Obama: Iran must let inspectors into nuclear plant
WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama on Thursday called landmark international talks with Iran on its nuclear program “a constructive beginning” but said that Iran must match its promises of cooperation with deeds.
Now that Iran has agreed to open its newly disclosed nuclear enrichment facility to international inspectors, it “must grant unfettered access” to those inspectors within two weeks, Obama said.
“Talk is no substitute for action,” Obama said at the White House after talks ended earlier in the day in Switzerland. “Our patience is not unlimited.”
Obama said that if Iran follows through with concrete steps “there is a path to a better relationship” with the United States and the international community.
The president said that Iran’s promise during the talks to transfer some of its low-enriched uranium to another country for processing is an example of such a step. The uranium would be used in a medical-research reactor.
Thursday’s meeting at a villa in Switzerland marked the first time the United States has taken part in direct talks with Iran, although the two countries have no diplomatic relations.
The meeting took place between Iran and six world powers — the U.S., Britain, France, Russia, China and Germany.
“This is a constructive beginning but hard work lies ahead,” Obama said.
He said that as a first step, “Iran must demonstrate its commitment to transparency.”
“Earlier this month we presented clear evidence that Iran has been building a covert nuclear facility in Qom. Since Iran has now agreed to cooperate fully and immediately with the International Atomic Energy Agency, it must grant unfettered access to IAEA inspectors within two weeks,” Obama said.
The IAEA is the nuclear watchdog of the United Nations.
“Going forward, we expect to see swift action,” Obama said. Echoing a comment made earlier Thursday by Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, Obama said, “we’re not interested in talking for the sake of talking.”
If Iran fails to follow through in living up to its international obligations, “then the United States will not continue to negotiate indefinitely and we are prepared to move towards increased pressure,” the president warned.
Earlier, Clinton said the talks had opened the door to potential progress on clarifying Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
But shortly after the talks in Switzerland ended, Clinton struck a cautious tone in talking to reporters in Washington and said it remained to be seen whether the Iranians would act decisively to address concerns about their intentions.
Related News
US official says Iran does not have data to build a nuclear bombOctober 5th, 2009 WASHINGTON - US National Security Adviser Lt. Gen. James Jones has refuted a newly uncovered IAEA report that suggests Iran has the information needed to build a nuclear bomb.
UN nuclear watchdog chief sets Oct. 25 for new Iran nuclear site inspectionOctober 4th, 2009 UN watchdog sets Oct. 25 for Iran inspectionTEHRAN, Iran — The head of the U.N.'s nuclear watchdog on Sunday said inspectors would be examining Iran's recently revealed nuclear facility on Oct.
EU envoy says Iran likely to open new enrichment plant to IAEA within a few weeksOctober 1st, 2009 EU envoy: IAEA to visit nuke plant soonGENTHOD, Switzerland — A senior EU envoy says Iran has pledged to open its recently revealed uranium enrichment plant to U.N. inspectors perhaps in the next few weeks.
Obama tells Iran to cooperate on nukes or face increased pressure and isolationSeptember 26th, 2009 Obama issues ultimatum to Iran on nukesWASHINGTON — Not letting up on Iran, President Barack Obama said Saturday that the Islamic republic must take action to demonstrate its peaceful intentions after the discovery of a covert nuclear facility or it will be held accountable by the world's nations. In his weekly radio and Internet address, Obama said that evidence showing Iran building an underground plant to enrich uranium that could be used for an atomic bomb "continues a disturbing pattern of Iranian evasion" that jeopardizes global nonproliferation.
Iran's nuclear chief says Iran will allow UN agency to inspect its newly revealed nuke siteSeptember 26th, 2009 Iran to allow UN inspectors at its new nuke siteTEHRAN, Iran — Iran's nuclear chief says his country will allow the U.N. nuclear agency to inspect its newly revealed, still unfinished uranium enrichment facility.
US to demand immediate opening of Iranian nuclear site: ReportSeptember 26th, 2009 WASHINGTON - The world powers led by the US will insist in a meeting Thursday with an Iranian delegation that Tehran immediately open its newly revealed nuclear plant to international inspectors, the Washington Post reported online. The existence of the second Iranian nuclear facility was revealed Friday in an announcment by US President Barack Obama, who joined with leaders from Britain and France to accuse Tehran of concealing from UN inspectors the plant, which is believed to be intended for enriching uranium.
