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BBC MUNDO RADIO
Wednesday, 09 November 2011
France wants to bring together members of the
U.N. Security Council after the IAEA report on Iran revealed a nuclear
threat that could encourage further sanctions. (File photo)
France wants to bring together members of the U.N. Security
Council in light of the International Atomic Energy Agency report which
claimed that Iran has worked to develop an atomic bomb design.
“Convening of the U.N. Security Council is called for,” Foreign Minister Alain Juppe told RFI radio, adding that pressure needed to be ramped up on Iran and that France was willing to go further with sanctions.
“We cannot accept this situation which is a threat,” said Juppe, adding that France was ready to toughen sanctions, Reuters reported.
Iran will continue its peaceful nuclear activities
“Convening of the U.N. Security Council is called for,” Foreign Minister Alain Juppe told RFI radio, adding that pressure needed to be ramped up on Iran and that France was willing to go further with sanctions.
“We cannot accept this situation which is a threat,” said Juppe, adding that France was ready to toughen sanctions, Reuters reported.
IAEA report on Iran released on Nov. 8, 2011.
“We need hard sanctions that prevent
Iran from continuing to obtain resources that allow it to pursue its
activities in violation of all international rules,” said Juppe.
The European Union also said on Tuesday that the IAEA report seriously raises concern over Iran nuclear drive.
The report from the U.N. nuclear watchdog cited what it called credible information from member states and elsewhere.
It included a series of activities applicable to developing nuclear weapons, such as high explosives testing and development of an atomic bomb trigger, AFP reported.
Although it stopped short of bluntly accusing Iran of trying to make nuclear weapons, it said it appeared activities had been carried out that included computer modeling of a nuclear warhead, explosives tests, and studying how to arm a medium-range missile with an atomic warhead.
But calling the report “a real source of worry,” Defense Minister Gerard Lonquet reiterated the need for tougher sanctions.
He told Canal+ television it was necessary to convince China and Russia, which are likely to oppose a fifth Security Council sanctions resolution against Iran, AFP reported.
The European Union also said on Tuesday that the IAEA report seriously raises concern over Iran nuclear drive.
The report from the U.N. nuclear watchdog cited what it called credible information from member states and elsewhere.
It included a series of activities applicable to developing nuclear weapons, such as high explosives testing and development of an atomic bomb trigger, AFP reported.
Although it stopped short of bluntly accusing Iran of trying to make nuclear weapons, it said it appeared activities had been carried out that included computer modeling of a nuclear warhead, explosives tests, and studying how to arm a medium-range missile with an atomic warhead.
But calling the report “a real source of worry,” Defense Minister Gerard Lonquet reiterated the need for tougher sanctions.
He told Canal+ television it was necessary to convince China and Russia, which are likely to oppose a fifth Security Council sanctions resolution against Iran, AFP reported.
“We need hard sanctions that
prevent Iran from continuing to obtain resources that allow it to pursue
its activities in violation of all international rules,” said Juppe.
The report from the U.N. nuclear watchdog − citing what it called credible information from member states and elsewhere − listed a series of activities applicable to developing nuclear weapons, such as high explosives testing and development of an atomic bomb trigger.
Although it stopped short of bluntly accusing Iran of trying to make nuclear weapons, it said it appeared activities had been carried out that included computer modeling of a nuclear warhead, explosives tests, and studying how to arm a medium-range missile with an atomic warhead.
But calling the report “a real source of worry,” Defense Minister Gerard Lonquet reiterated the need for tougher sanctions.
He told Canal+ television it was necessary to convince China and Russia, which are likely to oppose a fifth Security Council sanctions resolution against Iran.
The report from the U.N. nuclear watchdog − citing what it called credible information from member states and elsewhere − listed a series of activities applicable to developing nuclear weapons, such as high explosives testing and development of an atomic bomb trigger.
Although it stopped short of bluntly accusing Iran of trying to make nuclear weapons, it said it appeared activities had been carried out that included computer modeling of a nuclear warhead, explosives tests, and studying how to arm a medium-range missile with an atomic warhead.
But calling the report “a real source of worry,” Defense Minister Gerard Lonquet reiterated the need for tougher sanctions.
He told Canal+ television it was necessary to convince China and Russia, which are likely to oppose a fifth Security Council sanctions resolution against Iran.
U.S. sanctions on Iran
In growing international
condemnation of Iran’s involvement with nuclear weaponry, the United
States also warned on Tuesday that it would ratchet up pressure and
ready new sanctions on Iran after the U.N. nuclear watchdog’s report.
The report prompted Republican hawks to demand “crippling” economic retaliation from the White House, and came as rumors of a possible Israeli military strike on Tehran also assailed the White House.
A senior U.S. official said Iran must answer concerns raised by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and said Washington would consult with partners on “additional” pressure and sanctions on the Iranian government.
“We don’t take anything off the table when we look at sanctions. We believe there is a broad spectrum of action we could take,” the official said on condition of anonymity.
“We fully anticipate ratcheting up our pressure. We also want to make sure that what we are doing is to coordinate with other countries.”
Another senior official said that the report echoed “very serious concerns” in Washington about Iran’s nuclear program.
He noted findings that Iran had carried out a “structured” program under its ministry of defense from the late 1990s to 2003 on developing a nuclear warhead.
The official also expressed concerned that while the report did not say Iran had resumed that program, there were some indications that “activities of concern” could be continuing.
But the official also noted the report left questions about the current state of the program unanswered.
