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Clinton on Wednesday
Photo: AP

Clinton: US committed to preventing Iran from obtaining nukes

Despite efforts to engage Tehran, Washington has no illusions regarding threat it poses and is preparing 'very tough sanctions' in event talks fail, US secretary of state tells House. On Israeli-Palestinian track, White House working to bring both sides back to 'two-state' negotiations

WASHINGTON – The United States has "no illusions" regarding the threat that Iran's nuclear ambitions pose, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told the House Foreign Affairs Committee on Wednesday.

 

Clinton said that attempts on the part of President Barack Obama's administration to directly engage Tehran would put the US in a better position to pursue "very tough sanctions" against Iran in the event that the proposed negotiations fail.


'Very tough sanctions' - Secretary Clinton (Photo: AP)

 

"We actually believe that by following the diplomatic path we are on, we gain credibility and influence with a number of nations who would have to participate in order to make the sanctions regime as tight and as crippling as we would want it to be," the secretary said.

 

"We are more than willing to reach out to the Iranians to discuss a range of issues," if Tehran reciprocates, she added. "We are also laying the groundwork for the kind of very tough sanctions, I think you said crippling sanctions, that might be necessary in the event that our offers are either rejected or the process is inconclusive or unsuccessful.

 

'We won't fund gov't with Hamas'

The secretary also discussed the Israeli-Palestinian track, saying that the US would not engage a Palestinian government that includes Hamas unless it meets the conditions set by the international community.

 

"We will not deal with nor in any way fund a Palestinian government that includes Hamas unless and until Hamas has renounced violence, recognized Israel and agrees to follow the previous obligations of the Palestinian Authority," Clinton said.

 

Clinton said that Washington is actively working towards helping the two sides agree on a solution based on the two-states principle, while continuing to uphold its commitment to Israel's security. The US is also working to strengthen the Palestinian Authority and deal with the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip, she said.

 

Clinton said she has made the US position clear during conversations with Arab and other allies. The

United States has pushed for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, where an independent Palestinian state exists alongside Israel.

 

"We want to leave the door open" to including Hamas, Clinton said.

 

"From everything we hear, there is no intention on the part of Hamas to meet those conditions, but these are not just American conditions. These are the conditions that were adopted by the quartet," she said.

 

"These are actually the conditions ... in the Arab peace initiative," she said.

 

Reuters contributed to this report

 


פרסום ראשון: 04.22.09, 19:01
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