أوباما يقدم ايران `جاد ومفيد الحوار'
وكالة اسوشيتد برس
جيرالد هيبرت
الرئيس باراك أوباما ، ويحيط بها الرئيس الفرنسي نيكولا ساركوزي ، إلى اليسار ، ورئيس الوزراء البريطاني غوردون براون ، والمشي قبالة المنصة بعد القاء بيان مشترك حول الطموحات النووية الإيرانية ، الجمعة سبتمبر 25 ، 2009 ، في قمة مجموعة ال 20.
أوباما
في خطابه الاسبوعي الرئيس باراك أوباما يقول إن المجتمع الدولي هو أكثر المتحدة بشأن قضية ايران في المساعي النووية.
في خطابه الاسبوعي الرئيس باراك أوباما يقول ان ايران لديها خيار لجعل بشأن القضايا النووية.
في خطابه الاسبوعي ، الرئيس باراك اوباما يقول انه وغيره من قادة العالم قلقون لمعرفة من الادلة على ان ايران تقوم ببناء محطة تحت الارض لتخصيب اليورانيوم الذي يمكن استخدامه لصنع قنبلة ذرية.
في خطابه الاسبوعي ، الرئيس باراك أوباما يقول ان ايران لديها خيار لجعل عندما يتعلق الأمر عن مساعيها النووية.
الرئيس باراك أوباما هو تقدم ايران "خطيرة ، والحوار الهادف" حول برنامجها النووي المثير للجدل ، بينما حذرت طهران من عواقب وخيمة من جبهة عالمية موحدة.
"زعماء ايران أن يختار الآن -- أنها يمكن أن ترقى إلى مستوى مسؤولياتها وتحقيق التكامل مع المجتمع الدولي ، أو أنهم سيواجهون زيادة الضغط والعزلة ، وينكر الفرصة لشعبهم" ، وقال أوباما في خطابه الاذاعي وعنوان الإنترنت السبت .
أدلة على ايران بناء مصنع تحت الارض لتخصيب اليورانيوم التي يمكن استخدامها لصنع قنبلة ذرية "لا يزال وجود نمط مقلق من التهرب الايراني" الذي يعرض للخطر الانتشار النووي عالميا ، قال الرئيس مبارك.
قبل يوم الخميس المقبل لاجراء محادثات دولية في جنيف مع ايران ، وقال اوباما في العالم "هو أكثر توحدا من أي وقت مضى" بشأن هذه المسألة. تلك المفاوضات ، وقال : "الآن على اتخاذ اضاف الاستعجال".
وحث طهران على فتح موقع على المفتشين الدوليين والا واجهت العواقب. الخيار الرئيسي هو تشديد العقوبات الاقتصادية ، ولكن يوم الجمعة أوباما ومسؤولين في الادارة لم تستبعد العمل العسكري.
"جهاز عرض جاد ، حوار هادف لحل هذه القضية ما زال مفتوحا" ، وقال اوباما. واضاف "لكن يجب علينا الآن أن ايران تتعاون تعاونا تاما مع الوكالة الدولية للطاقة الذرية ، واتخاذ الإجراءات اللازمة لإثبات نواياه السلمية".
أدلة على منشأة سرية عرضت الجمعة على يد اوباما وزعماء بريطانيا وفرنسا في قمة مجموعة ال 20 الاقتصادية في بيتسبرغ. وطغت أنباء التطورات على تنظيم الأسواق المالية وخفض الدعم على الوقود الاحفوري.
بعد فترة وجيزة ، حث الرئيس الروسي ديمتري ميدفيديف ، في مؤتمره الخاص الأخبار ، وايران على التعاون ، وكذلك نائب وزير الخارجية الصينى خه يا. انه ، ومع ذلك ، لم تؤيد فرض عقوبات ضد طهران.
في مؤتمر صحفي في نيويورك ، قال الرئيس الايراني محمود أحمدي نجاد ان بلاده لم ترتكب اي خطأ وأوباما سيندم على تصرفاته.
واضاف "ما فعلناه كان قانونيا تماما ، وفقا للقانون. ابلغنا الوكالة ، سوف يأتي وكالة نلقي نظرة وإعداد تقرير وأنها شيء جديد" ، قال.
وقال احمدي نجاد للمصنع -- الذي يقول مسؤولون ايرانيون ان أفيد أن السلطات النووية كما هو مطلوب -- لن تكون جاهزة لمدة 18 شهرا. لكنه تفادى الرد على سؤال حول ما اذا كانت ايران اليورانيوم تكفي لصنع سلاح نووي.
