Bush threatens Iran with new sanctions despite confirming peaceful nature of its nuclear program

www.chinaview.cn 2008-06-10 23:44:33

·Bush threatened on Tuesday to seek more sanctions against Iran for its nuclear program. ·Bush: "We're going to continue to isolate you, we'll continue to work on sanctions." ·"Iran with nuclear weapons will be incredibly dangerous for world peace," Bush warned.

    BRDO, Slovenia, June 10 (Xinhua) --

U.S. President George W. Bush threatened on Tuesday to seek more sanctions against Iran for its nuclear program.

    "A group of countries can send a clear message to the Iranians," Bush said, referring to a new proposal from Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States.

    "And that is: we're going to continue to isolate you, we'll continue to work on sanctions, we'll find new sanctions if need be if you continue to deny the just demands of a free world, which is to give up your enrichment program," Bush told a press conference after a summit meeting with European Union (EU) leaders.

    "Iran with nuclear weapons will be incredibly dangerous for world peace," he warned.

    The new proposal will be presented soon to Iran by EU foreign and security policy chief Javier Solana.

    Bush said Solana's message is that there is a better way forward for Iran than the current way that has led to isolation.

    "It's their (Iran's) choice to make. They can either face isolation, or they can have better relations with all of us," Bush said.

    He said Iran must verifiably suspend uranium enrichment, a process that can produce materials for both nuclear energy and nuclear weapons.

    Bush said Iran "can't be trusted with enrichment" as it had ignored the UN nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency.

    The United States and the EU claim that Iran intends to produce nuclear weapons while Tehran insists that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes only. The UN Security Council has passed several resolutions, imposing sanctions on Iran.

    In a declaration for the EU-U.S. summit, leaders urged Iran to suspend uranium enrichment and cooperate in the fight against terrorism.

    "We expect Iran to comply with its international obligations concerning its nuclear activities, including the full and verifiable suspension of enrichment and full cooperation with the IAEA," reads the document.

    The leaders said a "mutually satisfactory, negotiated solution" remains open to Iran, adding that they are ready to supplement current sanctions with "additional measures."

    The EU and U.S. leaders also expressed concern over Tehran's alleged support for terrorism.

    "We call upon the government of Iran to cooperate in the fight against terrorism. We reiterate our concern about Iran's regional policies, especially its continued support for terrorist organizations, and call on Iran to play a responsible and constructive role in the region," reads the declaration. 

Iran reaffirms peaceful nature of its nuclear program

www.chinaview.cn 2008-06-06 05:50:43  

·Ali Asghar Soltanieh said Iran "has no questions left unanswered to the agency." ·Soltanieh believed "if there is a political will, there will be a solution." ·However, he said Iran would not give up its uranium enrichment activity.

    VIENNA, June 5 (Xinhua) -- Iranian Ambassador to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Ali Asghar Soltanieh said Thursday on the Board of Governors in Vienna that Iran's nuclear programs were for peaceful use.

    He said Iran "has no questions left unanswered to the agency" and the agency found no evidence which could prove that Iran's unclear activities were for military use.

    Soltanieh said Iran would keep cooperating with the IAEA and believed "if there is a political will, there will be a solution."

    However, he said Iran would not give up its uranium enrichment activity.

    In response to the criticism of some western countries especially the United States about Iran's military-related nuclear research, Soltanieh pointed out that the criticism were only conjectures.

    He said Iran is a responsible country and its nuclear activities are under the framework of its laws. The nuclear activities of Iran are completely transparent, he added.

    The IAEA Board of Governors is held in Vienna from Monday to Friday. Besides the annually reports of IAEA, the Iran issue was one of the most important topics of the conference.

    Germany, France and Britain again called for Iran's cooperation with the IAEA of handing in all required information in order to clarify the nature of its nuclear activities.