Condi Presses United Nations To Address Iranian Nuclear Program
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WASHINGTON (AP) – Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, coordinating with European allies, called on the United Nations Thursday to confront Iran’s “defiance” and demand that Tehran halt its nuclear program.
Rice, at a news conference, declined to say whether the the United States has the necessary votes in the Security Council to punish Iran. But she said, “It is very clear that everyone believes a very important threshold has been cleared.”
Rice did not spell out other possible moves against Iran. But she said she was “gravely concerned” about Tehran’s secret operations and “its dangerous defiance of the entire international community.”
“We have to look hard at how a strong message is sent,” Rice said.
Earlier, Britain, France and Germany agreed the dispute should be referred to the Security Council by the International Atomic Energy Agency.
“We are not yet ready to talk about specific measures” to take against Iran, Rice said.
She said she hoped Iran would take note of the unity around the world and act on the program. Rice cited Russia’s unhappiness with Tehran as an example.
At a minimum, the Bush administration wants Iran to resume negotiations with the European Union.
Undersecretary of State Nicholas Burns plans to go to Britain, France and Germany next week to coordinate strategy. Burns also will hold talks in India, said a senior U.S. official who spoke on condition of anonymity because the State Department was not ready to issue a formal statement.
The Security Council could try to punish Iran with economic or political sanctions on the grounds it is proceeding secretly to develop nuclear weapons. The immediate objective is to force a resumption of the negotiations.
Iran’s president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, has vowed to press ahead with a nuclear program that Iran says is designed to produce civilian energy.
“Unfortunately, a group of bullies allows itself to deprive nations of their legal and natural rights,” he said Wednesday. “I tell those superpowers that, with strength and prudence, Iran will pave the way to achieving peaceful nuclear energy.”
While Burns and Joseph will be consulting in Europe, the European Union’s foreign minister, Javier Solana, plans to be in Washington to coordinate with Bush administration officials.
