Bolton: World Must Confront Iran

1 hour, 52 minutes ago

WASHINGTON - The U.S. ambassador to the United Nations on Sunday told an influential pro- Israel lobbying group there is an urgent need to confront Iran's "clear and unrelenting drive" for a nuclear weapons program.

John Bolton, speaking before a crowd of 4,500 gathered for an American Israel Public Affairs Committee conference, said that a failure by the U.N. Security Council to address Iran would "do lasting damage to the credibility of the council."

"The longer we wait to confront the threat Iran poses, the harder and more intractable it will become to solve," Bolton said.

At issue is Iran's ability to enrich uranium to the point it could be used for a nuclear weapon. Iran insists its nuclear program is peaceful and only meant to generate power. Many in the West, however, fear Iran is aiming to develop atomic weapons.

The International Atomic Energy Agency will meet in Vienna, Austria, on Monday to discuss Iran's nuclear program and its compliance with an IAEA demand that it renounce uranium enrichment. The U.N. agency's board of governors may at that time send the file to the Security Council for further action.

Iranian officials were in Moscow last week, negotiating an offer by Russia to enrich uranium for Iran to be used for energy. The spent fuel would be returned to Russia, easing fears that Iran could use it for weapons.

Bolton said the Russian proposal lets Iran "reap the benefits of civil nuclear power while addressing concerns that they are really pursuing nuclear weapons."

But he said Iran has been engaging in "doublespeak" during these negotiations by saying with one voice it welcomes discussion, but with the other "flatly refusing" to give up access to technology and material to eventually develop nuclear weapons.

Iran "must be made aware that if it continues down the path of international isolation, there will be tangible and painful consequences," Bolton said.

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