White House skeptical of Iran nuclear deal
- 05/17/10 03:45 PM ET
White House press secretary Robert Gibbs on Monday said the U.S. continues to have "serious concerns" about Iran's nuclear ambitions despite the fact it agreed to store some nuclear materials abroad.
At the White House daily briefing, Gibbs said the administration remains skeptical of a deal and will continue to push for sanctions.
Turkey, Brazil and Iran made a deal Monday that would require Iran to store some of its uranium supply in other countries in exchange for approval of its nuclear program, which Western countries say is designed to make weapons.
"Given Iran’s repeated failure to live up to its own commitments, and the need to address fundamental issues related to Iran’s nuclear program, the United States and international community continue to have serious concerns," Gibbs said in a statement released before he spoke at the briefing.
Gibbs noted that the new deal does not go as far as the one Iran agreed to but eventually balked on last October.
"The words and the deeds of the Iranian leadership rarely coincide," Gibbs said. He also made it clear that the administration does not view the new development as any reason to delay a Security Council sanctions regime.
"Not to get cute on when Spring starts, but I think we are making steady progress on a sanctions resolution," Gibbs said.
The deal is seen as a last effort to avoid further sanctions being imposed on Iran, which says it wants to enrich uranium for peaceful purposes.
Gibbs said it would be a "positive step for Iran to transfer low-enriched uranium off of its soil," but countered that their insistence on enriching some uranium is in violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions.
Members of Congress have pressured the Obama administration to toughen up sanctions on Iran. Western nations have said it is unacceptable for Iran to develop a nuclear weapon.
"The United States will continue to work with our international partners, and through the United Nations Security Council, to make it clear to the Iranian government that it must demonstrate through deeds – and not simply words – its willingness to live up to international obligations or face consequences, including sanctions," Gibbs said. "Iran must take the steps necessary to assure the international community that its nuclear program is intended exclusively for peaceful purposes."
This story was posted at 1:43 p.m. and updated at 3:45 p.m.
At the White House daily briefing, Gibbs said the administration remains skeptical of a deal and will continue to push for sanctions.
Turkey, Brazil and Iran made a deal Monday that would require Iran to store some of its uranium supply in other countries in exchange for approval of its nuclear program, which Western countries say is designed to make weapons.
"Given Iran’s repeated failure to live up to its own commitments, and the need to address fundamental issues related to Iran’s nuclear program, the United States and international community continue to have serious concerns," Gibbs said in a statement released before he spoke at the briefing.
Gibbs noted that the new deal does not go as far as the one Iran agreed to but eventually balked on last October.
"The words and the deeds of the Iranian leadership rarely coincide," Gibbs said. He also made it clear that the administration does not view the new development as any reason to delay a Security Council sanctions regime.
"Not to get cute on when Spring starts, but I think we are making steady progress on a sanctions resolution," Gibbs said.
The deal is seen as a last effort to avoid further sanctions being imposed on Iran, which says it wants to enrich uranium for peaceful purposes.
Gibbs said it would be a "positive step for Iran to transfer low-enriched uranium off of its soil," but countered that their insistence on enriching some uranium is in violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions.
Members of Congress have pressured the Obama administration to toughen up sanctions on Iran. Western nations have said it is unacceptable for Iran to develop a nuclear weapon.
"The United States will continue to work with our international partners, and through the United Nations Security Council, to make it clear to the Iranian government that it must demonstrate through deeds – and not simply words – its willingness to live up to international obligations or face consequences, including sanctions," Gibbs said. "Iran must take the steps necessary to assure the international community that its nuclear program is intended exclusively for peaceful purposes."
This story was posted at 1:43 p.m. and updated at 3:45 p.m.
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