NEW YORK -- The U.S. strategy of pressuring the Iranians into compliance on its nuclear program during the high-level U.N. General Assembly meeting in New York City has backfired.
Almost as soon as the Security Council decided to refrain from imposing any new sanctions, by just issuing a warning and some words of reconciliation, Iran's U.N. mission said in an e-mail to Newsmax that it was not interested.
The almost knee-jerk Iranian response seemed to be a public repudiation of Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, who has been in New York City all week to attend meetings at the U.N.
It was Lavrov who convinced Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to hold off on new sanctions in an attempt to open a new dialogue with Tehran.
On Saturday night, Lavrov's efforts evaporated.
In its brief reaction to the Security Council, Iran's U.N. mission said:
"The Security Council's engagement in and actions against the Islamic Republic of Iran's peaceful nuclear program, including today's resolution, lack not only fairness and objectivity, but also relevance and lawfulness."
It continued:
"What the sponsors of today's resolution need to do is attract the trust of the Iranian nation through constructive cooperation and collective commitment, rather than adding to our nations' mistrust by taking hasty and unlawful measures."
The Iranian communique ended with a warning:
"The Iranian nation will remain determined to exercise its inalienable rights for the peaceful uses of nuclear technology."
There was no reaction from the U.S. mission at the U.N. on the Iranian declaration.
The latest flare-up between Iran and the U.N. comes as the chief of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Mohamed ElBaradei, admitted he cannot "be sure" that Tehran has not been engaged in secret nuclear weapons research.
It also comes as Iran is about to power up a massive controversial civilian nuclear power station near the Persian Gulf port of Bushehr.
The 10-year, $3 billion project being built by Moscow is expected to begin its activation by December.
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