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Last update - 19:21 07/02/2010
U.S. Senator Lieberman: Impose sanctions on Iran or attack it
By News Agencies
Tags: Israel news, Iran nuclear 
IAEA chief seeks accelerated talks with Tehran over proposed uranium enrichment outside Iran.
 

The world faces a stark choice between imposing tough sanctions on Iran to stop its nuclear program, or attacking it, United States Senator Joe Lieberman said Saturday.

Lieberman is the influential chairman of the Senate committee on homeland security. He was speaking a day after Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said that his country was ready to accept an international swap of uranium, but only under certain conditions.

"We have a choice here: to go to tough economic sanctions to make diplomacy work or we will face the prospect of military action against Iran," Lieberman told the annual Munich Security Conference.
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Top U.S. commanders are already working out how such a strike should be conducted, and although "no-one wants this to happen ... unless we together act strongly and do more than talk that is exactly what will happen," Lieberman said.

A nuclear-armed Iran would provoke chaos in the Middle East, send world oil prices soaring and end any hope of a peaceful solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Lieberman said.


IAEA chief seeks 'accelerated' dialogue with Iran

Earlier Saturday, the head of the United Nations' nuclear watchdog said, after talks with Iran's foreign minister on a nuclear fuel swap plan, that he sought an accelerated dialogue with Tehran.

International Atomic Energy Agency Director-General Yukiya Amano told reporters after his talks in Munich with Mottaki that dialogue on Iran's nuclear program is continuing.

Asked if he was confident of a breakthrough, Amano told reporters on the sidelines of an annual security conference in the German city, "I prefer not to provide my perspective. Dialogue is continuing, this should be accelerated. That's the point."

Meanwhile, Mottaki described his meeting with the IAEA chief as "very good," but repeated Iran's insistence on determining the amount of fuel to be exchanged and said it might be less than the 1,200 kg of low-enriched uranium (LEU) which world powers have asked it to part with in one go.

In exchange, Iran would receive uranium of a higher grade which it could use to fuel a Tehran research reactor producing medical isotopes.

"It is very common that in business, the buyer talks and offers about the quantity, and the seller only offers the price," Mottaki told reporters at the Munich Security Conference.

In the proposed swap, he said, "we determine the quantity on the basis of our needs and we would inform the parties about our requirements. Maybe it is less than this quantity you have already mentioned [1,200 kilograms] or a little more than the quantity we may need for our reactor."

From the point of view of the United States and others, the proposed swap would reduce the risk of Iran enriching its low-grade uranium to the degree required for potential use in a nuclear weapon - an intention Tehran denies.

"We discussed and exchanged views on a wide range of issues - views about the proposal that is on the table," Mottaki said.

"I tried to explain the views of the Islamic Republic of Iran for the Director-General," Mottaki said.

He was elaborating on comments he made on Friday, suggesting an agreement was close. The United States and Germany on Saturday voiced skepticism about Iran's intentions and said those remarks had not gone far enough.

Mottaki rejected a questioner's suggestion that Iran's leadership was divided over the proposed uranium deal.

"In Iran there is only one voice about the issue. And that is, the exchange of fuel has been accepted and recognized. As I told you before, there have been certain doubts about it, and efforts were made to remove these doubts," he said.

Mottaki did not address the timing of a proposed swap, a problematic issue in negotiations. On Friday he spoke of a 'simultaneous' swap, whereas the six-power group wants Iran first to ship its LEU abroad and then receive it back when sufficiently enriched to use in Tehran reactor.

