Washington (CNN) – The United States Friday warned Iran that it is prepared to push for significantly stronger economic sanctions on Tehran in the wake of a resolution by the IAEA censuring Iran’s nuclear program.
“We are committed to putting together a package of consequences if we don’t find a willing partner," said senior administration officials authorized to speak with reporters on the condition their names not be used. "We hope Iran takes note of that clear message.”
The board of governors of the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog agency, the IAEA, passed a resolution Friday supported by 25 nations demanding Iran stop construction of its previously secret nuclear facility at Qom, and stop uranium enrichment which can be used for producing fuel for a nuclear device.
The resolution was endorsed by the so-called “P5+1”: the United States, Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany. Until recently, Russia and China have resisted the push for imposing strong sanctions on Iran.
The officials said the resolution was “significant” because it underscores the “unity of purpose” among those countries. “There was an intensive diplomatic effort that went into this.” they said.
“It sends a strong signal of serious international concern about Iran’s continued non-compliance” with demands by the IAEA and to the UN Security Council, the officials said. “(Iran) is essentially not playing by international rules.”
The officials said the U.S. did not intend to hurt the Iranian people. Some critics of sanctions argue that stronger sanctions will only deepen the economic plight of Iranian citizens.
“Nothing that we contemplate or we would consider is aimed at causing greater harm for the Iranian people who have suffered enough as a result of repression of people’s efforts to express themselves peacefully since the elections on June 12th,” they said.
The officials would not confirm media reports that two senior U.S. officials, in China, warned Chinese officials that Israel might take unilateral action against Iran’s nuclear program. They did say, however, the United States has made clear its concern with the possible consequences of Iran’s non-compliance.
“The last thing the Middle East needs right now, with all the other challenges that face it is another source of insecurity and instability, and that is exactly where continued Iranian non-compliance is going to lead,” the said.
Despite the resolution and the tough talk, the officials repeated previous statements that the United States is "still ready to engage" with Iran, and that Tehran can reap benefits if it divulges full details of its nuclear program. Iran maintains that its nuclear development is solely intended for peaceful purposes.
From CNN Politics
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Hey Dougie, thank you for confirming my 1st post: "The stupidity that excretes from the mouths of the rightwing underbelly is just astonishing." It was only a matter of time, and if not you, it would have been one of your fux-news-worshiping bretheren. As I pointed out in another of my posts, you reality-challenged ditto-heads "are a dream-come-true for the terrorists....you are dead-weight and a destructive influence to an otherwise vibrant American country and culture." Congratulations.
Iran laughs at us , they will do what they want to.
President Carter , oops meant Obama will do nothing.
Big wus
Is this president trying to do the same thing that GWB did with Iraq?
The United States has the biggest military machine the world has ever seen. They have ships in every ocean and nuclear warheads by the thousand. Now – see it from Iran's point of view – North Korea had nuclear weapons – nothing happened. Iraq didn't have WMD's let alone a nuclear threat – the country was invaded, its leader executed and its infrastructure destroyed. Can you see why Iran might want to acquire a nuclear deterrant – especially when the USA's little lap dog Israel is next door and is nuclear armed? The United States is causing this problem with its mindless agression.
Really thats the best you got , blame everything on Bush still ... a year later ... has or has not your " Leader of Change " had a year to Change something .. anything ..stop and think has he changed one thing other then increaseing un-employment , and turning our country into a laughing stock , before at least we had the fear that we would stand up for america
After reading pages of comments it is my conclusion that people who make these comments are total idiots. Therefore, I will not make any comment on the Iran situation but leave the problem to the man and party I voted for to reach the best solution.
The people of faith believe etc. :
What a bunch of nonsense.
How long's it been... three years? Let's get in there and take these sites out. Let's not wait until Iran can launch. What would Truman have done? Let's get a little smarter.
Well, we will see.
IRAN and most of the world knows OBOZO is weak.
We'll see if OBOZO can stand strong. I've have to give him credit if he backs up his talk, but I won't be holding my breath.
I hope Iran gets the bomb, it's the best way to turn the neocon warmongers into groveling pussies.
Really? Iran moves forward in it's effort to wipe friends off the map and all you d-bags can do is whine about Obama, Bush and the rest of the American can't-do crowd? How do you people vote? Do you recognize certain symbols in their names (we call them letters in the civilized parts of the world) and pull the lever for that party? Next time they run a story on the decline of America, look in the mirror and you'll see who's fault it really is. You can't bear to stand united so you will hang separately. Idiots.
Ohhhh, I bet they are just shaking in their gestapo boots!
Oh Lordy! How much more crap do we need to deal with?
