20 April 2006
Global Coalition Forming To Deal with Iran's Nuclear Program
State's Burns says diplomacy offers best prospects to thwart nuclear ambitions
Washington File Staff Writer
Washington -- A global coalition involving countries from every continent is taking form with heightened urgency to deal with Iran's nuclear activities, U.S. Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Nicholas Burns says.
"[W]e have erected a global coalition," Burns said at a press conference in Moscow April 19. “[T]hey're from every continent in the world."
The under secretary said that the Bush administration is intent on acting to deny Iran the capability for nuclear weapons.
"[I]t is absolutely not in our interest or anyone else's to have Iran with nuclear weapons. And so we're going to do what we have to do to prevent that from occurring," he said.
He said the Bush administration has taken no options off the table with regard to Iran, but is pursuing the diplomatic track, which includes the possibility of pressing for a U.N. Security Council resolution that categorically would demand Iranian compliance. (See related article.)
That type of resolution is known as a Chapter VII resolution. Burns said it does not "necessarily mean military force."
Burns held two press conferences in Moscow, one with Russian reporters, the other with Western reporters, after he held consultations with senior officials from permanent members of the Security Council and representatives of the Group of Eight (G8) countries (Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States and Russia) about Iran.
MEETINGS IN MOSCOW SUGGEST BROAD CONSENSUS ON IRAN
Commenting on Iranian claims that it has rights under the Non-Proliferation Treaty to pursue nuclear research and enrichment activities, Burns said, "What the world community is saying to Iran is, 'You gave up that right when you lied to the IAEA [International Atomic Energy Agency] for 18 and a half years.'"
Burns said the recent Iranian declaration that it is enriching nuclear fuel has created "a greater sense of urgency" in the international community to oppose Iran's nuclear ambitions. He said nearly all the countries involved in the Moscow consultations agreed on the need for some sort of sanctions to be applied to Iran.
"Nearly every country is considering some form of sanctions; and this is a new development," Burns said. He said the challenge for the international community is to agree on a "common tactical approach" at the Security Council.
The next expected event in the Iran nuclear controversy is a report from IAEA Director-General Mohammed ElBaradei April 28 when ElBaradei will "have to conclude that Iran is not in compliance with either the IAEA or the U.N. Security Council documents," Burns said. In early May, the United States will press for further U.N. action against Iran, he said.
UNITED STATES ENCOURAGES INDIVIDUAL NATIONS TO ACT
He said the United States would like to see individual countries, in addition to the United Nations, impose sanctions against Iran. He called for halting the flow of all dual-use technology to Iran that could be used in its nuclear industry, stopping all foreign assistance to the Iranian nuclear industry and cutting off the sale of all weapons to Iran.
Specifically, Burns repeated the U.S. request that Russia cancel its potential sale of Tor-1 missiles to Iran. He said the United States continues to support Russia's proposal to provide enriched nuclear fuel to Iran, an offer that would allow Iran to develop civilian nuclear power while keeping the nuclear fuel enrichment cycle outside of Iran.
"[T]hat is the best way forward and it's a shame that Iran has walked away from that proposal and continues to walk away from it," Burns said.
He said some countries have suggested other sanctions against Iran, such as denying the ability of Iranian government officials to travel overseas or maintain bank accounts and other financial assets abroad.
The under secretary said Iran will be the top item on the political agenda when the G8 convenes its annual summit, which, this year, takes place in Russia in late June. He said several countries, including the United States, say that world attention is needed on Iran for reasons in addition to its nuclear ambitions.
"Iran is the central banker of Middle East terrorism, and Iran is the leading supporter and director of the activities of Hizbollah and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad," he said. "And a number of countries spoke about the relatively new, very aggressive Iranian flexing of its muscles in the Middle East region in general,” he added, referring to recent statements of President Ahmadi-Nejad.
For more information on U.S. policy, see Arms Control and Non-Proliferation.
(The Washington File is a product of the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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