U.S. warns of “punitive” actions against Iran in nuclear row
Washington, 6 August (IranVNC)—The U.S. and its allies will have to take more “punitive” measures against Iran after it failed to provide a positive response to a freeze-for-freeze offer by major powers, the White House said today.
By: IranVNC
Published: Wednesday, August 06, 2008
13:00GMT—9:00AM/EST
U.S. – IRAN – NUCLEAR
Washington, 6 August (IranVNC)—The U.S. and its allies will have to take more “punitive” measures against Iran after it failed to provide a positive response to a freeze-for-freeze offer by major powers, the White House said today.
“In the absence of a positive response to the generous offer that we provided for in our extended package, we think that the allies will have no choice but to take further measures that would be punitive,” White House spokesperson Dana Perino said.
Speaking aboard Air Force One, Perino added that the six powers – the U.S., Britain, France, Russia, China and Germany – would hold a conference call this morning to discuss the “next steps”.
“I think that the Iranians have long stalled on responding to the allies, so I think the most important thing we can do is let the political directors have their conference call and decide on their next steps before I get in front of them,” she said.
Iran yesterday delivered a one-page letter to EU foreign policy chief, Javier Solana. It contained no response to the sextet’s offer, but said it would give one “at the earliest possibility”.
On the letter, Perino told reporters: “We don’t have the decent and responsive statement from the Iranians.”
Spokesperson for France’s Foreign Ministry, Romain Nadal, today also expressed disappointment at Iran’s letter, saying: “The purely procedural document that we have seen does not provide the response that was hoped-for to the meeting of July 19 in Geneva,” AFP reports.
An excerpt from Iran’s letter, which has been obtained by the media, read: “Iran is ready to provide a ‘clear response’ to your proposal at the earliest possibility, while simultaneously expecting to receive your ‘clear response’ to our questions and ambiguities as well.”
The six powers have asked Iran to suspend its nuclear activities in exchange for a pledge from the powers not to impose any new sanctions through the United Nations Security Council.
The Security Council has passed three resolutions since 2006 imposing sanctions against Iran for its defiance of international demands that it halt its sensitive nuclear work, which the West suspects is aimed at building a nuclear weapon.
Tehran has denied the charge, saying its nuclear activities are aimed solely at generating peaceful nuclear energy.
Sources: White House website, Agence France-Presse
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