Iran Nuclear Watch: Condoleezza Rice Calls on United Nations to Confront Iran’s Defiance

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, right, greets South African Foreign Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2006, at the U.S. Department of State in Washington.

ASSociated Press: Rice Urges U.N. to Confront Iran

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, coordinating with European allies, called on the United Nations Thursday to confront Iran’s “defiance” and demand that Tehran halt its nuclear program.

Rice, at a news conference, declined to say whether the the United States has the necessary votes in the Security Council to punish Iran. But she said, “It is very clear that everyone believes a very important threshold has been cleared.”

Rice did not spell out other possible moves against Iran. But she said she was “gravely concerned” about Tehran’s secret operations and “its dangerous defiance of the entire international community.”

“We have to look hard how a strong message is sent,” Rice said.

Earlier, Britain, France and Germany agreed the dispute should be referred to the Security Council by the
International Atomic Energy Agency.

“We are not yet ready to talk about specific measures” to take against Iran, Rice said.

Reuters: Rice says Iran must be referred to Security Council

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice joined European powers on Thursday and said Iran must be referred to the U.N. Security Council over its nuclear plans.

Rice also said the United States wanted an emergency meeting of the
International Atomic Energy Agency, or IAEA, board of governors to discuss Iran’s defiant resumption of uranium enrichment work.

“That meeting would be to report Iran’s noncompliance with its safeguards’ obligations to the U.N. Security Council,” Rice told a news conference.

Earlier, France, Germany and Britain, the three European partners negotiating with Iran, said talks with Tehran had reached an impasse and they also agreed it should be sent to the U.N. Security Council for possible sanctions.

Rice said the removal of seals demonstrated that Iran had chosen confrontation with the international community over cooperation and negotiations.

“These provocative actions by the Iranian regime have shattered the basis for negotiations,” she said.

EU3 officials are set to meet their counterparts from China, Russia and the United States in London next week to discuss how to deal with Iran’s disputed nuclear program.

Diplomatic and Military planning continues……

Stay Tuned……..

Previous:

Iran Nuclear Watch: TALKS = DEAD END

Iran Nuclear Watch: â€œHighly Probableâ€ Iran Referral to United Nations Security Council

Iran Nuclear Watch: Britain Calls for United Nations Security Council Action Against Iran

Iran Nuclear Watch: Rafsanjani – Sanctions FUTILE

Iran Nuclear Watch: Iran Removes United Nations Seals on Nuclear Facilities

Iran Nuclear Watch: Five Permanent Members of the U.N. Security Council Send Messages To Iran To Halt Nuclear Plans

Iran Nuclear Watch: Iran Ready to Remove UN Seals at Nuclear Sites

Iran Nuclear Watch: Iran Confirms Resumption of Atomic Fuel Research

Iran Nuclear Watch: Iran Will Resume Atomic Fuel Research