The IAEA's last report in November said Iran had registered a total of 1,763 kilograms of LEU, a quantity experts say would be more than enough for one nuclear bomb if it were enriched to the level of 90 percent.
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  1.   "Accelerated", as in "Model T Ford"? 20:02  |  Yonatan 06/02/10
  2.   More hot air 21:34  |  hot air 06/02/10
  3.   It`s too late 21:55  |  American 06/02/10
  4.   Wonder how much AIPAC paid 21:57  |  Chris Linthwaite 06/02/10
  5.   Linthwrong`s obsession 22:14  |  SDHD 06/02/10
  6.   LovelyMan 22:20  |  EU- Citizen 06/02/10
  7.   why war ? 22:21  |  Ali from Iran 06/02/10
  8.   The IAEA 22:26  |  Brad 06/02/10
  9.   # 4 Chris, AIPAC didn`t have to pay Joe Liebermännchen...... 22:28  |  Swiss (Dino) 06/02/10
  10.   ali 22:33  |  alan 06/02/10
  11.   Chris Linthwaite "Wonder how much AIPAC paid" 22:36  |  17 06/02/10
  12.   Ali from Iran 22:39  |  SDHD 06/02/10
  13.   EU-Citizen - you definitely do not represent 22:42  |  17 06/02/10
  14.   Fortunately, Lieberman speaks only for himself 22:45  |  Colin Wright 06/02/10
  15.   Bravo Lieverman 22:48  |  Jose Pedro 06/02/10
  16.   Bravo Lieverman 22:48  |  Jose Pedro 06/02/10
  17.   Bravo Lieverman 22:49  |  Jose Pedro 06/02/10
  18.   bla bla bla 22:55  |  Osama 06/02/10
  19.   Iran should drop its program if Israel gets out of the West Bank 23:10  |  . 06/02/10
  20.   J. Lieberman was my senator, he is the most hawkish 23:17  |  Peter 06/02/10
  21.   What Joe does NOT mention as a consequence 23:21  |  marat 06/02/10
  22.   Colin Wright - He Speaks for Aetna & UHC, Too 23:22  |  Mark of Lewiston 06/02/10
  23.   TO HAARETZ FROM DANNY. 23:22  |  DANNY 06/02/10
  24.   Leiberman`s Slip of the Tongue (Almost) 23:23  |  Binyamin 06/02/10
  25.   TO NO 4. 23:26  |  DANNY 06/02/10
  26.   5th column speaking out 23:30  |  Eduardo Arismendi 06/02/10
  27.   TO ALI NO 7. 23:33  |  DANNY 06/02/10
  28.   TO NO 10. ALI. 23:37  |  DANNY 06/02/10
  29.   The senator from Tel Aviv speaks again 23:38  |  John 06/02/10
  30.   lieberman is talking his Israeli mind 23:49  |  David 06/02/10
  31.   Iran is not a threat to the U.S. 23:49  |  Cheshire Cat 06/02/10
  32.   Senator Limburger. An Israeli shill screaming for war. 23:50  |  Lou Medel 06/02/10
  33.   U.S. Senator? Orthodox Jew Lieberman? 23:52  |  Samy 06/02/10
  34.   Good? for US Supreme Court 00:08  |  Mark of Lewiston 07/02/10
  35.   Lieberman is a lying, warmongering neocon 00:08  |  American Citizen 07/02/10
  36.   `17` you certainly do not represent USA 00:25  |  nor much else 07/02/10
  37.   The Liebermans 00:26  |  Confused 07/02/10
  38.   Joe should be a radical Israelie, not a US Senator 00:30  |  Canadain 07/02/10
  39.   Joe Lieberman = Benedict Arnold 00:34  |  Judge 07/02/10
  40.   Lieberman needs to explain himself 00:40  |  Johnboy 07/02/10
  41.   I don`t ever remember the Iran declaring to destroy Israel 00:56  |  Marc Leb 07/02/10
  42.   How many Iranians say? Not in my name? 01:02  |  soeasytobesmart 07/02/10
  43.   Only jerks think America fights wars for Israel 01:02  |  Lee 07/02/10
  44.   C Linthwaite 01:10  |  Morris Valentine 07/02/10
  45.   Yo Dino! 01:19  |  tad chase 07/02/10
  46.   Lieberman 01:21  |  Jake 07/02/10
  47.   Let Iran have nukes? What are you nuts! 01:24  |  Lee 07/02/10
  48.   not that easy 01:26  |  Sue 07/02/10
  49.   lieberman 01:35  |  val 07/02/10
