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Obama, Netanyahu Discuss Iran As IAEA Expresses Serious Nuclear Concerns

March 05, 2012

U.S. President Barack Obama has told visiting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that the United States' commitment to Israel's security is "rock solid."

At the beginning of the White House talks, which are expected to focus on Iran's nuclear program, Obama told Netanyahu "the United States will always have Israel's back."

Netanyahu in turn said that Israel must remain "master of its fate."

The United States and its ally Israel are among the countries who suspect that the Iranian program is aimed at making atomic weapons -- a charge denied by the Islamic republic.

The talks at the White House are taking place amid reports that Israel may be preparing to strike Iran with a military assault to prevent it from developing nuclear weapons.

Addressing a pro-Israel lobbying group in Washington on March 4, Obama said there was too much "loose talk of war."

But Obama also reiterated he has not ruled out possible military force if diplomatic initiatives and increasingly tough economic sanctions fail to persuade Iran to halt sensitive nuclear work.

IAEA: 'Serious Concerns' Over Iran

Yukiya Amano, the director of the UN's nuclear watchdog agency, says the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) still has "serious concerns" that Iran may be hiding secret atomic weapons work.

Amano made the statement as the 35-nation IAEA board met in Vienna on March 5 to review a report on Iran after recent visits to Iran by IAEA experts.

He said the agency was worried about the "possible military dimensions to Iran’s nuclear program."

Amano said that, since late last year, Iran has tripled its monthly output of higher-grade enriched uranium -- material that could be directed toward use in a nuclear weapon.

In a report sent to IAEA member states, Amano indicated that, after two trips to Iran in January and February by chief inspector Herman Nackaerts, "major differences" with Tehran remained.

"As Iran is not providing the necessary cooperation, including not implementing its [IAEA] Additional Protocol, the agency is unable to provide credible assurance about the absence of undeclared nuclear material and activities in Iran," he said. "And therefore [it is unable] to conclude that all nuclear material in Iran is in peaceful activities."

But Amano said the IAEA would continue to address the Iran nuclear issue "through dialogue and in a constructive spirit."

With AP, AFP, dpa, and Reuters reporting

Source: http://www.rferl.org/content/obama_netanyahu_to_ discuss_concerns_over_iranian_nuclear_program/24505258.html

Copyright (c) 2012. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.