Iran to Respond... Exactly When They Said They Would

NYT; Headline: Iran to Respond to Proposal in a Month (July 20, 2006)

Here's what really happened:

May 9: The UN Security Council (and Germany) agrees on a package of 'sticks & carrots' concerning Iran's nuclear program, though it is non-binding so it's essentially just carrots. That day, an Iranian newpaper ran a column containing the following: "The Research Centre of the Majlis (Iranian legislature) warned against disguised operations of the staff of German embassy in Tehran." Their political research office announced: "The undercover officers of the embassy of Germany in Iran can give the American forces primary and comparatively accurate information on Iran's situation." The article went on to belittle Angela Merkel's government and their lack of influence because Germany is not a permanent member of the Security Council, though Japan, India, Germany, Brazil, Australia, and even South Africa could be part of UN reform. Germany has been helpful talking to the Chinese and Russians, so I believe their influence is needed.

June 11: Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Hamid Reza Asefi said, "We should study the package offered. There are points which are acceptable. There are points which are ambiguous and there are points that we believe should not exist."

June 21: Mahmoud Ahmadinejad says Iran will respond in mid-August to the incentives package.

July 11; Ali Larijani told EU envoy Javier Solana that Tehran was in no hurry to respond and would not give an answer until late August.

July 12: AP reports "World powers agreed ... to send Iran back to the United Nations Security Council for possible punishment, saying the clerical regime has given no sign it means to negotiate seriously over its disputed nuclear program."

July 16: Hamid Reza Asefi is quoted by AP saying, "We consider this package an appropriate basis, an acceptable basis (for talks). Now is an appropriate opportunity for Iran and Europe to enter detailed negotiations," he said. "Sending the dossier to the U.N. Security Council means blocking and rejecting talks." They also quote a Russian International Affairs Committee Chairman (from their lower house of parliament), Konstantin Kosachev, saying "On the one hand we must hail any readiness by Tehran at least to discuss the proposals of the six nations. Unfortunately, we have already witnessed such signals in the past, which then were not followed up." He also said, "Iran is playing with fire."

Today: The Russian UN Ambassador Vitaly Churkin said, "We are not in a rush at all. We do not want to ambush Iran in any way." Then Iran set August 22 as the date they will respond. After all that, remember foreign diplomacy is a measured, fluid process which can move at pace considered unacceptable. Get with it NYT.