U.S. to Join Europe in Strategy With Iran


WASHINGTON - In a policy shift, the Bush administration will go along with European efforts to stop Iran (news - web sites) from building a nuclear weapon by using diplomatic carrots now, with the threat of U.N. sticks later.






President Bush (news - web sites) agreed to offer modest economic incentives to Iran in exchange for Tehran's abandoning its nuclear enrichment program, two senior administration officials said Thursday.


The three European countries leading diplomatic talks with Iran were expected to announce their side of the deal first on Friday, followed later in the day by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice (news - web sites)'s announcement of the U.S. decisions.


As recommended by the European leaders who have been negotiating with Iran, the incentives include possible membership for Iran in the World Trade Organization (news - web sites) and the sale of commercial aircraft parts to Tehran.


In exchange for offering incentives, the United States obtained a firm agreement from Britain, France and Germany to refer the matter to the U.N. Security Council for sanctions if Iran does not permanently drop its nuclear program, said the two officials. They spoke on condition of anonymity.


The United States agreed not to oppose talks on WTO membership for Iran — a process that normally takes years — and to permit the aircraft part sales, they said. The part sales would be considered on a case-by-case basis, one official said.


The European countries wanted U.S. support on the theory that a united front was most likely to persuade Iran to comply. So long as the United States remained apart, Iran would delay meaningful steps to end its nuclear program, the Europeans argued.


They also argued that the United States risked looking like the odd man out if the Europeans did win a nonproliferation deal. The Europeans urged the United States to join the talks, but the Bush administration wanted to remain at arm's length from Iran.


Iran and the United States have not had diplomatic relations since 1979, when Iranian militants occupied the U.S. Embassy in Tehran and held its staff hostage.


The administration has opposed any reward for Iranian activities the administration views as a violation of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. The treaty bars Iran from enriching spent nuclear fuel to make it suitable for nuclear weapons.


Until now, Bush, who also objects to Iran's support of militant anti-Israeli groups like Hezbollah, has focused instead entirely on the possibility of U.N. sanctions against Iran.


Rice drew a hard line on Iran during her meetings last month with representatives of all three Europeans nations, despite a direct public appeal for her support from French Foreign Minister Michel Barnier.


Rice made it clear that U.S. patience was wearing thin on Iran and that Bush expected the Europeans to produce results or move for U.N. Security Council action.


The matter came up repeatedly when Bush went to Europe later in February, and he began to show greater willingness to look at backing the European approach.


"The president was very much in a listening mode," White House press secretary Scott McClellan said when Bush returned to Washington.


Iran insists its uranium enrichment program is strictly designed to produce electrical power, not weapons. Tehran has refused to permanently give up its program, but has agreed to temporarily suspend enrichment-related activities as part of the talks with the Europeans.


Referral to the Security Council could result in economic sanctions or even tougher action against Iran.