“The report does not assert, doesn’t make any judgment about how advanced Iran is in their program,” the official said.
“(It) certainly doesn’t assert that Iran has mastered all the necessary technologies and we agree with that assessment.”
The report prompted Republican hawks to demand “crippling” economic retaliation from the White House, and came as rumors of a possible Israeli military strike on Tehran also assailed the White House.
A senior U.S. official said Iran must answer concerns raised by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and said Washington would consult with partners on “additional” pressure and sanctions on the Iranian government.
“We don’t take anything off the table when we look at sanctions. We believe there is a broad spectrum of action we could take,” the official said on condition of anonymity.
“We fully anticipate ratcheting up our pressure. We also want to make sure that what we are doing is to coordinate with other countries.”
Another senior official said that the report echoed “very serious concerns” in Washington about Iran’s nuclear program.
He noted findings that Iran had carried out a “structured” program under its ministry of defense from the late 1990s to 2003 on developing a nuclear warhead.
The official also expressed concerned that while the report did not say Iran had resumed that program, there were some indications that “activities of concern” could be continuing.
But the official also noted the report left questions about the current state of the program unanswered.
“The report does not assert, doesn’t make any judgment about how advanced Iran is in their program,” the official said.
“(It) certainly doesn’t assert that Iran has mastered all the necessary technologies and we agree with that assessment.”
Iran: Nuclear program is a right
Iran will continue its peaceful nuclear activities
Ali Asghar Soltanieh, Iranian envoy to IAEA
Meanwhile, the Iranian envoy to IAEA said
Wednesday his country “will never compromise its legitimate rights” in
pursuing its atomic program, despite a report strongly suggesting Tehran
was engaged in nuclear weapons development.
“As a responsible state, the Islamic republic of Iran will never compromise its legitimate rights and will continue to comply with its commitments under the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty,” Ali Asghar Soltanieh said, as cited by the official IRNA news agency.
“Iran will continue its peaceful nuclear activities. And, just as many other previous claims were proven baseless, this time also they will not bear any results,” he said.
Soltanieh stressed that Iran’s nuclear program was entirely peaceful and that Iran would continue to cooperate with the IAEA.
“The report is unbalanced and unproportionate and prepared with a political motivation and the political pressure mostly by the United States. This is a pity that this report has diverted from the normal practice,” he said in the press interview carried by Reuters.
“This report has also created (made) some people as a target of terrorists and also the installations as a target, this whole thing shows that the secretariat has totally ignored the fact that it should have done the professional work on nuclear related activities. In this text, in the appendix, you can see that there is talk about missiles or other explosives - this has nothing with the IAEA statute,” Soltanieh added.
Iran has always maintained that its nuclear program is for exclusively civilian uses, not military ones.
Its two allies on the U.N. Security Council, Russia and China, are seen by experts as likely to block any attempt by the IAEA to report Iran to the council in an effort to broaden sanctions.
“As a responsible state, the Islamic republic of Iran will never compromise its legitimate rights and will continue to comply with its commitments under the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty,” Ali Asghar Soltanieh said, as cited by the official IRNA news agency.
“Iran will continue its peaceful nuclear activities. And, just as many other previous claims were proven baseless, this time also they will not bear any results,” he said.
Soltanieh stressed that Iran’s nuclear program was entirely peaceful and that Iran would continue to cooperate with the IAEA.
“The report is unbalanced and unproportionate and prepared with a political motivation and the political pressure mostly by the United States. This is a pity that this report has diverted from the normal practice,” he said in the press interview carried by Reuters.
“This report has also created (made) some people as a target of terrorists and also the installations as a target, this whole thing shows that the secretariat has totally ignored the fact that it should have done the professional work on nuclear related activities. In this text, in the appendix, you can see that there is talk about missiles or other explosives - this has nothing with the IAEA statute,” Soltanieh added.
Iran has always maintained that its nuclear program is for exclusively civilian uses, not military ones.
Its two allies on the U.N. Security Council, Russia and China, are seen by experts as likely to block any attempt by the IAEA to report Iran to the council in an effort to broaden sanctions.
Tightlipped Israel
Israel remained tightlipped over the damning findings of the IAEA report.
“We are studying the report,” said an official in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s bureau without saying whether or not Israel would respond formally.
Israel’s military radio said Netanyahu had ordered his ministers not to comment on the matter out of concern that any statement or Israeli move would draw international criticism and would play into Iran’s hands, AFP reported.
Previously, Israel had openly warned that likelihood of a strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities was being seriously considered by Netanyahu and Defense Minister Ehud Barak.
At the weekend, President Shimon Peres had warned that the likelihood of an attack was becoming “more and more likely.”
Government officials quoted by Haaretz newspaper said that Israel was refraining from immediate comment “because it wants to evaluate the world’s response to the IAEA findings and does not want to appear to be leading the international community.”
“We are studying the report,” said an official in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s bureau without saying whether or not Israel would respond formally.
Israel’s military radio said Netanyahu had ordered his ministers not to comment on the matter out of concern that any statement or Israeli move would draw international criticism and would play into Iran’s hands, AFP reported.
Previously, Israel had openly warned that likelihood of a strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities was being seriously considered by Netanyahu and Defense Minister Ehud Barak.
At the weekend, President Shimon Peres had warned that the likelihood of an attack was becoming “more and more likely.”
Government officials quoted by Haaretz newspaper said that Israel was refraining from immediate comment “because it wants to evaluate the world’s response to the IAEA findings and does not want to appear to be leading the international community.”
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