Iran's nuclear plant 'inconsistent' with peaceful use: ObamaSeptember 25th, 2009 PITTSBURGH - US President Barack Obama said Friday the size of a second Iranian nuclear plant revealed this week is "inconsistent" with claims that it is being used to produce civilian nuclear power. Speaking at the G20 summit and standing alongside British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and French President Nicolas Sarkozy, Obama said the "disturbing" news of the second facility demonstrates Tehran's willingness to deceive the world and violate international norms.
Obama, other leaders, to demand inspections of secret Iranian nuclear facilitySeptember 25th, 2009 Obama: Iran must open secret nuclear facilityPITTSBURGH — President Barack Obama and the leaders of France and Britain will demand Friday that Iran open to international inspectors a secret nuclear facility it has tried to hide from the world for years, a senior White House official told The Associated Press. The three leaders — Obama, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and French President Nicolas Sarkozy — will open the G-20 economic summit with their demand that Tehran allow the International Atomic Energy Agency to inspect the facility for producing nuclear fuel, officials said.
Report: Obama, other leaders, to accuse Iran of having covert nuclear fuel facilitySeptember 25th, 2009 Report: US says Iran has secret nuclear facilityWASHINGTON — President Barack Obama and the leaders of France and Britain will accuse Iran on Friday of building a secret facility to produce nuclear fuel, The New York Times reported. Senior administration officials told the Times that the three leaders would make the announcement in Pittsburgh before the opening of the G-20 economic summit.
Obama, other leaders, to accuse Iran of having covert nuclear fuel facilitySeptember 25th, 2009 Obama: Iran has secret nuclear facilityPITTSBURGH — President Barack Obama and the leaders of France and Britain will accuse Iran at the opening of the G-20 economic summit Friday of building a secret facility to produce nuclear fuel, a senior White House official told The Associated Press. The official said the three leaders — Obama, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and French President Nicolas Sarkozy — will demand that Tehran open the covert facility up to inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency.
Gordon Brown says Iran must open nuclear fuel plant to international inspectorsSeptember 25th, 2009 Brown: Iran must open nuclear plant to inspectorsPITTSBURGH — British Prime Minister Gordon Brown says the international community is shocked and angered by Iran's deception in building a secret nuclear fuel facility. Brown said Friday that the international community has no choice but to draw a line in the sand by demanding that Iran abide by United Nations resolutions and open the facility to inspections.
Iran not violating IAEA rules:AhmadinejadSeptember 25th, 2009 NEW YORK - Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad Friday denounced Western reaction to news that Tehran was building a second uranium enrichment plant and said Iran had complied with all international regulation. Ahmadinejad told reporters in New York that he was surprised by the reaction because Iran had gone beyond its obligations by informing the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) of the plant.
Iran plans test run of Bushehr nuclear plant WednesdayFebruary 24th, 2009 TEHRAN - Iran has said it will turn on its Russian-built nuclear power plant in the Persian Gulf city of Bushehr for a test run Wednesday. A test run of the Bushehr nuclear plant will be conducted Feb 25 in the presence of Russia's atomic energy corporation Rosatom head Sergei Kiriyenko and Iran's Atomic Energy Organisation (AEO) chief Gholam Reza Aghazadeh, an AEO spokesman said.
Russia committed to build Bushehr nuclear plant: IranJanuary 13th, 2009 MOSCOW - Iran is confident that Russia will fulfil its commitment of building its first nuclear power plant in Bushehr, Iran's envoy to Russia has said. 'Iran did not believe that the Russian side has deliberately delayed completion of the 1,000-MW power plant in Bushehr,' Mahmoud-Reza Sajjadi told a Russian newspaper, the IRNA news agency reported.
Russia committed to build Bushehr nuclear plant: IranJanuary 13th, 2009 MOSCOW - Iran is confident that Russia will fulfil its commitment of building its first nuclear power plant in Bushehr, Iran's envoy to Russia has said. 'Iran did not believe that the Russian side has deliberately delayed completion of the 1,000-MW power plant in Bushehr,' Mahmoud-Reza Sajjadi told a Russian newspaper, the IRNA news agency reported.
Loading ...