Washington - The United States said Iran was sent a clear message by the world's nuclear watchdog earlier Friday that Tehran will face "consequences" if it does not re-engage with the international community over its nuclear activities. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna adopted a resolution censuring Iran for secretly building a new nuclear enrichment plant, which violated the UN Security Council's orders to halt its nuclear activities.
White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said the IAEA board's 25-3 vote "shows the urgent need for Iran to address the growing international deficit of confidence in its intentions."
"Our patience and that of the international community is limited, and time is running out. If Iran refuses to meet its obligations, then it will be responsible for its own growing isolation and the consequences," Gibbs said.
Those consequences, which could include a new round of sanctions against Iran, will likely be considered in the coming weeks. The US has set an end-of-year deadline for Iran to improve its cooperation.
Iran first revealed in September that it was building a second nuclear enrichment facility in Fordu, near the city of Qom, at least two years after it started construction. The IAEA said it should have been informed from the start and ordered an immediate stop to the facility's construction.
The US said an offer from major powers to swap nuclear fuel still stands, but patience was wearing thin. Iran has yet to accept the proposal, which involves it sending low-enriched uranium out of the country, in return for nuclear fuel made in Russia and France that would power a medical reactor in Tehran.
US officials signalled they were growing frustrated with Iran's lack of a clear response to the offer on the table, which they say offers Tehran an opportunity to show that its nuclear programme is designed purely for peaceful use.
"It's difficult to sustain that kind of engagement when you are not getting any kind of constructive responses to those sorts of proposals," a senior US administration official said, speaking on the condition of anonymity.
The world's major powers were "committed to putting together a package of consequences if we don't find a willing partner," the official said. He noted China and Russia offered rare backing to the IAEA resolution, the first of its kind since 2006.
"We hope Iran takes note of that clear message," the US official said.
