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Rice Says Iran Is Openly Defying The World

15 February 2006 -- U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said today that Iran is openly defying the international community by resuming the enrichment of uranium for nuclear fuel and warned that the United States could impose fresh, unilateral sanctions.

Speaking at a hearing of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Rice said Washington is examining the full range of possible punitive sanctions on Iran.

The United States already prohibits the purchase of Iranian oil, one of a number of restrictons it has imposed.

"No one wants to deny the Iranian people or the Iranian nation civil nuclear power," she said, but "many different options have been put before Iran. They have chosen to isolate themselves instead."

The West fears that Iran may have a covert atomic bomb program. Iran maintains that its nuclear program is solely for peaceful purposes.

Russia's foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, also called on Iran to suspend all nuclear-fuel enrichment work. But he reiterated Moscow's opposition to sanctions.

The Iranian Defense Ministry stated again on 15 February that Tehran is ready to defend itself against any threats.

Iran's determination to continue with its program was also underlined by a surprise visit paid by Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinejad to the Natanz uranium enrichment plant.

(compiled from agency reports)

Copyright (c) 2006. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. www.rferl.org