No force against Iran: Russia

[cal04]

TALKS between six world powers in Vienna on the Iranian nuclear issue excluded all recourse to force as a method of solving the problem, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Friday. "I can unequivocally say that all the agreements from yesterday's meeting in all circumstances exclude the use of military force" against Iran, he was quoted by RIA-Novosti news agency as saying.

Speaking after world powers agreed on a package of incentives and sanctions to get Iran to suspend nuclear fuel work, Mr Lavrov said that Iran had not been presented with any kind of deadline. "There is no kind of ultimatum deadline, although I think we are talking about several weeks," he said. The Foreign Minister refused to be drawn on what measures might be taken if Iran refused the international community's proposals.

"At the moment we won't guess because such guesses pour oil on the fire of emotional discussions and give a reason for those who want to destroy the possibility of a negotiated resolution," he said. Mr Lavrov was among the foreign ministers of the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council and Germany that met in Vienna to plot a way forward in the Iran nuclear crisis.

The agreement by six of the world's most powerful nations capped months of diplomacy during which the United States had tried to meet Russian and Chinese demands to avoid a showdown over Iran's nuclear program. Iran insists it is only seeking a civilian nuclear energy programme, but the United States suspects Tehran is really trying to develop nuclear weapons.

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,19345862-1702,00.html

[ixion]

1. Not that this will stop BushCo

if they really want to... :crazy:

[bemildred]

2. Someone tell "unilateral force is on the table" Dolton. nt

[acmavm]

4. Thanks. I was just asking about this as you were posting.

[acmavm]

3. Didn't Bolton say yesterday that he was certain that the

Russians would back us on any plans we might have in regard to Iran?

[cliss]

5. I smell....desperation

On the part of the End-user, not the producer.

[redqueen]

6. Thank goodness for those talks...

perhaps this can slow the latest rush to war.

[daleo]

7. Yosemite Sam doesn't agree

Durn rabbit.

[HuffleClaw]

8. the plan, (well, ok, BUSH's plan) is for 'negotiations to FAIL'

then they'll rant, DEMANDING action by the security council, which won't happen. THEN they'll cry that 'the international community isn't facing up to the threat'...

how very fucking predictable

[catmandu57]

9. It's going to take the rest of the world to stop this

It's crystal clear that the chimpco* doesn't listen to us and will do what they damn well please, maybe a United World ready to sanction us will wake these bloody bastards up.

[paparush]

10. Here! Here! Russia and China need to say, Attack Iran, and you attack us.