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UN "right forum" to address Iran nuclear program: White House official
Washington, (AFP) May 14, 2006 A top White House official said Sunday that the United Nations was the "right forum" to address Iran's nuclear program and shrugged off suggestions for direct talks between Washington and Tehran. Asked on CNN's "Late Edition" whether the United States should open direct talks with Iran, National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley said Washington would prefer to continue backing European countries holding direct talks with Iran, while pursuing the issue through the UN Security Council. "We think the framework we have is even better (than direct talks)," Hadley said. "We have a number of countries that are engaged with Iran on this issue. "The forum has now shifted to a discussion in the UN Security Council, where the international community as a whole, of which the United States is a part, can make clear to Iran what it needs to do," he said. "We think that's the right forum at this time for this issue." The United States wants the council to pass a resolution based on Chapter 7 of the UN Charter placing Iran in violation of UN rules and opening the way for punitive measures. "There needs to be a Chapter 7 resolution coming out of the United Nations Security Council that makes clear what Iran needs to do, in terms of reassuring the international community that it has given up its weapons ambitions," Hadley said. "We are looking at the kinds of sanctions that might be applied if (Iran) does not make the right choice," he added. "We're also looking at the kinds of benefits that might be applied if Iran does make the right choice." The idea of Washington opening direct talks with Tehran, which it believes aims to produce nuclear weapons, arose this week after Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad sent a letter to US President George W. Bush. It was the first direct communication between the two countries' leaders since the United States broke off relations in 1980. Former secretaries of state Henry Kissinger, a Republican, and Madeleine Albright, a Democrat, both urged Bush to follow up on Ahmadinejad's letter. But the White House has resisted engaging Iran directly, saying it needs to give in to UN demands to halt its uranium enrichment program, which Tehran claims has only peaceful goals. "There have been a lot of opportunities for Iran to make the right choice, which is respond to the will of the international community and give assurances, by getting out of the enrichment business, that it's not pursuing a nuclear bomb," Hadley said. Community Email This Article Comment On This Article Related Links Learn about nuclear weapons doctrine and defense at SpaceWar.com Learn about missile defense at SpaceWar.com All about missiles at SpaceWar.com Learn about the Superpowers of the 21st Century at SpaceWar.com
Israel's Mossad Remains In Charge Of Iran Nuclear File: Report
Jerusalem, (AFP) May 13, 2006 Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has decided that Mossad, Israel's intelligence agency, will remain in charge of the Iranian nuclear file, army radio reported Saturday. With his decision, Olmert rejected an appeal by the Israeli army's military intelligence service to assume responsibility for Iran, the radio added, without giving further details. |
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