World powers, Iran need to end quarrels, start talking - Lavrov

Published time: January 28, 2013 12:05
Edited time: January 28, 2013 16:10
A handout picture released by the official website of Iran's presidency office shows Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad visits Natanz uranium enrichment facilities some 300 kms, south of the capital Tehran  (AFP Photo)

Russia’s Foreign Minister accused international mediators in the Iran crisis of "behaving like little children," imploring them to set a date for negotiations over Tehran’s nuclear program.

­"Some of our partners in the six powers and the Iranian side cannot come to an agreement about where to meet," Sergey Lavrov told reporters after talks with Belgian Foreign Minister Didier Reynders on Monday.

The hawkish government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu continues to beat the drum for a military offensive against Iran, at the same time that US naval forces are silently building up forces in the Persian Gulf.

On Sunday, in a speech marking International Holocaust Day, Netanyahu once again accused Tehran of plotting “the destruction of the Jewish state."

The Israeli leader, recently reelected to his leadership position by a narrow margin, declared that his government’s main priority is to ensure that Iran never acquires nuclear weapons.

Tehran, which is bearing the brunt of a harsh international sanctions regime, insists that its nuclear energy research is for peaceful purposes.

It is within this tense environment that Russian diplomats are working to ensure that “common sense will prevail” in the escalating standoff, but this will require that both sides “stop behaving like little children," Lavrov declared.

Arguing that the “essence of our talks” is far more important (than the site), Lavrov emphasized that Russian mediators “are willing to meet at any location.”

In June, Iran and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council – Russia, Britain, China, France, the United States, plus Germany – met for talks in Moscow to little avail.

Another round of negotiations had been expected to take place in January, but those plans collapsed.

Lavrov called the latest breakdown in the negotiation process between Tehran and the international mediators “unsatisfactory.”

“The meeting has really been adjourned and, to my big disappointment, I deem the cause of this delay absolutely unsatisfactory," the minister said.

Robert Bridge, RT

Comments (21)

zir (unregistered) 29.01.2013 14:41

Just_Saying (unregistered) wrote in #19
Did you catch how in a short article from RT, about 1/3 of it dealt with Israeli elections, Holocaust speaches, and other fluff. What does this have to do with the 5 + 1 negotiation and Iran's nuclear program? NOTHING. It sure diverts attention away from the object of concern though, and panders to the audience. What's changed in the last year with the negotiations? NOTHING. What country is intransigent in the talks? Iran. Is Russia part of the 5 + 1? Of course they are. What's going to come from all this? More INTRNATIONAL sanctions. When Lavrov points his finger, he's pointing at his chest. Iran can end this in a millableam; allow the inspectors access to what they want, answer the questions, and poof, no more sanctions. Pretty straight forward. Why wouldn't they? (good question, huh?)  Trying to pretend that sanctions only started since the nuclear programme became big news, in recent times. A lie. Iran has been subjected to American imposed sanctions ever since it brought down the American puppet ruler of the country, the last shah. The nuclear programme is just the latest in a long list of excuses for sanctions and threats.

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Danaos 29.01.2013 09:14

Lavrov is the archetypal diplomat. He speaks sense. However things are not that easy. The whole idea is not with Iran. Iran is locked in its situation. And US keeps it that way to keep shut the south part of central Asia.

Open a map:
Iran connects via the Kaspian Sea Russia to the Indian ocean. This is the vertical trade axis that never worked and which Russia, Iran AND India (oh yes) try to open for years now. With US blocking Iran and threatening war from the south, west and east, this is not possible. The Iranian regime and its closeness certainly benefits the US foremost before anyone else.
It is a pity, because the Iranian nation is all what is best in the muslim world. In fact, it is unfair to compare them with the rest of the muslim world, the Arabs and Turks, it is not realistic. Iranians are an old nation that still yields power in this world. They have to take the position they deserve, i.e. taking over the Middle East.

Bring back the Sassano-Achaemenids to replace the British-muslim regimes that rule Middle East today. This is the only hope Middle East sees some civilization and get out of its barbarous current condition.

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Just_Saying (unregistered) 29.01.2013 03:21

Did you catch how in a short article from RT, about 1/3 of it dealt with Israeli elections, Holocaust speaches, and other fluff. What does this have to do with the 5 + 1 negotiation and Iran's nuclear program? NOTHING. It sure diverts attention away from the object of concern though, and panders to the audience. What's changed in the last year with the negotiations? NOTHING. What country is intransigent in the talks? Iran. Is Russia part of the 5 + 1? Of course they are. What's going to come from all this? More INTRNATIONAL sanctions. When Lavrov points his finger, he's pointing at his chest. Iran can end this in a millableam; allow the inspectors access to what they want, answer the questions, and poof, no more sanctions. Pretty straight forward. Why wouldn't they? (good question, huh?) 

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