Iran ready to negotiate incentives deal

As reported here, "Iran said Tuesday that it was ready for "serious negotiations" on its nuclear program, offering a new formula to resolve a crisis with the West. A semiofficial news agency said the government was unwilling to abandon uranium enrichment -- the key U.S. demand.", except, of course, shutting down their enrichment program.

"Iran delivered its written response to a package of incentives offered by the United States and five other world powers to persuade Iran to roll back on its nuclear program -- and punishments if it does not. The world powers, the five permanent U.N. Security Council members plus Germany, have given Iran until Aug. 31 to accept the package." Another delay for Iran to bend to the will of the vast majority of the world's nations plays into the hands of the Iranian government, as it allows them to continue to develop their enrichment program, bringing them ever closer to their goal of having nuclear weapons.

"U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations John Bolton said Washington will "study the Iranian response carefully" but was prepared to move forward with sanctions against Tehran if it was not positive. The White House held off commenting until it had studied the text. The European Union's foreign policy chief, Javier Solana, said the document was "extensive" and required "a detailed and careful analysis."

"Iranian officials offered no details of the response, but it appeared geared at enticing those countries into further negotiations by offering a broad set of proposals vague enough to hold out hope of progress in resolving the standoff." Like I stated above, the Iranian response is geared at enticing those countries into further negotiations, more delays, more maneuvering, all so they can continue what they know the rest of the world does not want them to do.

"Tuesday's announcement was the latest development in the yearlong standoff over Tehran's nuclear program. Iran says it wants to master the technology to generate nuclear power. But critics say Iran is interested in uranium enrichment because it can also be used to make nuclear weapons." The stubbornness of the Iranian government has dragged this out for over a year now, with no resolution in sight - at least through the UN. The way to end this "standoff" is for the Iranians to comply with the UN resolution requiring them to halt enrichment. Period.

But, sadly, that isn't going to happen any time soon. When will the head-in-the-sand types at the UN wake up, and realize that the Iranian government is playing them for fools? Apparently, not any time soon.