Now those morons want Cheney to run in 2012? That sounds like end of the world when he is trigger happy.
Only dumb people vote for Cheney!
Smart ones will choose a leader!
Cheney was NO leader!
He must be related to Hitler!
geez!!!!
We have done our DIPLOMACY, now it's time to get TOUGH.
Based on Iran's Rhetoric, more FORCE MUST BE APPLIED.
China and Russia should be the financial benefacto's of IRAN implosion, since everyone knows they are the ones making money on IRAN gdp. Background negotiations with the rest of the world not to be involved with giving the IRAN bozo's any weapons or money until the sanctions bring compliance.
All the rest of the world want is for IRAN NOT TO HAVE MASS DESTRUCTION WEAPONS, but be able to defend themselves.
Iranian leaders have ignored or creatively dodged the across-the-board international calls for curtailment of their nuclear arms program. Some nations, Iran and North Korea, are led by dangerously twisted people.
Liberals have consistently criticized unilateral actions by the U..S. Now they criticize an international call for tougher sanctions against a national government that refuses to grant its citizens the freedom to express their dissatisfaction.
Most liberal-minded Americans are so completely self-centered in their thinking they would let a leader like the late Saddam continue to torture and kill his own people.
They latch onto the WMD argument while ignoring the evidence of cruelty and murder under Saddam's regime.
The difference between Israel having nuclear weapons and Iran having nuclear weapons is akin to a law-abiding hunter having a gun and an untreated psychotic with a gun.
The terrorists groups and the Middle East governments that support them are cowards and murderers who hide behind innocent women and chldren.
Iran's leadership, steeped in radical Islamic thinking, are so obviously ignorant and so clearly dangerous, that it boggles the mind when people defend them.
Obama is indeed a paper tiger and his emptiness is repugnant. Americans worry so much about making their mortgage payments and so little about the poor who suffer under regimes like that in Iran.
You would stand by and do nothing despite torture, genocide and the threat of a nuclear disaster.
I am so ashamed of those in our country who cower like sheep and disguise their cowardice with lofty arguments touting half-truths.
I rarely post on the Internet, but the dribble I read at the bottom of this story prompted a rare response.
You are cowards and you are self-centered. You believe a single life is more important than a principle worth fighting for. Everybody dies. The question is do they die in front of a computer, in a health club, a bloated shopping mall, a fast-food restaurant, a bar, a half-million-dollar home, or fighting for something beyond their own self-interest.
Iran has a right to nuclear energy. They are a signatory to the nuclear non proliferation treaty. The real threat is Israel with their undeclared nuclear weapons and their crimes against humanity.
to Ralph Kramer: Silly arguments you make there in the guise of togh talk. No matter what you think the Iranian situation does not warrant, a go it alone approach from the USA!
Let's think about this, Israel has the bomb, Pakistan has the bomb, India has the bomb, North Korea has the bomb. Why shouldn't Iran have a bomb if they want one? Let them nuke the crap out of each other, keep them fighting amongst themselves then you don't have to worry about sending our men to fight them... With all this concern of "Climate Change" can anyone explain to me why we would want to assist these third world Nations in building more cars, more industry, all in propagating more global consumption and competition for natural resources? Where is there any foresight in where we are headed as global populations explode, probably doesn't fit the politically correct mold.... my vote is to give them all the bomb and let them take care of their part of the World's over population problem themselves, kind of like a big re-set button!
Barack Obama has no guts to confront Iran. Today at the international level, USA has no respect.
That's the sound you hear from Iran's leaders as more idle threats are sent their way.
[R]s are Dumbasrocks......did you use the "I know you are but what am I" arguement?
Oh no, not censure. That will fix them. Maybe Obama can dialog Ahmadinejad into submission. It has worked so well so far. After all Obama told us that Bush had it all wrong trying to isolate the despot. Turns out Bush was right and Obama is wrong. Dialog doesn't work with Ahmadinejad. It didn't work with him before and after the Iranian elections and it won't work on the nuclear issue. It only legitimizes him and makes the US come across weak. Stupid liberals, stupid Obama!
With the UN, EU and obama making noise with their plastic sabers, I am sure Iran is quaking in their boots.
Ralph K; from your post seems you want the Mid-East to become voting Democrats, Republicans, or Independent voters. After 4000 years of tribal law just how do you intend to make this accomplishment. When I was in Viet Nam a lady told me that the only way to win the war( sorry, conflict) was to load the women and children on boats and bomb the country from one end to the other, and then bomb the boats. Drastic, but she may be right.
I beg someone to please tell me when sanctions have ever worked. Waiting...........