رئيس البرنامج النووي الايراني اقترح ان مفتشي الامم المتحدة يمكن أن يسمح لزيارة الموقع. علي اكبر صالحي دعا مرفق ناقصة "شبه الصناعية مصنع لتخصيب الوقود النووي" ، لكنه لم يعط تفاصيل أخرى ، وحسب وكالة الانباء الرسمية ايرنا.
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Iran slams US nuclear 'bullying'
Iran has accused the US of "bullying" the UN's nuclear watchdog into drafting a resolution censuring Tehran over its nuclear programme.
The IAEA's 35-nation board is meeting in Vienna this week to decide how to deal with Iran's failure to fully disclose its nuclear activities.
"Libya has officially announced that it was pursuing nuclear weapons and this is a violation of the NPT, but Iran has not been pursuing nuclear weapons and [has] not violated the NPT," he said.
Iran's foreign minister warned that Tehran may end co-operation with the International Atomic Energy Agency if Europe did not resist the US.
Kamal Kharrazi also insisted Iran would resume its uranium enrichment programme after resolving its case with the IAEA.
IAEA chief Mohamed ElBaradei warned such a move could prove very damaging.
"Iran has been in breach of its (nuclear non-proliferation) obligations for many years and we need to build confidence," Mr ElBaradei said.
"I think suspension is a confidence-building measure and, as I said, Iran needs to do everything possible right now to create the confidence required."
 |  We advise the Europeans to respect their obligations and to resist American pressure  Kamal Kharrazi Iranian foreign minister |
The IAEA's draft resolution on Iran reportedly compares Iran and Libya, saying both countries got nuclear equipment "from the same foreign sources".
However, the body has praised Libya for scrapping its nuclear weapons programme.
Libya praised
The agency's board of governors passed a resolution "applauding the decision by [Libya] on 19 December 2003" to renounce its weapons of mass destruction programme.
For its part, Libya has signed an additional protocol to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) allowing snap inspections of its nuclear facilities.
Speaking to reporters after a cabinet meeting in Tehran, Mr Kharrazi said the analogy between Libya and Iran was "incorrect".
|  The inside of a gas centrifuge  |
The US has accused Iran of pursuing a clandestine programme to develop nuclear weapons and wants the matter brought before the UN Security Council, which could impose sanctions on Iran.
The BBC's Miranda Eeles in Tehran says in the draft, the US has reportedly agreed to tone down its criticism in order to win European support for a demand that Iran divulge more about its nuclear programme.
Return to production
Iran's ambassador to the IAEA, Pirooz Hosseini, said the draft was "an act of [American] bullying and putting pressure on the others".
Mr Kharrazi admonished Britain, France and Germany for backing the draft - which also praises Iran for its co-operation - after they signalled they would block a resolution in return for Iran's continued compliance with the IAEA.
"We advise the Europeans to respect their obligations and to resist American pressure, otherwise there is no reason for co-operation to continue," he told reporters.
The foreign minister said Iran intended to resume its uranium enrichment programme, which it pledged last October to suspend, "when relations with the IAEA are normalised".
BBC regional analyst Sadeq Saba says much of Iran's threatening rhetoric in defending its nuclear programme appears to be for internal consumption.
He says Tehran's more confrontational approach comes after the conservatives' victory in parliamentary elections in February altered the balance of power.
Our analyst says the conservatives know that in the eyes of ordinary Iranians, the country's nuclear programme is a source of power and pride, and they want to show that they do not bow to outside pressure.
