Iran May Face Increased Sanctions Over Their Nuclear Power Program

The worlds major powers were set to meet on Wednesday to discuss possible tougher UN sanctions against Iran over their nuclear power program.

The western world thinks the Iranian uranium enrichment program is not really a program designed to bring more energy to the people of Iran. Instead, these leaders of the western world feel this program is just a disguise for an Iranian program to build nuclear weapons.

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice issued a statement on Tuesday saying President George W. Bush has not ruled out a possible military option against Iran because of their uranium enrichment program. But, the President has left on the table a commitment to finding a diplomatic solution to the standoff with Iran over their nuclear program.

Iran issued a statement early on Wednesday saying they are not going to give up on their nuclear program because this program is going to supply much need electricity to the Iranian people. Iran feels their nuclear program is beneficial to their people because it will allow them to use less oil at home, and this means Iran will be able to export more oil to countries around the world.

Iran is all ready facing limited UN sanctions over their refusal to freeze work on their nuclear program. More Iranian banks may face black listing if the UN does decide to increase sanctions.

The five permanent members of the UN security council-the United States, Britain, France, Russia and China plan to send political advisers to discuss increasing sanctions against Iran during the upcoming G-8 summit meeting to be held this June in Germany. Germany has also been invited to participate in these discussions. China has indicated they will be participating by phone.

U.S. Under Secretary of State Nicholas Burns will represent the United States at the talks where delegates will discuss a recent meeting between European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana and Iranian nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani.

NOT BACKING DOWN

Mr. Solana said his meeting with Iranian negotiator Larijani was difficult because Iran has no intention of backing down from their nuclear power program.

An unnamed official from one of the G-8 countries said a current draft statement on nuclear non-proliferation is awaiting approval from members of the G8 group of leading industrialized nations. This drafted statement currently calls for more pressure to be put on Iran if Iran continues to remain defiant about halting their uranium enrichment program.

This unnamed official went on to say this statement will say the G-8 countries will support further sanctions against Iran if Iran does not comply with their obligations.

The G-8 countries include United States, Russia, Britain, France, Italy, Canada and Japan. Germany is serving as the current president of the G-8 countries.

Several diplomats said the major power countries are satisfied with the way current sanctions against Iran are working. These diplomats also feel Iran is starting to worry about the economic pressures being put on their country.

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said in a statement on Wednesday that Iran was not worried at all about the impacts the current sanctions are having on Iran. In an interview with the Financial Times, Araghchi said there are currently two options available to Iran and the Western World--confrontation and cooperation. Agaghchi said that if the Western World prefers confrontation, then lets get together and have at it.

So far, there has been three UN resolutions dealing with the Iranian nuclear program. Two of these resolutions have dealt with sanctions against Iran, but these resolutions have only led to Iran picking up the pace of their peaceful activities. Iran has also become less cooperative when it comes to having contact with the International Atomic Energy Agency.

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