Iran this week refused to suspend its nuclear program, setting the stage for a showdown in the United Nations over economic sanctions. Iran formally rejected an offer by the U.S., Britain, Germany, France, Russia, and China to provide economic and energy aid to Iran, in return for its willingness to suspend uranium enrichment. 'œThe Islamic Republic of Iran has made its decision and, in the issue of nuclear energy, will continue its path powerfully,' said Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's supreme religious leader.
Iran did offer to begin 'œserious' negotiations to end the nuclear stalemate. Some Western diplomats speculated that Iran might be willing to suspend nuclear activities in return for assurances that the U.S. will not try to topple its government. But the U.S. rejected the notion of negotiating with Iran while its nuclear ambitions remain unchecked, and called for tough sanctions. 'œIn order for the U.N. to be effective,' President Bush said, 'œthere have to be consequences if people thumb their nose at the U.N. Security Council.'
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
The backlash against ChatGPT's Studio Ghibli filterThe Explainer The studio's charming style has become part of a nebulous social media trend
-
Why are student loan borrowers falling behind on payments?Today's Big Question Delinquencies surge as the Trump administration upends the program
-
Not there yet: The frustrations of the pocket AIFeature Apple rushes to roll out its ‘Apple Intelligence’ features but fails to deliver on promises
-
Putin’s threat to fracture Ukrainefeature Fears that Russia was building a pretext for an invasion of eastern Ukraine grew, as pro-Kremlin protesters occupied government buildings in three cities.
-
Curbing NSA surveillance
feature The White House said it will propose a broad overhaul of the National Security Agency’s domestic surveillance program.
-
Downsizing the military
feature A new budget plan for the Pentagon would save hundreds of billions of dollars by taking the military off its post-9/11 war footing.
-
Putin ratchets up pressure on Ukraine
feature Russian President Vladimir Putin put 150,000 troops at the Ukraine border on high alert and cut off $15 billion in financial aid.
-
Ukraine on the brink of civil war
feature Ukraine’s capital was engulfed in flames and violence when hundreds of riot police launched an assault on an anti-government protest camp.
-
Ukraine at the breaking point
feature An alliance of opposition groups vowed protests would continue until President Viktor Yanukovych is removed from power.
-
Dim prospects for Syrian talks
feature A long-awaited Syrian peace conference in Montreux, Switzerland, quickly degenerated into a cross fire of bitter accusations.
-
The fight over jobless benefits
feature A bill to restore federal benefits for the long-term unemployed advanced when six Republican senators voted with Democrats.