09 January 2006
White House Says Iran's Nuclear Program May Need U.N. Referral
Press secretary McClellan reacts to Iranian decision to resume nuclear research
Washington -- White House press secretary Scott McClellan said that while the Bush administration continues to support peaceful efforts to resolve the standoff over Iran’s nuclear program, the issue might need to be referred to the U.N. Security Council if Tehran continues to refuse to comply with the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).
Speaking January 9, McClellan said a “growing majority of the international community” is telling Iran that it needs to comply with its agreements and to negotiate with interlocutors such as France, Germany and the United Kingdom, (the EU-3), as well as the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) “in good faith about the way forward.”
“If those negotiations run their course and Iran does not act in good faith and does not come into compliance, then there is no other option but for the international community to look to the Security Council,” McClellan said.
According to press reports, Iran said January 9 it plans to resume nuclear research and development, ending a two-year suspension and jeopardizing negotiations over its nuclear activities with the EU-3, which shares the U.S. concern that Iran could be trying to develop nuclear weapons under the guise of a civilian program.
“Our view is that all countries should adhere to the Non-Proliferation Treaty,” McClellan said.
The issue, he said, is “a matter of trust,” adding that Iran “has shown over the course of the last couple of decades that [it] cannot be trusted” because it concealed its activities and violated international agreements.
“This is a serious matter. It's a serious concern,” he said. Referring to recent statements by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad that called for the elimination of Israel, as well as other inflammatory remarks, McClellan said the Iranian regime’s actions and comments “only further underscore why it is so important that the international community not let Iran develop a nuclear weapon.”
In criticizing the Iranian regime, the press secretary said the United States stands with “the people of Iran who want to live in greater freedom.”
“This is a regime that continues to deny the people their right to live in greater freedom, and that ignores their wishes, and pursues nuclear weapons programs, and has been a state sponsor of terrorism. I think it is a regime that is out of step with its people,” he said.
For additional information on U.S. policy, see Arms Control and Non-Proliferation and Middle East and North Africa.
(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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