UN Report Puts Iran on Defensive

[unhappycamper]

UN Report Puts Iran on Defensive
May 31, 2008
Associated Press

VIENNA, Austria - Growing pressure on Iran to explain what could be secret nuclear weapons work has left Tehran increasingly defensive - and the U.S. and its allies hopeful they can exploit the situation to wrest concessions from Tehran. But it may be too late for that.

Even as it resists a strong push by the International Atomic Energy Agency for answers to allegations it tried to make nuclear arms, Iran continues to refuse to compromise on the key demand that it stop uranium enrichment.

For years, the Islamic Republic shrugged off offers of economic and political rewards in exchange for an enrichment freeze. It has thumbed its nose both at U.N. Security Council demands that it do so, and at veiled U.S. threats of a military action. Instead, it exploited international indecision and expanded and improved its enrichment capability.

An agency report Monday to the U.N. Security Council and the IAEA board suggested that Tehran was stonewalling investigators and possibly withholding information crucial to the U.N. nuclear monitor's probe of allegations it did nuclear arms research.

A senior U.N. official - who demanded anonymity because he was not authorized to comment on the report - told the AP its tone was unusually tough. And Simon Smith, the chief British delegate to the IAEA, said the language reflected deep "frustration at the lack of cooperation" by Iran.


Rest of article at: http://www.military.com/news/article/un-report-puts-iran-on-defensive.html?col=1186032310810

[DCKit]

1. "But, this time, we're really telling the truth." AP

It's all so confusing.

[unhappycamper]

2. I'll bet John Bolton creamed his pants when he saw that. n/t

[NYVet]

3. Oh, I like this line.

A senior U.N. official - who demanded anonymity because he was not authorized to comment on the report - told the AP its tone was unusually tough.

Is that like when the hall monitor tells you to stop running in the school? Please... The UN has no teeth, and everyone except the terminally insane know that fact.