I-A-E-A Warns Iran

Voice Of America:

30 September 2005

The International Atomic Energy Agency, or I-A-E-A, has adopted a resolution accusing Iran of breaching the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and threatening to refer Iran's case to the United Nations Security Council. The resolution said that in order to avoid referral to the U.N. Security Council, Iran must give I-A-E-A experts access to nuclear-related documents and sites, suspend all uranium enrichment and reprocessing activities, and ratify an inspection agreement with the I-A-E-A.

White House spokesman Scott McClellan said that the I-A-E-A resolution put Iran on notice that "it is time to come clean":

"Iran for two decades has hid their nuclear activities from the international community and failed to comply with their international obligations. They need to abide by their international obligations, and they need to abide by their agreements with the Europeans. We continue to support the diplomatic efforts of the Europeans to resolve this matter. But you saw at the International Atomic Energy Agency that there is a growing majority of nations that recognize Iran's noncompliance must be addressed. And if they continue to fail to comply with their international obligations, then the matter is going to the United Nations Security Council."

U.S. State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said the I-A-E-A resolution warning Iran was only a first step:

"Nobody wants to see Iran obtain nuclear weapons, especially not under the cover of a civilian nuclear program. Nobody wants... Iran to have access to sensitive nuclear fuel cycle technology as well as know-how. That is the goal...we're trying to achieve here. The process is not an end to itself; the process is merely a way to get to that goal."

Mr. McCormack said it is time for the Iranian government to understand that it is increasingly isolated on the issue of its nuclear ambitions.

The preceding was an editorial reflecting the views of the United States Government.