This post is from August 2006. Facts and links may have changed since. See more from that month

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Mottaki: Suspension Illogical

Much of the international press—including the BBC, Reuters and AFP—quoted Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki calling the Security Council call for the suspension of Iran’s enrichment activities “illogical.”

Despite the giggling and Spock jokes, the transcript on the Iranian Foreign Ministry page reads differently:

We have repeatedly announced that we are ready to negotiate with the Europeans all questions and ambiguities (in the nuclear package). Even their demand for suspension of nuclear activities, which we regard as illegal, can be discussed.

The difference is slight and elsewhere Mottaki seems to have denied the logic, as well as the legality of the resolution.

But, at least for now, set your silly phasers to stun.

Jeffrey Lewis

Writing on ACW 2004–2026

Dr. Jeffrey Lewis is the founding publisher of Arms Control Wonk.com. He is the Director of the East Asia Nonproliferation Program at the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey. His also a non-resident affiliate at Stanford's Center for Security and International Cooperation and a Contributing Editor to Survival.

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