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Bad part of Korea deal: It's not Iran

The situations are too different to give hope for a similar outcome of talks with Tehran.

By ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published February 16, 2007

VIENNA - International negotiators cajoled North Korea into a nuclear disarmament deal - but with Iran refusing to even consider a temporary pause in developing uranium enrichment, what worked for Pyongyang is unlikely to help resolve the standoff with Tehran.

The North Korean agreement comes at a time of softening rhetoric from Tehran. Former President Hashemi Rafsanjani said Wednesday that his country was ready to "remove obstacles" between the United States and Iran - a possible allusion to the dispute over his country's refusal to freeze uranium enrichment, a way to develop nuclear weapons.

And U.S. and European officials recently told the Associated Press that after months of refusing to even discuss enrichment, Tehran had renewed an offer of a "limited" three-month moratorium.

The Iranians are ready to commit themselves to "dry testing" their enrichment machinery without introducing the uranium gas that can be processed into weapons-grade material, said the officials, whom the AP did not identify because the officials said the information was confidential.

But the suggestion covers no new ground. Such an overture was already rejected last year by the United States and other world powers demanding an unconditional stop to enrichment and related activities. And while chief Iranian nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani met with senior European officials last week, aides familiar with the substance of their talks told the AP he brought nothing to the table that was not already rejected at aborted talks last year.

That leaves Iran and its potential negotiating partners deadlocked - unlike in the case of North Korea, where the willingness of both sides to discuss terms for stripping Pyongyang of its nuclear weapons capability led to Tuesday's deal.

The varying threat levels represented by Pyongyang and Tehran also translate into differences in what negotiations can achieve.

North Korea said it tested its first nuclear weapon in October, but Iran is believed to be at least two years away from such capabilities. And it insists it has no interest in making such arms.

That has led Russia and China to juggle their focus on enrichment with other interests. In China's case, Iran is an important energy provider, whereas Russia is involved in multibillion-dollar economic deals with Tehran, including weapons sales and building its first nuclear reactor.

And any deal is only as good as the willingness to honor it by those signing it. With the North breaking previous agreements, time will tell whether Tuesday's pact is worth more than Iran's refusal to come to the table.

Fast Facts:

Koreas will talk

The two Koreas will hold talks this month aimed at improving relations, the first sign of easing tensions between the countries after the North signed a nuclear disarmament agreement. The Cabinet-level talks will be held in the North Korean capital, Pyongyang, starting Feb. 27.

[Last modified February 16, 2007, 01:22:00]