  50.   Liberman speaks for himself 01:38  |  American 07/02/10
  51.   Ali from Iran: put yourself in Israel`s shoes! 01:48  |  Moti from Jerusalem 07/02/10
  52.   Ali your leadership want to eliminate Israel, that`s not hard to 02:12  |  Steve-NYC 07/02/10
  53.   Yup Dino the US of A loves its Jewish citizens and of course the 02:17  |  jack 07/02/10
  54.   Lieberman will lose his seat to re-election. 02:18  |  John 07/02/10
  55.   The question is whether Iran can be `stopped` 02:23  |  Mark Lincoln 07/02/10
  56.   Totally irresponsible 02:25  |  and hypocritical 07/02/10
  57.   IAEA must first seek accelerated diologue on Israel WMDs first 02:30  |  lydia 07/02/10
  58.   Lieberman is Old News 02:45  |  Stephen A 07/02/10
  59.   #11 No17 02:46  |  Chris Linthwaite 07/02/10
  60.   Senator Lieberman points out the obvious 03:13  |  Realist 07/02/10
  61.   To SDHD 03:14  |  Gus 07/02/10
  62.   NO 03:55  |  do not attack IRAN 07/02/10
  63.   Framing the debate 03:59  |  Brent 07/02/10
  64.   So many fools 04:04  |  stop_war 07/02/10
  65.   Ultimatum 04:11  |  Fortuna Benmayor 07/02/10
  66.   A Nuclear Iran Or A Nuclear Free Middle East 04:12  |  Cool B 07/02/10
  67.   No SDHD Linthwrongs obsession is because 04:46  |  Miami Man 07/02/10
  68.   #7, Ali from Iran, why war? 04:53  |  Bruce 07/02/10
  69.   Israel refuses to sign NPT while Iran has signed 05:05  |  Abe 07/02/10
  70.   #4: Troll & Supporter of Terrorism 05:09  |  EZ 07/02/10
  71.   outright spy agent...in the US gov 05:11  |  jc 07/02/10
  72.   Time`s up: ATTACK & SECURE ISRAEL 05:13  |  EZ 07/02/10
  73.   too late 05:13  |  Habib 07/02/10
  74.   US senator..lolololol .. israel spy.... 05:21  |  jc 07/02/10
  75.   Lieberman is not really American 05:35  |  Jorge 07/02/10
  76.   Senator from Aetna - Almost President 05:45  |  Mark of Lewiston 07/02/10
  77.   Biggest jerk in the US Senate 05:46  |  ghostoflutherblisset 07/02/10
  78.   Zionists coming out of the woodwork calling for war 05:47  |  NYC Guy 07/02/10
  79.   Zionists coming out of the woodwork calling for war 05:47  |  NYC Guy 07/02/10
  80.   See his last name... 05:54  |  Niva dos Santos 07/02/10
  81.   lieberman is thoroughly despised 06:02  |  jake 07/02/10
  82.   Comment for Israelis 06:20  |  Walter 07/02/10
  83.   #5 "Obsessed with Jews", SDHD? Where do you dig THAT up from? 06:29  |  WhiskeyTangoFoxtrot 07/02/10
  84.   (Kosher ) Joe Lieberman, insurance and pharmaceutical companies. 07:38  |  Maureen Ann 07/02/10
  85.   Lie--berman 07:46  |  Paul 07/02/10
  86.   This is risible ! 08:08  |  michael mazur 07/02/10
  87.   Lieberman is irrelevant 12:27  |  Roo 07/02/10
  88.   The one eyed Lieberman 12:51  |  walldizo 07/02/10
  89.   U.S. Senator Lieberman is a disgrace 16:46  |  Gordon Wagner 07/02/10
  90.   US Sen. Lieberman, sanctions or war - IRAN 17:13  |  Ricardo Kolbe 07/02/10
  91.   # 90 17:59  |  The Teacher/Instruct 07/02/10
  92.   Dance Teacher/Driving Instructor #91 Hapless! 23:31  |  Roo 07/02/10
  93.   Dance Teacher/Driving Instructor #91 Hapless! 01:51  |  Roo 08/02/10
  94.   #44 - Morris 05:08  |  Deborah 08/02/10
  95.   Dance Teacher/Driving Instructor #91 Hapless! 09:44  |  Roo 08/02/10
  96.   Roo`s follies 12:38  |  The Teacher/Instruct 08/02/10
  97.   Wow. 3 Xs Rooo 2nd atmt 14:19  |  The Teacher/Instruct 08/02/10
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