Thursday, February 22, 2007

US disappointed in Iran failure to stop uranium enrichment

The United States voiced disappointment Thursday after an eagerly awaited UN watchdog report concluded that Iran has not bowed to international demands to suspend uranium enrichment.

"We have recently received the report. We are disappointed that Iran has not complied with resolution 1737," said White House national security spokesman Gordon Johndroe.

"Iran has not suspended its enrichment related activities," the International Atomic Energy Agency said in a report being filed in Vienna to the IAEA's 35-nation board of governors and the UN Security Council.

State Department deputy spokesman Tom Casey said "obviously we will want to study that document. ... But I think it's obvious to everyone that Iran has not complied with the requirements of the UN Security Council, simply based on the fact that no one has any information indicating that they have suspended their uranium enrichment activities."

"As the secretary (Condoleezza Rice) said the other day, that is going to leave us in a position of looking at next steps in the council on how to proceed," Casey added.

"The resolution said that in the light of this report the council would consider other measures if Iran was found not to be in compliance. And unfortunately that is the path I think we find ourselves on."

"It's a missed opportunity for the Iranian government and a missed opportunity for the Iranian people," Casey noted.

AFP

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