'Unresolved' Issues
Iran nuclear issues 'unresolved' | ||
The report credited Iran with opening up its nuclear programme to inspections but said key issues were unresolved. It said the discovery of bomb-grade uranium traces and an Iranian bid to buy centrifuges were of concern. Iran's top security official, Hassan Rowhani, said the concerns were "minor points" and nothing important. Mr Rowhani said Iran had no secret nuclear activities and there were no major issues to deal with. The IAEA has been checking Iran's insistence that its atomic capability is purely for peaceful purposes. Suspicions that Tehran might be trying to build a nuclear bomb were first raised nearly two years ago. Under international pressure, Iran agreed to open its doors to UN inspectors and stop uranium enrichment and related activities. But delays have dogged the inspections process, prompting the US to claim Iran is trying to conceal the military character of its programme. Centrifuge 'subterfuge' The IAEA report was prepared in advance of a 14 June meeting of the watchdog's governors, who are expected to debate policy towards Iran. According to the IAEA, Iran has admitted to buying key components, such as magnets, for use in sophisticated centrifuges from abroad. This apparently contradicts earlier Iranian claims that parts for the special centrifuges, which speed up the enrichment of uranium, were domestically manufactured. According to the report, Iran also used a private intermediary to inquire about importing several thousand key components for the centrifuges - again casting doubt on whether the programme was for "research and development" alone. Iran said that magnets had been bought but that they were for other industrial uses. The head of the country's nuclear programme also confirmed three private companies were still producing centrifuge components. Mr Rowhani said this was because agreement had not yet been reached on compensation for suspending activities. In an interview given to the Associated Press agency before the IAEA report became public, US State Department official John R Bolton accused Iran of engaging in "denial and deception" and called for the UN Security Council to rule on the matter. 'Jury still out' The IAEA also voiced concern at the discovery of fresh traces of highly-enriched weapons-grade uranium. The uranium, enriched to 36 percent, is well beyond the levels needed for peaceful energy production. It questioned the Iranian claim that these traces were on equipment bought from abroad. However, the IAEA chief Mohamed ElBaradei warned that it was too early to jump to conclusions. "The jury is out on whether the programme has been dedicated exclusively for peaceful purposes," he said. Mr Rowhani, who has responsibility for Iran's nuclear programme, said the IAEA report contained "certain faults and certain shortcomings". "The agency has gone into questions that do not concern it," he said. "We will respond to them, but when we read the report, we see that there are only minor points and nothing important." | ||
Iran's Said About Their Nuclear
Q&A: Iran and the nuclear issue | |
Iran is defying Security Council resolutions ordering it to suspend the enrichment of uranium. On 25 September President Obama accused Iran of building a secret second uranium enrichment plant. Iran said it was a pilot plant. What is known about the second enrichment plant? President Obama said the plant was near the city of Qom. He said its size and scope was "inconsistent" with a peaceful nuclear programme, probably meaning that it was too small to enrich enough uranium for fuel but large enough to enrich sufficient for a bomb. It is estimated to have space for 3000 centrifuges and is said to be in mountainous terrain. It is thought to have been under Western surveillance for several years. The president demanded that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) be allowed access. Beyond that, he repeated the demand that Iran comply with Security Council resolutions while also reiterating that if Iran was cooperative, it would get assistance from the US and the West. What has Iran said? President Ahmadinejad said: "We have no secrecy." He said the facility was open for inspection by the IAEA and was 18 months away from completion. Iran acknowledged the plant in a letter to the IAEA four days before Mr Obama's announcement. It told the IAEA that the project was a pilot and would enrich uranium only to low levels. Did Iran violate IAEA rules in not declaring this plant earlier? President Ahmadinejad said it was being built in conformity with IAEA rules and that Iran had given much more notice of it than required. However, there is a dispute between Iran and the IAEA over the notice that has to be given before a nuclear facility is made operational. Iran says that, under its safeguards agreement with the IAEA, it need only declare a facility 180 days before nuclear material is inserted into it and that in this case it had given about a year's notice. However, the IAEA says that in 2003, after the main enrichment plant at Natanz was discovered, Iran agreed on what's called a Subsidiary Arrangement to its safeguards agreement, under which it would inform the IAEA of any new facility at the preliminary design stage. Iran later repudiated this arrangement, saying that it had not been ratified by its parliament but the IAEA says that so such unilateral repudiation is allowed. So Western government argue that Iran did violate the rules. What could the plant be for? Iran's chief nuclear negotiator implied that it was a back-up plant when he said that Iran had decided, because of threats, to do what was "necessary to preserve and continue our nuclear activities." It could therefore be a secondary plant in case the main enrichment facility at Natanz is attacked. There are also fears that it