01-12-2006, 12:53 AM
<b>US goes back to Plan A in Iran nuclear row </b>
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->But the patience of US officials with the initiative had clearly worn thin after the Islamic republic announced <b>Tuesday it was resuming sensitive nuclear fuel research suspended for two years.</b>
Washington branded the move a "serious escalation" of the dispute with Iran and said it had begun an intensive round of consultations with its allies and others on the next step.
"If the regime in Iran continues on the current course ... there is no other choice but to refer the matter to the (UN) Security Council," said White House spokesman Scott McClellan.
US officials had privately made no secret of their skepticism over the "EU-3's" negotiating efforts begun in late 2004 which Washington embraced in March after a European swing by   President George W. Bush.
One senior official, who asked not to be named, acknowledged the support was more of a matter of shoring up trans-Atlantic unity ruptured by the war in   Iraq than a realistic hope the Europeans would succeed.
But the Americans now appear convinced their strategy of letting the talks run their course has borne fruit in highlighting Tehran's intransigence and winning support among countries previously reluctant to act.
State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said if Tehran had "a lot of diplomatic running room" a year ago, the situation had changed dramatically through "careful diplomacy" by the United States and   European Union.
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<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->But even staunch US partners have little stomach for such an operation. British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said Tuesday that "military action is not on our agenda, and I don't believe it's on anyone else's agenda." <!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I think rest of Wetsern world have exhausted every option. New Iran PM is ignoring all pressure. Sharon is very ill.
Now what they are going to do. Sanctions won't work.
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->But the patience of US officials with the initiative had clearly worn thin after the Islamic republic announced <b>Tuesday it was resuming sensitive nuclear fuel research suspended for two years.</b>
Washington branded the move a "serious escalation" of the dispute with Iran and said it had begun an intensive round of consultations with its allies and others on the next step.
"If the regime in Iran continues on the current course ... there is no other choice but to refer the matter to the (UN) Security Council," said White House spokesman Scott McClellan.
US officials had privately made no secret of their skepticism over the "EU-3's" negotiating efforts begun in late 2004 which Washington embraced in March after a European swing by   President George W. Bush.
One senior official, who asked not to be named, acknowledged the support was more of a matter of shoring up trans-Atlantic unity ruptured by the war in   Iraq than a realistic hope the Europeans would succeed.
But the Americans now appear convinced their strategy of letting the talks run their course has borne fruit in highlighting Tehran's intransigence and winning support among countries previously reluctant to act.
State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said if Tehran had "a lot of diplomatic running room" a year ago, the situation had changed dramatically through "careful diplomacy" by the United States and   European Union.
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->But even staunch US partners have little stomach for such an operation. British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said Tuesday that "military action is not on our agenda, and I don't believe it's on anyone else's agenda." <!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I think rest of Wetsern world have exhausted every option. New Iran PM is ignoring all pressure. Sharon is very ill.
Now what they are going to do. Sanctions won't work.