On the eve of a self-imposed deadline for responding to economic and technological incentives offered by Western powers in lieu of their uranium enrichment program, a spokesman from the Iranian Foreign Ministry said that suspension of uranium enrichment is not on the agenda.
The proposed incentives package includes provisons for direct talks between Washington and Tehran and the offer of nuclear technology and the easing of some trade restrictions. Iran said that it would give a multi-faceted response to the incentive package tomorrow.
United Nations may move fast on its threat to impose sanctions against Iran because of the country's inflexibilty. Nothing less than the suspension of the enrichment program is likely to appease the UN.
After its proxy militia in Lebanon, Iran emphasized its stand by conducting military exercises over the weekend including the televised launch of ground-to-ground short range missiles. These were to showcase "Iran's new defensive doctrine."
After the Israeli failure in disarming Iranian-backed Hezbollah, the country clearly feels it has a strong position and has warned that it would be prepared to use oil as a weapon.
Though Iran insists its uranium enrichment program is permitted under the nuclear non-proliferation treaty and is peaceful, western concerns over nuclear Iran have increased after the Lebanon war.
Iran may feel that it can play for time because any further decisions to be taken by the UN would have to be discussed by the Security Council and Russia and China who have veto-holding powers in the Council have been supporters of Iran.
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