<http://www.iht.com/bin/print_ipub.php?file=/articles/2006/09/17/news/dilemma.php> U.S. shifts Iran strategy as UN options dwindle By Helene Cooper and Elaine Sciolino The New York Times SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2006
WASHINGTON After intense talks about Iran's nuclear program, the United States and other major world powers face two unappealing choices as the UN General Assembly session opens this week: Introduce a resolution in the Security Council for sanctions against Tehran that may not be tough enough to make a difference, or delay any punitive measures, rendering their diplomacy on Iran meaningless. So the Bush administration, along with Russia, China, France, Britain and Germany, have quietly shifted their strategy. In June, the six global powers offered Iran a take-it-or-leave-it package of incentives in an effort to persuade the country to abandon its nuclear ambitions. No negotiations would start unless Iran first froze its uranium enrichment activities. Now they have offered a major concession. The six countries are embarking on a two-track approach that allows the European Union foreign policy chief, Javier Solana, to conduct open- ended negotiations with Iran on the conditions for a suspension while the Security Council considers punitive measures. Solana and Iran's chief negotiator, Ali Larijani, have met twice recently and planned to talk Sunday in New York, a senior Bush administration official said. "I think there's a chance that Iran sees it has to move," one European diplomat said Friday. "We want to get those people to the table. The key thing here is to leave the door open." In diplomatic terms, the embracing of what is being called the practical, two- track approach looks like a subtle change. But in reality it is a fundamental shift and an admission of how few options are available to President George W. Bush and his European allies. In the fall of 2003, the United States was increasing pressure on its European allies to refer Iran to the Security Council for sanctions. But with Russia and China threatening to veto, Britain, France and Germany worked out a deal with Iran: no referral of Iran's nuclear program to the Security Council if Iran suspended uranium enrichment, the first step in making fuel for nuclear power or a weapon. A lot has happened since then, but one thing is the same: Iran is still enriching uranium. The Bush administration is again ready to push forward on a sanctions package at the United Nations, but it is doubtful that the United States and Europe will get Russia and China to sign on to anything but relatively mild sanctions, at least at first. If Europe and America insist on tougher sanctions, Russia and China might balk, and the coalition - fragile, but a conduit for pressure nonetheless - could fall apart. That is why, despite the passing of an Aug. 31 deadline set by the United Nations for Iran to suspend or face sanctions, the United States and Europe remain willing to keep talking. Elaine Sciolino reported from Paris. -- Yoshie <http://montages.blogspot.com/> <http://mrzine.org> <http://monthlyreview.org/>