could be a place to enrich uranium to the higher level needed for a nuclear bomb. Why is Iran refusing to obey the Security Council resolutions? Under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), a signatory state has the right to enrich uranium to be used as fuel for civil nuclear power. Such states have to remain under inspection from the IAEA. Iran is under such inspection. However, only those signatory states with nuclear weapons at the time of the treaty in 1968 are allowed to enrich to the much higher level needed for a nuclear weapon. Iran says it is simply doing what it is allowed to do under the treaty and intends only to enrich to the level needed for nuclear power station fuel. It blames the Security Council resolutions on political pressure from the US and its allies. It argues that it needs nuclear power and wants to control the whole process itself... President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has repeatedly stressed that Iran will not yield to international pressure: "The Iranian nation will not succumb to bullying, invasion and the violation of its rights," he has said. What does Iran say about developing nuclear weapons? It says it will not break its obligations under the NPT and will not use the technology to make a nuclear bomb. On 18 September 2009, President Ahmadinejad told NBC News: "We don't need nuclear weapons... it's not a part of our programmes and plans." He said that nuclear-armed states should themselves give up their nuclear weapons. Shortly afterwards Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who is reported to have issued a fatwa some time ago against nuclear weapons said: "We fundamentally reject nuclear weapons." Why has the Security Council ordered Iran to stop enrichment? Because the technology used to enrich uranium for use as fuel for nuclear power can also be used to enrich the uranium to the higher level needed to produce a nuclear explosion. There are fears that Iran is at least acquiring the know-how so that one day it has the option of going for a bomb. Iran hid an enrichment programme for 18 years, so the Council says that until Iran's peaceful intentions can be fully established, it should stop enrichment and certain other nuclear activities. The Council's order is obligatory and supersedes other rights. What precisely does the Security Council and the IAEA want Iran to do? It wants Iran to stop all enrichment activities, including the preparation of uranium ore, the installation of the centrifuges in which a gas from the ore is spun to separate the richer parts, and the insertion of the gas into the centrifuges. It also has to suspend its work on heavy water projects, notably the construction of a heavy water reactor. Such a reactor could produce plutonium, an alternative to uranium for a nuclear device. The IAEA has also called on Iran to ratify and implement an additional protocol allowing more extensive inspections as a way of establishing confidence. What does the IAEA say about Iran? The IAEA has Iran's Natanz fuel enrichment plant under its surveillance and in presenting his latest report in September 2009 the IAEA Director General Mohamed ElBaradei said: "Since my last report, the Agency has continued to verify the non-diversion of declared nuclear material in Iran. Iran has cooperated with the Agency in improving safeguards measures at the Fuel Enrichment Plant and in providing the required access to the Iran Nuclear Research Reactor (IR-40) at Arak for purposes of design information verification. "On all other issues relevant to Iran's nuclear programme, however, there is stalemate. Iran has not suspended its enrichment related activities or its work on heavy water related projects as required by the Security Council, nor has Iran implemented the Additional Protocol. Likewise, Iran has not cooperated with the Agency in connection with the remaining issues, detailed fully and completely in the Agency's reports, which need to be clarified in order to exclude the possibility of there being military dimensions to Iran's nuclear programme. The IAEA also reports that Iran is not cooperating with its request for an answer to questions about possible studies on nuclear warheads carried out in the past." These past studies - which Iran calls fabrications - have caused concern in that Iran appears to have examined how to fashion a nuclear warhead. What about a reported secret IAEA document on Iran's work? This was reported by the Associated Press on 18 September 2009. The document is said to state that IAEA experts believe that Iran has "sufficient information" to make a nuclear device and has worked on a warhead that could be carried on a missile. When it is supposed to have done so is not clear. This reported assessment goes beyond anything in published IAEA reports on Iran but in a statement the agency said it had "no concrete proof that there is or has been a nuclear weapons programme in Iran." President Obama offered an "extended hand" to Iran. What happened to that? President Obama said: "If countries like Iran are willing to unclench their fist, they will find an extended hand from us." He proposed that talks take place between Iran and the so-called P5 +1, that is the five permanent members of the Security Council - the US, Russia, China, Britain and France - plus Germany. On 9 September 2009, Iran handed what appears to be its reply - a five page letter called "Cooperation for Peace, Justice and Progress". The letter offers global talks on a range of international issues, including global nuclear disarmament, but does not mention Iran's own nuclear work. President Ahmadinejad had said earlier that discussion of the Iranian nuclear issue was "finished" and that he would never negotiate on "the Iranian nation's obvious rights." Talks were later scheduled for 1 October. President