer. And obviously, we believe that, you know, pursuing very careful engagement on a range of issues that affect our interests and the interests of the world with Iran makes sense, and there’s nothing more important than trying to convince Iran to cease its efforts to obtain a nuclear weapon. --Wash. DC, April 8th, 2009

Here's the March 5th Statement of “P5+1” Group on Iran’s Nuclear Program from the IAEA BOARD OF GOVERNORS, March 2009 SESSION

 STATEMENT

Statement on behalf of China, France, Germany, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States.

We thank the Director General for his report on the "Implementation of the NPT Safeguards and relevant provisions of UN Security Council Resolutions 1737, 1747, 1803, and 1835 in the Islamic Republic of Iran."

Clinton on US -- IRAN Contact

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton spoke about US - IRAN contact in The Hague , Netherlands:

...the United States, Iran, and all of the nations who were here today have mutual interests in a stable and secure Afghanistan. And the intervention by the Iranian representative set forth some very clear ideas that we will all be pursuing together.

In the course of the conference today, our Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan Richard Holbrooke had a brief and cordial exchange with the head of the Iranian delegation. It did not focus on anything substantive. It was cordial, it was unplanned, and they agreed to stay in touch.

Separately, at my direction, a letter was delivered to the Iranians focusing on three U.S. citizens currently unable to return to the United States from Iran: Robert Levinson, Roxana Saberi, and Esha Momeni. In the letter, we asked Iran to use all of its facilities to determine the whereabouts and ensure the quick and safe return of Robert Levinson. We also asked that Iran grant the release of Roxana Saberi and permission to travel for both Roxana Saberi and Esha Momeni. These acts would constitute a humanitarian gesture by the Islamic Republic of Iran in keeping with the spirit of renewal and generosity that marks the Persian New Year...

...Well, first let me underscore that I, myself, did not have any direct contact with the Iranian delegation. I described to you the two contacts, the one by Special Representative Ambassador Holbrooke and the other the delivery of the letter. But I did think that the Iranian intervention this morning was promising. The questions of border security and in particular the transit of narcotics across the border from Afghanistan to Iran is a worry that the Iranians have which we share, and we will look for ways to cooperate with them. And I think the fact that they came today, that they intervened today, is a promising sign that there will be future cooperation.

Ayatollah to Obama: 'Our nation loathes the languages of threats and incentives'

Iran's Ayatollah Khamenei responded to President Barak Obama's 'Nowruz Address'. In an address, in Mashhad, Iran, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei called for the US to 'demonstrate change in policy' over 'mere rhetoric'. On March 21st, the Ayatollah said:  "They use the slogan of change but in practice no change is seen...Did you remove the sanctions? Did you stop supporting the Zionist regime? Tell us what you have changed...Our nation loathes the languages of threats and incentives. But we have no experience with the new president and the new US administration. Thus, we will reserve judgment and will base it on their actions...Avoid an arrogant tone, avoid arrogant behavior, avoid bullying, do not interfere in any nations affairs...If you change your attitude, we will change our attitude."

-- Excerpts of quotes as reported by Iran's Press TV --

Text of Obama's address to Iran

IRAN to Obama: 'If you change...we won't turn our back on you'

Responses have been trickling in to President Obama's Nowruz (Iranian New Year) video message to IRAN:
THIS FROM --  Ali Akbar Javanfekr, press advisor to Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad:
If Mr. Obama takes concrete action and makes fundamental changes in U.S. foreign policy towards other nations, including Iran, the Iranian government and people won't turn their back on him...By fundamentally changing its behavior America can offer us a friendly hand...Unlimited sanctions which still continue and have been renewed by the United States are wrong and need to be reviewed...Supporting Israel is not a friendly gesture and the New Year is an opportunity for the United States to change this policy.

OBAMA ADDRESSING THE PEOPLE AND GOV. OF IRAN:
So on the occasion of your New Year, I want you, the people and leaders of Iran, to understand the future that we seek. It's a future with renewed exchanges among our people, and greater opportunities for partnership and commerce. It's a future where the old divisions are overcome, where you and all of your neighbors and the wider world can live in greater security and greater peace.

I know that this won't be reached easily. There are those who insist that we be defined by our differences. But let us remember the words that were written by the poet Saadi, so many years ago: 'The children of Adam are limbs to each other, having been created of one essence'.

READ THE COMPLETE TEXT OF OBAMA'S MESSAGE TO IRAN

IRAN to be part of UK's 'global nuclear bargain' ?

The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Gordon Brown has called for a “global nuclear bargain for our times”. Speaking, Tues. March 17th, at the International Nuclear Fuel Cycle Conference in London, he spoke about the balance between global society's needs of nuclear power and the threats of nuclear proliferation. He said:  “We must invest in all sources of carbon energy - energy efficiency, renewables, carbon capture and storage, and nuclear power. Given the scale of global emissions reductions required and the likely costs, no cost-effective low carbon technology must be off-limits.”

He cited Iran as a test case, saying that Iran has to make a "clear choice” to continue as usual face further sanctions, or adopt a UN overseen civil nuclear energy program.
Read more from 10 Downing Street.