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NUKEWARS
Netanyahu warns Chinese foreign minister against nuclear Iran
by Staff Writers
Jerusalem (AFP) Dec 18, 2013


Top Republican: Senate leader coddling Iran for Obama
Washington (AFP) Dec 18, 2013 - The Senate's Democratic leadership is shielding US President Barack Obama from potentially embarrassing fallout by refusing to vote on new sanctions against Iran, the chamber's top Republican warned Wednesday.

Lawmakers from both parties are keen to expand economic penalties on Iran, which is in the midst of negotiations with world powers over its nuclear program.

One bipartisan proposal that Obama opposes would trigger new sanctions if last month's interim deal rolling back parts of Iran's nuclear program does not lead to a full-fledged agreement in six months.

Top Republican Senator Mitch McConnell lambasted Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid for ramming through a defense spending bill with no opportunity to add amendments, a move that avoids debate on Iran sanctions while the sensitive nuclear negotiations are ongoing.

Reid "won't allow a robust amendment process because he can't stomach a vote on Iran sanctions," McConnell said on the Senate floor.

"He knows the administration would lose that vote decisively, and he knows that many members of his own caucus would vote alongside Republicans to strengthen those sanctions," McConnell added.

"So rather than allow a democratic vote that might embarrass the administration, the majority leader simply won't permit that vote to happen."

McConnell essentially accused Obama and his top allies in the Senate of seeking to diminish Congress's role in determining national security policy on critical issues like Iran and the ongoing civil war in Syria.

Secretary of State John Kerry has made numerous trips to Capitol Hill urging lawmakers to hold fire on sanctions in order to give negotiations a chance.

The effort appears to have worked, with leaders of the Senate Banking Committee, tasked with compiling new sanctions legislation, announcing last week they would not introduce such a bill in the near future.

Asked if he would move to introduce sanctions in January, Reid said "no," but then qualified his answer.

"Well, let's wait and see. We have a lot to do in January," Reid said Tuesday.

"We'll see what Secretary Kerry comes up with for progress on the deliberations during that period of time."

In a bid to stand tough, the administration expanded its sanctions blacklist against Tehran last week, triggering a walkout by Iranians in the midst of four days of talks in Vienna.

Negotiations were set to resume Thursday in Geneva.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated on Wednesday that Iran must not have the "capability" to develop nuclear arms, during a meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.

"For the peace of the world, for the peace of the coming years and decades, Iran must be denied the capability - I stress the word - the capability to develop nuclear weapons," Netanyahu said in televised remarks distributed by his office ahead of the meeting.

Talks between Iran and world powers over implementing last month's nuclear deal are set to resume in Geneva on Thursday.

China is one of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council which, along with Germany, negotiated the November 24 accord.

Under the deal, Iran agreed to roll back parts of its nuclear programme for six months in exchange for modest sanctions relief and a promise not to impose new sanctions.

Israel and many in the international community suspect Tehran of using its civilian nuclear programme as a cover for developing a bomb, which Iran strongly denies.

And Israel, the region's sole if undeclared nuclear power, has refused to rule out military action to prevent Iran from achieving that end.

Iran "must fully comply with UN Security Council resolutions," Netanyahu said.

"I think that this is something that the international community in its entirety must stand firm on."

Yi noted his visit was bent on "furthering friendship between the two countries" and strengthening economic ties, in remarks translated by Netanyahu's office.

Official Israeli figures put annual trade between the countries at nearly $8 billion (5.8 billion euros).

"I have also come for peace," Yi said.

"I hope Israel and Palestine will take advantage of this historic opportunity" of ongoing talks to enable "true peace between Israel and Palestine, and to lay the foundations for comprehensive peace and stability in the Middle East."

Israeli and the Palestinians relaunched direct peace talks in July, with US Secretary of State saying he was "encouraged" by process being made.

Earlier in the day, Yi met with Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas in Ramallah, official news agency Wafa said.

Yi said the Palestinian territory was the first stop on his Middle East tour, which was a message of "China's support for the Palestinian cause and rights," Wafa said.

He also "urged taking advantage of efforts by the US Secretary of State John Kerry to make the negotiations" with Israel successful.

On Thursday, the Chinese minister will meet his Israeli counterpart, Avigdor Lieberman, and President Shimon Peres, as well as visit the Yad Vashem holocaust memorial.

Both Netanyahu and Abbas visited China in May.

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