United States Reaction to Iran’s Response

After Iran gave its response to 5+1 package of incentives, American newspapers and analysts reacted faster than their officials and commented on Iran’s response.

 

The common point in media comments was Iran’s non-response to halt of uranium enrichment and rejecting it as a precondition to negotiations. New York Times in its report claimed that Iran has not referred to 5+1 letter and the "freeze for freeze" issue. However, White House officials showed more patience in expressing their opinion about Iran’s response. Dana Prino, White House press secretary, told the reporters: "We’re going out to consult with our allies about what Iran’s response means."

 

Washington had sent no representative to Tehran when the incentive package was delivered. It seems that it is following the same line and doesn’t intend to enter the stage directly and talk about the content and aspects of Iran’s response to West. "We’ll just have to see how this is received by others before we make a formal response" Prino added.

 

Meanwhile, during G8 summit Bush addressed Iran’s nuclear issue saying that as North Korea’s case, the best solution over Iran’s nuclear program is to negotiate. He asked Iran to halt uranium enrichment and called it the best way in front of the Iranians. As one the 5+1 members, after receiving an undesirable answer, United States still insists on halting uranium enrichment by Iran as the precondition to continuing talks and reaching a conclusion.

 

Bush added that Iran has become more confrontational but their approach wouldn’t change. This may be the joint decision of 5+1, though Iran has accepted to negotiate with these countries. Meanwhile Bush addressed multipartite meetings as the best solution for a peaceful end to Iran’s nuclear issue.

 

Uranium enrichment is the basis of 5+1 demands that acts as the trigger for the incentives proposed by them. However, this is the main point of difference between Iran and the group and Iran has constantly rejected the demand.

 

It seems that U.S. has been successful with alarming over the development of Iran’s nuclear programs and the country has managed to win over its European allies over the threat Iran poses. The country may again insist on halt of uranium enrichment as the trust-building precondition to start negotiations.

 

Evidence for this can be observed from EU call for toughening of sanctions and pressures on Iran by the international community. With its patience United States has prioritized consultation with its allies before reacting to Iran’s answer, though it has achieved its desired goal by exerting economic pressure.