Washington: Noting that it expects the
forthcoming report of the global atomic watchdog IAEA to echo
its concerns about the Iranian nuclear programme, the US on Tuesday
said while it is focused on diplomacy, it hasn't ruled out
any option.
"We certainly expect it to echo and reinforce what we've
been saying about Iran's behaviour and its failure to live up
to its international obligations. And it will, I'm sure, echo
our concern about Iran's nuclear programme," said Jay Carney,
the White House Press Secretary.
He told reporters at a news conference that because of
the leadership of President Barack Obama, the US has mobilized
the international community in a way that has never existed
before to take action to pressure Iran and to isolate Iran.
"We now have in place the most aggressive, isolating and
debilitating sanctions regime ever, and that regime has had an
impact, as the Iranian president himself recently noted, he
said.
When asked if military option is still on the table,
Carney said the Obama Administration still continues to focus
on a diplomatic channel.
"We are focused on diplomacy. We, of course, never remove
from the table any option in a situation like this," Carney
said.
He said it is because of the kind of consensus that the
US has achieved at the international level among its partners
and allies in dealing with Iran that "we're able to continue
to isolate and put pressure on Iran and to insist that Iran
get right with the world and live up to its international
obligations."
The White House, he said, is focused on working with its
international partners and allies on isolating Iran,
pressuring them and pushing it to live up to its international
obligations with regards to its nuclear programme.
He said this approach has had an effect.
"We are certainly now in a situation that did not exist
before, where, because of the dual-track approach that this
president took and this administration took, it is now clear
to the world that the United States is not the issue here; it
is Iran; it is Iranian behaviour," he said.
PTI
First Published: Tuesday, November 08, 2011, 15:26