Will the UN Give a Damn?

"The Iranian nation won't give a damn about such useless resolutions."

--MAHMOUD AHMADINEJAD, Iranian president


The Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA), Iran's official source for information, is typically quick to post reports on its website.

Not surprisingly, the outlet took its time on getting the word out on the International Atomic Energy Agency's report on Iran's nuclear program.

From IRNA:

ElBaradei presents his report to IAEA on Iran dossier

UN nuclear watchdog Chief Muhamed ElBaradei presented his report on Iran's nuclear program moments ago on Friday to IAEA Board of Governors.

In accordance with the regulations of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the report has to be distributed initially among the thirty five members of the IAEA Board of governors.

The United Nations Security Council asked the IAEA Director General on March 29th, 2006, to present a comprehensive report on extent of Tehran's abiding by its February demands within thirty days to the IAEA Board of Governors, and simultaneously to the UNSC in New York.

That was all, until just moments ago.

IRNA finally updated its stale report.

Chief of the Vienna based UN nuclear watchdog Mohamed ElBaradei said in his report on Friday that Iran had presented a proposal for setting a timetable for its nuclear cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors.

According to informed sources at IAEA here, Tehran has made its latest proposal conditional with the term that Iran's nuclear dossier would remain `totally' at the IAEA, be surveyed within its safeguard, and not referred to the UN Security Council.

The report says Tehran had failed to comply with Friday's UN [d]eadline to end enrichment activities.

ElBaradei has also noted that Iran has limited the span of its cooperation with the IAEA.

He said the Agency had been unable to make progress in its efforts to provide assurance about the absence of undeclared nuclear material and activities in Iran.

Iran has announced that it would in that case present its cooperation time schedule maximum within three weeks to the IAEA.

The news in this regard has not been confirmed by official sources.

Needless to say, IRNA's presentation of the "facts" puts a dramatically different spin on the release of ElBaradei's report than what the Western media are offering.

From the Associated Press:

The International Atomic Energy Agency said Friday that Iran has defied a U.N. Security Council call for a freeze on enriching uranium and its lack of cooperation with nuclear inspectors was a "matter of concern."

President Bush said "the world is united and concerned" about what he called Iran's "desire to have not only a nuclear weapon but the capacity to make a nuclear weapon or the knowledge to make a nuclear weapon."

The eight-page report, obtained by The Associated Press, said that after more than three years of an IAEA investigation of Iran's nuclear program, "the existing gaps in knowledge continue to be a matter of concern."

"Any progress in that regard requires full transparency and active cooperation by Iran," said the report, written by IAEA chief Mohamed ElBaradei.

...But Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said no Security Council resolution could make Iran give up its nuclear program.

..."Today, they want to force us to give up our way through threats and sanctions but those who resort to language of coercion should know that nuclear energy is a national demand and by the grace of God, today Iran is a nuclear country," state-run television quoted him as saying.

Bush said he was not discouraged by Iran's vow to continue despite global pressure, and while he has refused to rule out the possibility of military action against Iran, he emphasized the pursuit of diplomatic efforts.

"I think the diplomatic options are just beginning," he said in Washington.

At the United Nations, Western nations promised to act urgently to introduce a new Security Council resolution next week to demand that Iran abandon uranium enrichment.

John Bolton, U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, said "the United States is ready to take action in the Security Council to move to a resolution. ... We hope that we can get council action just as soon as possible."

Iran is being bullied by the West.

Iran is being fair and reasonable by proposing a "cooperation time schedule" to the IAEA.

That's Iran's propaganda.

What's really in ElBaradei's report?

The report said Iran's claim to have enriched small amounts to a level of 3.6 percent _ fuel-grade uranium as opposed to weapons-grade enriched to levels above 90 percent _ appeared to be true, according to initial IAEA analysis of samples.

Uranium conversion _ an activity linked to enrichment _ "is still ongoing," said the report, adding that more than 120 tons have been converted over the past eight months. Were it used for weapons, that amount would be enough for more than 15 crude nuclear bombs, according to experts.

In one of the few recent developments in the IAEA's inquiry, the report concluded that Iran used undeclared plutonium in conducting small-scale separation experiments.

"The agency cannot exclude the possibility ... that the plutonium analyzed by the agency was derived from source(s) other than declared by Iran," the report said. Plutonium separation is one of the suspect "dual use" activities that could be used for a weapons program.

But the agency was stonewalled by Iran's refusal to give more information on other key issues _ details of its centrifuge programs that are used to enrich uranium, information on drawings that show how to form fissile uranium into warheads, and apparent links between Iran's military establishment and what it says is a civilian nuclear program.

The report formally served notice that Tehran had shrugged off a 30- day deadline to meet council demands. As such, it opened the way for further council steps, including the potential threat of sanctions and military action if Iran continues to defy the international community.

What now?

I think Ahmadinejad's confidence and the country's defiance is grounded in guarantees from Russia and China that they've got Iran's back.

Furthermore, I'm afraid it's all but certain that Iran will acquire the bomb, whether through its own programs or via nations with major economic interests in Iran.

I suppose there will be the usual dance by the UN -- demands for transparency and cooperation, timetables, deadlines.

And as sure as the sun rises and sets, there will be noncompliance by Iran, with Russia and China remaining committed to Iran's right to pursue a peaceful nuclear energy program.

In the meantime, madman Ahmadinejad will keep insisting that Israel must be eliminated, inciting militant Islam to rise up.

And what will leaders in the U.S. do?

Dems will focus on ripping the Bush Administration for its supposed corruption. They will put all their energies into discrediting President Bush. They will do everything they can to paralyze the White House.

We should be presenting a united front. Instead, our enemies know that they can exploit the divisions in America. Russia and China can assume that President Bush is so weakened and faces so much opposition that they can dismiss him without facing any long term consequences.

And Iran acquires nuclear weapons.