Obama has said there will have to be an assessment of the Iranian position by the end of the year, the implication being that further sanctions would be considered if no progress was made. What new sanctions are possible? Russia and China are reluctant to agree to new Security Council sanctions, so a coalition of countries, including the EU, might take action themselves. This could include stopping the export to Iran of refined petroleum products. Despite its oil wealth, Iran cannot produce enough such products itself. There might also be a ban on investment in Iranian liquefied natural gas. Incentives are being offered to Iran. What are these? The US, Russia, China, the UK, France and Germany say that if Iran suspends uranium enrichment, then talks can start about a long-term agreement. On offer is recognition of Iran's right to develop nuclear energy for peaceful purposes and the treatment of Iran in "the same manner" as other states under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Iran would get help with developing nuclear power stations and be guaranteed fuel for them. It would also be offered trade concessions, including the possible lifting of US sanctions, which prevent it for example from buying new civilian aircraft and parts. What sanctions have been imposed on Iran? The US has imposed restrictions since the taking of American hostages in 1979, leading to a total trade embargo in 1995. In addition the UN has imposed wider sanctions. Security Council Resolution 1737, passed in December 2006, mandates all UN member states "to prevent the supply, sale or transfer... of all items, materials, equipment, goods and technology which could contribute to Iran's enrichment-related, reprocessing or heavy water-related activities or to the development of nuclear weapon delivery systems". In March 2007, the Council passed resolution 1747. This seeks to tighten the squeeze on Iran's nuclear and missile programmes by preventing dealings with the state Bank Sepah and 28 named people and organisations, many connected to the elite Revolutionary Guard. Member states have been told to exercise restraint in and to report the travel of individuals connected to these programmes. Imports of arms from Iran are banned and member states are told to exercise restraint in selling major arms systems to Iran. Loans are supposed to be limited to humanitarian and development purposes. Resolution 1803 of March 2008 extends asset restrictions and travel bans on more Iranian individuals said to be involved in nuclear work and on more Iranian companies. It bans the sale to Iran of so-called dual-use items - items which can have either a military or civilian purpose - as well as calling on governments to withdraw financial backing from companies trading with Iran, to inspect cargo going into and out of the country, and to monitor the activities of two Iranian banks. What does the US intelligence assessment say about Iran? The National Intelligence Estimate plays down any early threat of an Iranian nuclear weapon. It assesses "with high confidence" that Iran did have a nuclear weapons programme until 2003, but this was discovered and Iran stopped it. The NIE adds: "We do not know whether it currently intends to develop nuclear weapons." The assessment admits that Iran appears "less determined" to develop nuclear weapons than US intelligence had previously thought. It says that the earliest date by which Iran could make a nuclear weapon would be late 2009 but that this is "very unlikely". What are the chances of an attack on Iran? The Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu constantly stresses what he sees as a potential existential threat from Iran. Israel has reportedly carried out a major air force exercise, seen as practice for a raid on Iran. It is sceptical that diplomatic means will force Iran to stop enrichment and does not want to let Iran develop even a theoretical capacity to make a nuclear bomb. So the possibility of an attack, by Israel at least, remains. Does everyone accept the NIE report? No. Israel does not. The then Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert said on 12 February 2008 that Israel thought Iran was aiming to create "a capacity for non-conventional weapons." The present prime minister Mr Netanyahu takes the same view. And in London on 5 March 2008, a senior British diplomat said: "Many of us were surprised by how emphatic the writers [of the NIE] were... I haven't seen any intelligence that gives me even medium confidence that these programmes haven't resumed." Even the Director of US National Intelligence, Mike McConnell, appeared to backtrack on 28 February 2008, in evidence to the Senate Armed Forces Committee. In this evidence, he said that Iran had probably halted warhead design and weaponisation, but pointed out that Iran's continued enrichment of uranium meant that it was continuing with "the most difficult challenge in nuclear production." He said: "We remain concerned about Iran's intentions... Tehran at a minimum is keeping the option open to develop nuclear weapons." What other pressure has there been on Iran? On 17 October 2007, the US designated part of the Revolutionary Guard as a "supporter of terrorism" and the Guard as a proliferator of weapons of mass destruction for its alleged work on ballistic missiles. The US imposed further sanctions on the Guards' commercial activities and on several Iranian banks. The EU has agreed to freeze assets of Iran's largest bank, Bank Melli, and to extend visa bans to more Iranians involved in nuclear and missile development. Is it not too late now to stop Iran from acquiring enrichment technology? Iran thinks so and has said so. Its Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has called this a "great victory". According to Mohamed ElBaradei, the head of the IAEA, events have