Washington: The United States, joined by
Britain, on Monday asked Iran to convey its nuclear fuel swap deal
with Turkey to International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) for
this to be considered by the international community.
At the same time, the United States remained
suspicious of Iran`s real intention and said that it still
intends to pursue its nuclear weapons programme.
"We acknowledge the efforts that have been made by
Turkey and Brazil. The proposal announced in Tehran must now
be conveyed clearly and authoritatively to the IAEA before it
can be considered by the international community," White House
Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said in a statement.
The White House said given Iran`s repeated failure to
live up to its own commitments, and the need to address
fundamental issues related to Iran`s nuclear program, the US
and international community continue to have serious concerns.
"While it would be a positive step for Iran to
transfer low-enriched uranium off of its soil as it agreed to
do last October, Iran said today that it would continue its 20
per cent enrichment, which is a direct violation of UN
Security Council resolutions and which the Iranian government
originally justified by pointing to the need for fuel for the
Tehran Research Reactor," Gibbs said.
Furthermore, the Joint Declaration issued in Tehran
is vague about Iran`s willingness to meet with the P5+1
countries to address international concerns about its nuclear
program, as it also agreed to do last October, Gibbs observed.
As such the US will continue to work with its
international partners, and through the UN Security Council,
to make it clear to the Iranian government that it must
demonstrate through deeds - and not simply words - its
willingness to live up to international obligations or face
consequences, including sanctions, he said.
"Iran must take the steps necessary to assure the
international community that its nuclear programme is intended
exclusively for peaceful purposes, including by complying with
UN Security Council resolutions and cooperating fully with the
IAEA," Gibbs said.
"We remain committed to a diplomatic solution to the
Iranian nuclear programme, as part of the P5+1 dual track
approach, and will be consulting closely with our partners on
these developments going forward," he said.
Earlier, the British Government in a statement said
Iran should immediately convey to the IAEA its new deal on
fuel swapping.
"Iran`s actions remain a serious cause for concern in
particular its refusal to meet for discussions of its nuclear
program, or cooperate fully with the IAEA, and its decision to
start enriching Low Enriched Uranium to 20 per cent," said
Foreign Minister Alistair Burt MP.
"Foreign Minister Mottaki told UN Security Council
Ambassadors last week that this enrichment would continue
regardless of any deal to resupply the Tehran Research
Reactor. There is no apparent civilian use for this material
and it underlines Iran`s disregard for efforts to engage it in
serious negotiation," he said.
"Iran has an obligation to assure the international
community of its peaceful intentions. The IAEA has said it is
unable to verify this. That is why we have been working with
our P5+1 partners on a sanctions resolution in the Security
Council. Until Iran takes concrete actions to meet those
obligations, that work must continue," Burt said.
PTI
