Straw presses nuclear concerns to Iran

News, June 2003, Al-Jazeerah.info

Jordan Times, 6/30/03

TEHRAN (AFP) — Britain's Foreign Secretary Jack Straw arrived in Iran Sunday, immediately pressing concerns over human rights and the country's suspect nuclear programme, but the Islamic republic offered him a defiant response.
In a meeting with Foreign Minister Kamal Kharazi, Straw pushed international demands for Iran to make a confidence-building gesture by "unconditionally" signing an additional protocol to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) that would herald stiffer United Nations inspections.

But Straw was bluntly told that Iran will not permit the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to conduct surprise visits to suspicious facilities unless it first receives concessions from the international community.

"When Iran is going to take positive steps, it is our right to expect positive steps from others," Kharazi said during a joint press conference.

The United States accuses Iran of using an atomic energy programme as a cover for the secret development of nuclear weapons, but Kharazi emphasised Iran's sentiment that the pressure the Islamic republic now finds itself under was a sign of "double standards.”

"We have nothing to hide and will cooperate fully within the framework of our current commitments," he asserted. "But if we are going to sign new commitments, we need to know the implications."

Iran has complained that fellow NPT signatories have refused to meet their commitments related to the transfer of peaceful nuclear technology, and have instead slapped sanctions on the country.

But Straw, making his fourth visit to Iran in just 19 months, stopped short of publicly warning Iran or signalling any ultimatum.

Straw was thought to have discussed Iran on Friday with US National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice. Though it firmly backed Bush over Iraq, Britain has so far opted for the European approach towards Iran of engagement and dialogue.

Straw and Kharazi also displayed their differences over human rights, with polite but profound disagreement over the nature of the June 10-20 wave of anti-regime protests here that were met with a stiff crackdown.

Kharazi politely told Straw to avoid interfering in Iran's internal affairs by supporting “rioters,” saying Iran's government was "deeply unsatisfied" with remarks by Prime Minister Tony Blair supporting Iranians who took to the streets.

"I would expect him to make a distinction between peaceful students, who naturally have a right to demonstrate, and vandals who destroy public property," Kharazi said, before heaping praise on the conduct of the country's security forces.

In response, Straw said Blair's remarks backing the demonstrators had been misinterpreted: "The United Kingdom's position is to support the right of free and peaceful assembly," he said.

He asserted that Blair's comment was "not in any sense a gratuitous act of interference in Iran's affairs."

Straw last travelled to Iran in October 2002, when the US-led war to oust Saddam Hussein from power in Iraq was looking increasingly imminent. Then he sought to secure a minimum of Iranian cooperation with the coalition forces.

Diplomats said Straw — who meets President Mohammad Khatami and national security council chief Hassan Rowhani on Monday — would now be asking Iran to use its influence with Iraqi Shiite Muslim groups to play a "more constructive" role in the postwar reconstruction effort.

And in contrast to senior US officials who have accused the Islamic republic of attempting to undermine the coalition's presence in the country, Straw said he was "broadly satisfied" with Iran's conduct in neighbouring Iraq.

Kharazi, however, said Iran was "not happy with the situation in Iraq."

"The situation is critical and must be brought under control as possible," he said in the joint press conference. "The Iraqi people need to take charge of their future, and Iran has a positive role to play."

In their press conference, differences were also highlighted over the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. For Kharazi, it was an opportunity to again accuse the international community of "double standards."

"Israel is enjoying full United States support while the Palestinians are fighting with empty hands," he complained. "We are not optimistic, because Israel and Sharon do not believe in peace."

Diplomats said Straw would also be pressing Iran to show greater transparency on its dealings with Al Qaeda, amid reports that Iran has detained a number of senior fugitive members of Osama Ben Laden's terror network.

Kharazi declared Iran's determination to fight Al Qaeda, but refused to confirm or deny indications that the country has detained and is preparing to extradite high-ranking members of the network.

He also registered a complaint that coalition troops in Iraq were failing to tackle the People's Mujahedeen, Iran's armed opposition group, which was sponsored by Saddam Hussein.

Earth, a planet hungry for peace

The Israeli apartheid (security) wall around Palestinian population centers (Ran Cohen, pmc, 5/24/03).

The Israeli apartheid (security) wall around Palestinian population centers in the West Bank (Ran Cohen, pmc, 5/24/03).

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