Mbeki-Iran meeting
Mar. 23rd, 2007 07:09 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
nairiporterhttp://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2007-03/20/content_5873389.htm
JOHANNESBURG -- Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki met with South African President Thabo Mbeki in Cape Town on Tuesday, one day before the United Nations (UN) Security Council discusses proposed sanctions against Iran, South Africa's SAPA news agency reported.
Spokespeople for the Presidency and the Foreign Ministry could not be reached immediately for comments. But SAPA said no official announcements would be made following the meeting. "It's a very low-key meeting," Mbeki's spokesman Mukoni Ratshitanga told SAPA, adding that there would be no press conference or statements after the meeting.
Mottaki apparently arrived in Cape Town on Tuesday morning. The UN Security Council, currently chaired by South Africa, is due to meet Wednesday to review a draft sanctions resolution against Iran agreed last week by the five permanent members of the Security Council -- the United States, Britain, China, France and Russia -- plus Germany.
But in a counter move, South Africa was to propose a 90-day freeze on Iran's uranium enrichment in exchange for a simultaneous suspension of UN sanctions.
South Africa's proposal will be discussed by members on Tuesday. On Wednesday the Security Council will meet to discuss the call for sanctions and South Africa's counter proposal. In December the council imposed limited sanctions against Iran for its refusal to freeze uranium enrichment. Iran responded by expanding its enrichment program.
The new sanctions will ban Iran from exporting arms, calls for voluntary trade sanctions and expands a list of officials and companies targeted for
financial and travel restrictions because of their links with Iran's nuclear program.
South African UN Ambassador Dumisani Kumalo last week said the country would scrutinize the draft resolution to ensure it led to "a political solution."
South Africa has been trying to negotiate a settlement to the nuclear crisis and has been in constant contact with the Iranians. In February, Iranian nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani visited South Africa to discuss the crisis with Mbeki.
South Africa has made it clear that it supports peaceful use of nuclear technology.
The United States has accused Iran of trying to develop nuclear weapons under the cover of its civilian nuclear programs. Iran has said that its nuclear programs are for peaceful purposes only.
