[Marxism] Conspiracy theory or genuine concern?

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http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7119928/

Iran: U.S. ?hallucinating? over nuclear talks
U.S. and EU have warned Tehran of possible U.N. sanctions

Updated: 9:00 a.m. ET March 13, 2005
TEHRAN, Iran - The United States is ?hallucinating? if it thinks Iran will 
scrap its
nuclear fuel production plans in return for economic incentives, a senior 
Iranian
official was quoted as saying on Sunday.
Washington offered the encouragements in support of the European Union, which is
negotiating with Tehran to try to persuade it to give up sensitive nuclear 
activities.
?U.S. officials are either unaware of the substance of the talks or (they are)
hallucinating,? Sirus Naseri, a senior member of Iran?s nuclear negotiating 
team,
told the official IRNA news agency.
Iran says it needs atomic technology to generate electricity and will never use 
it to
make bombs, as the United States fears.
London?s Sunday Times said Israel had drawn up plans for a combined air and
ground attack on Iranian nuclear installations if diplomacy fails to halt 
Tehran?s
atomic program.
The newspaper said Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and his inner cabinet had
given ?initial authorization? for a unilateral attack at a private meeting last 
month.
Israel, which bombed Iraq?s Osirak nuclear reactor in 1981, played down the 
report.
Iran has said it will respond vigorously to any attack on its nuclear plants.
Washington gave practical backing for the EU?s diplomatic approach on Friday,
offering to allow Iran to begin talks on joining the World Trade Organization 
and
consider letting it buy civilian airline parts if it ceased all activities that 
could
produce fuel for nuclear power plants or atomic weapons.
Washington and the EU have warned Iran it faces referral to the U.N. Security
Council, which could impose economic sanctions, if it fails to allay fears it 
wants the
bomb.
Tehran: U.S. proposal 'disrespectful'
Iran dismissed the U.S. offer as insignificant. Intelligence Minister Ali 
Yunesi told
IRNA it was ?funny and disrespectful.?
?The U.S. should apologize to Iran for making this proposal,? he said, going on 
to
describe U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice as a ?queen of war and
violence.?
Naseri said it was not clear if greater U.S. involvement in the negotiations was
?helpful or an obstacle to progress.?
He said the EU, which has persuaded Iran to suspend potentially weapons-related
activities like uranium enrichment while the two sides try to reach a solution, 
was
close to accepting that Iran would not give up enrichment.
Instead, Tehran has offered to give ?objective guarantees? that it will not 
divert
nuclear fuel to military uses.
?It seems the Europeans are ready to adopt a logical position,? Naseri said.
Iran has refused to disclose its guarantees publicly but diplomats and analysts 
say it
is offering to allow intrusive inspections that ensure it only enriches uranium 
to a low
grade which would be unsuitable for weapons.
It may also be prepared to restrict its enrichment activities to a pilot 
project, too
small to make weapons production practical, diplomats and analysts say.
Such a solution would allow Iran to save face while meeting most of the West?s
concerns.
So far EU officials have said the only acceptable guarantee would be for Iran to
mothball its enrichment plans and rely on imported nuclear reactor fuel.
The two sides are due to hold a crucial meeting in Paris on March 23 to review 
their
talks.
?If the policy of the United States and Europe is for Iran not to go after 
nuclear
weapons, we are ready to negotiate and reach an agreement,? Hossein Mousavian,
another of Iran?s nuclear negotiators, told IRNA.
?However, if they want to prevent Iran producing the fuel it needs for its 
nuclear
power plants, Iran will not welcome negotiations or these incentives,? he said.
Copyright 2005 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or 
redistribution
of Reuters content is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of
Reuters.

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