US offers conditional talks with Iran..

[danzig]

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?p...top_world_news

Suprisingly (or maybe not so suprisingly especially after the rather zealous response by some on the forums when US declined to respond to Iran's letter) this hasnt been brought up as a topic today. The question of course is the US serious about discussing with Iran or this is part of the diplomatic game of one upping each other, Iran first with the letter and now the US going step further and saying possible talks. If Iran rejects it as the article points out they risk looking like they are actually up to something and might counter any objections by Russia and China but by conceding it they would have to shut down nuclear operations as a sign of good faith something they themselves might see as unacceptable. Its a smart move in either case by the US because it does deflect pressure back on to Iran to either show they are serious or whether this is just a stalling game. Of course it could back fire and it would be a big mistake if going into this the US wasnt willing to accept Iran as nuclear state under specific guidelines (whether its the Russian fuel deal or other EU3 offers) something that would be a departure from the admin since most inside seem to be unwilling to accept a nuclear Iran in *any* shape or form.

[Ahiga]

It's good to see the US Gov is willing at least to try and talk to Iran.

I heard a comment of his in an interview by a german newspaper - Is it true that they were offering nuclear technology to the shah of iran?

[Joar]

I heard a comment of his in an interview by a german newspaper - Is it true that they were offering nuclear technology to the shah of iran?

The Shah was dethroned the 70's so I guess there would be no point in handing nuclear technology to him. Is he still alive? Don't think so. But it would of course have made sense in those days since the Shah was a western puppet.

I don't see what the fuss is all about. If Iran wants to have nuclear weapons, it's up to them. The US already have them, the Israeli to, so it's only natural for Iran to want them to. If Israel ( and their vassals such as the US & EU ) sincerely are afraid of a nuclear threat and don't want anyone else to get their hands on it, they should all set a good example and get rid of theirs.

[Hub'ite]

Hmmm maybe Iran will find some common sense and come around. Hopefully the US will use all diplomatic options before deciding to start another war. But as we can see Iran isn't too willing to do anything.

[infernalbob]

I feel like we should just place sanctions on Iran, they aren't going to cooperate. [...] Also, if we place sanctions, i bet ya something big is going to happen, like Iran declare war on Israel or some crap of that matter.

[King Sakkeus]

[...] Besides havent they been under sanctions for the last 20 years already?

[Saint-Germain]

Before this gets out of hand, can we get back on topic?

[Mangalore]

The EU has made a proposal offering Iran the prospect of modern lightwater(German: Leichtwasser) reactors which are supposedly difficult to use to get weapongrade material as it runs with less radioactive fuel - I think - than other nuclear power plant types.

I really hope that in these talks both sides come down to resolve the issue, in my eyes pretty much the only option for either side to get out of this situation unscathed and without bullets flying.

[MoROmeTe]

Ahiga... the Shah of Iran, supported by the West which also deposed a prime minister they thought to be anti-West, was asking for nuclear thenology and the US was glad to cooperate on this issue as they saw the Shah as being anti-communist... Part of the long-running Cold War US policy of supporting tiranical regimes as long as they opposed Communism...

[PacSubCom]

... or rather followed orders while sitting on vast amounts of natural resources.