• Military

• WMD Menu                           

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Clinton: Iranian Opportunity for Engagement Limited

By VOA News
15 July 2009

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says the United States remains ready to engage with Iran, but warns that the opportunity will "not remain open indefinitely."

In a speech delivered Wednesday in Washington, Clinton says the time for Iran to act is now.

She says the United States watched the energy of Iran's election with "great admiration," but was "appalled" by the government's violent crackdown against demonstrators protesting President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's disputed re-election.

She says the government tried to hide its actions by arresting foreign nationals, expelling journalists and cutting off access to technology. She describes those actions as "deplorable and unacceptable."

Clinton says the past U.S. refusal to deal with Iran has not succeeded in stopping Tehran's pursuit of a nuclear weapon, reducing Iranian support for terror, or improving Iran's treatment of its citizens. She says Iran can become a "constructive actor" in the region if it stops threatening its neighbors and supporting terrorism.

She said the United States has no illusions that direct dialogue with Iran will guarantee success.

On the Middle East, she said the Obama administration is deeply committed to peace efforts between the Israelis and the Palestinians. She said the United States expects the entire region to assist in the efforts and make clear that they would truly support a two-state solution. She said she has been "heartened" by developments in past months.

Also, she said success for Afghanistan depends on close cooperation with Pakistan.

In the speech delivered at the Council on Foreign Relations, the top U.S. diplomat says America's security and prosperity are being affected by a number of foreign policy issues, including the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, the global recession, climate change, and the threat of extremism and nuclear proliferation.

She says America's willingness to engage in diplomacy is not a sign of weakness. She warns the United States will not hesitate to defend itself and and its allies when necessary - which she says is not a threat, but a promise to the American people.