overtaken the current strategy and he thinks that Iran should now be allowed to undertake limited enrichment but under strict supervision. This approach has been rejected by the US and its supporters. How soon could Iran make a nuclear bomb? Experts believe that Iran could enrich enough uranium for a bomb within a few months. However, it has apparently not mastered the technology of making a nuclear warhead. In theory Iran could leave the NPT with three months notice and it would then be free to do what it wanted. However, by doing that it would signal its intentions and leave itself open to attack. If it tried to divert material for a bomb in secret and was found out, it would lay itself open to the same risk. Mohamed ElBaradei has said that the threat of Iran developing a bomb has been "hyped." Doesn't the Non-Aligned Movement support Iran? The NAM, representing 120 nations, issued a statement in July 2008 supporting Iran's right to develop peaceful nuclear power. Iran said this reflected international support for its position. The statement did not directly criticise UN sanctions against Iran, though it said that any issues should be dealt within the IAEA. It also appeared to accept that there are some problems remaining when it said: "Diplomacy and dialogue through peaceful means must continue to find a comprehensive and long-term solution to the Iranian nuclear issue." Don't existing nuclear powers have obligations to get rid of their weapons under the NPT? Article VI commits them to "pursue negotiations in good faith on effective measures relating to cessation of the nuclear arms race at an early date and to nuclear disarmament". The nuclear powers claim they have done this by reducing their warheads, but critics say they have not really moved towards nuclear disarmament. Critics also argue that the US and UK have broken the treaty by transferring nuclear technology from one to another. The US and UK say that this is not affected by the NPT. Doesn't Israel have a nuclear bomb? Yes. Israel, however, is not a party to the NPT, so is not obliged to report to it. Neither are India or Pakistan, both of which have developed nuclear weapons. North Korea has left the treaty and has announced that it has acquired a nuclear weapons capacity. | |
Nuclear Issues
Obama offers Iran `serious, meaningful dialogue'
President Barack Obama, flanked by French President Nicolas Sarkozy, left, and British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, walk off stage after delivering a joint statement about Iranian nuclear ambitions, Friday, Sept. 25, 2009, at the G-20 Summit.
- Obama
In his weekly address President Barack Obama says the international community is more united on the issue of Iran's nuclear endeavors.
In his weekly address President Barack Obama says Iran has a choice to make on nuclear issues.
In his weekly address, President Barack Obama says he and other world leaders are upset to learn of evidence that Iran is building an underground plant to enrich uranium, which could be used for an atomic bomb.
In his weekly address, President Barack Obama says Iran has a choice to make when it comes to its nuclear pursuits.
President Barack Obama is offering Iran "a serious, meaningful dialogue" over its disputed nuclear program, while warning Tehran of grave consequences from a united global front.
"Iran's leaders must now choose - they can live up to their responsibilities and achieve integration with the community of nations. Or they will face increased pressure and isolation, and deny opportunity to their own people," Obama said in his radio and Internet address Saturday.
Evidence of Iran's building an underground plant to enrich uranium that could be used for an atomic bomb "continues a disturbing pattern of Iranian evasion" that jeopardizes global nonproliferation, the president said.
Ahead of Thursday's international talks with Iran in Geneva, Obama said the world "is more united than ever before" on this issue. Those negotiations, he said, "now take on added urgency."
He urged Iran to open the site to international inspectors or face consequences. The chief option is tougher economic penalties, but on Friday Obama and administration officials did not rule out military action.
"My offer of a serious, meaningful dialogue to resolve this issue remains open," Obama said. "But Iran must now cooperate fully with the International Atomic Energy Agency, and take action to demonstrate its peaceful intentions."
Evidence of the clandestine facility was presented Friday by Obama and the leaders of Britain and France at the G-20 economic summit in Pittsburgh. The news overshadowed developments on regulating financial markets and reducing fossil fuel subsidies.
Soon after, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, at his own news conference, urged Iran to cooperate, as did Chinese Vice Foreign Minister He Yafei. He, however, did not endorse penalties against Tehran.
At a news conference in New York, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said his country had done nothing wrong and Obama would regret his actions.
"What we did was completely legal, according to the law. We have informed the agency, the agency will come and take a look and produce a report and it's nothing new," he said.
Ahmadinejad said the plant - which Iranian officials say was reported to nuclear authorities as required - wouldn't be operational for 18 months. But he sidestepped a question about whether Iran had sufficient uranium to manufacture a nuclear weapon.
The head of Iran's nuclear program suggested that U.N. inspectors may be allowed to visit the site. Ali Akbar Salehi called the incomplete facility "a semi-industrial plant for enriching nuclear fuel," but he gave no other details, according to the state news agency IRNA.
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