UNITED NATIONS: The United States has likened the threat from Iran's nuclear programs to the September 11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and other installations in the U.S.
John Bolton, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, told ABC News in its Nightline program that it is a threat and very much like September 11. “Just like Sept. 11, only with nuclear weapons this time, that's the threat. I think that is the threat,” he said.
Bolton's reactions are voiced in the background of the five veto-holding members of the U.N Security Council failing to agree on how Iran's nuclear ambitions can be effectively contained.
The two communist countries, Russia and China, have resisted the proposal by Britain, France and the United States to issue a statement on behalf of the Security Council expressing "serious concern" about the program and asking the country to comply with the requirements of the International Atomic Energy Agency. There is no mention at this stage about any sanctions.
Foreign ministry officials of the five countries along with Germany are planning to meet in New York next Monday to review the strategy. Russia had already sought such a meeting, possibly in Vienna, where the IAEA is headquartered.
The Security Council is to meet Thursday when its 15 members will discuss for a second time the draft of the statement jointly prepared by France and Britain.
According to sources, the draft statement urges Iran “to re-establish full and sustained suspension of all enrichment-related and reprocessing activities, including research and development” that the IAEA would verify, and reconsider building a heavy-water nuclear reactor in Arak, which is said to be more suitable for producing fuel for nuclear weapons than a light-water reactor.
The statement, if it is to be issued, will have to be approved by all the 15 members, whereas a resolution requires only nine votes in favor and no veto from the permanent members.
Meanwhile, the U.S. House International Relations Committee, dominated by Republicans, approved by a resounding 37-3 vote a legislation to impose severe sanctions against Iran. The committee feared that Iran will one day acquire nuclear weapons. Besides direct sanctions against Iran the committee wanted the U.S. to end economic aid to any country that helped Iran by investing in its energy sector or allowed a private entity to do so.
The administration will not support the legislation as it close avenues seeking a diplomatic solution to the problem.
Russia and China have reiterated their suggestion to find a diplomatic solution to the crisis. Russia's ambassador to China Sergei Razov said the two countries believed that it is necessary to seek political solution to the issue through diplomatic channels.
Meanwhile, an Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson, when asked whether Iran will accept a Security Council call to suspend its research activities on uranium enrichment, said "Research is our obvious right and no one can make such a demand. But obviously we are a deep-rooted nation and will wait for a few days to see what will happen."
On the threat of sanctions by the U.S., the spokesperson, Hamid-Reza Asefi, said the (previous) sanctions against Iran have led to the country's scientific progress including in the field of peaceful nuclear technology. The U.S. should take a wiser approach, he added.
