US questions Iranian uranium enrichment claims

The White House said Thursday that the United States does not believe Iran is capable of enriching uranium to the degree the Islamic Republic claims.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said earlier that Iran has produced its first batch of uranium enriched to a higher level than before, raising fears it may be moving closer to the ability to produce material for a nuclear weapon.

White House spokesman Robert Gibbs dismissed Iran's claims, saying that country's leadership has made a series of statement based on politics, not physics.

"Quite frankly, what Ahmadinejad says, he says many things and many of them turn out to be untrue," Gibbs said. "We do not believe they have the capability to enrich to the degree to which they now say they are enriching."

At the same time, Gibbs and other administration officials said Iran's behavior on the nuclear front was disturbing and in violation of numerous UN sanctions.

The administration, which on Wednesday slapped new sanctions on affiliates of Iran's Revolutionary Guards Corps, is pressing hard to get fresh penalties imposed on Iran at the UN Security Council for refusing to prove its nuclear intentions are peaceful.

The claim of new progress in Iran's nuclear program came a day after the US Treasury Department imposed new sanctions, freezing the assets in US jurisdiction of a Revolutionary Guard general and four subsidiaries of a construction firm he runs.

The US State Department said Thursday that Iran appears to have sought to impose a "near total" blockade on the flow of information within the country, adding that the Iranian government feared its own people.

"It would appear that Iran has attempted a near total information blockade," spokesman P.J. Crowley told reporters, saying he had seen reports that Iran's telephone network, text messaging, satellite television and the Internet had all been jammed. "It is clear ... the Iranian government fears its own people."

On Capitol Hill, senators introduced separate legislation aimed at punishing Iranian officials and others responsible for the crackdown and also promote regime change in Tehran.

Senators John McCain and Joe Lieberman introduced the Iran Human Rights Sanctions Act, which would identify human rights abusers in Iran and impose financial and travel restrictions on them.

Sens. Sam Brownback and John Cornyn introduced the Iran Democratic Transition Act, which calls for the US government to support efforts to remove Iran's leadership by providing nonmilitary assistance to opposition groups.

Finland favors sanctions, but has doubts

Finnish Foreign Minister Alexander Stubb said on Thursday that ideally the world should slap energy sanctions on Iran to hit the country where it hurts, but acknowledged this may not happen.

"I think the world is right now beginning to be fed up with Iran and the type of foreign policy that it's conducting," Stubb said after discussing Iran's nuclear policies and other issues with Canadian Foreign Minister Lawrence Cannon.

"Sanctions should involve financial means. They should – albeit perhaps not realistically – involve issues related to energy."

Stubb did not say whether such energy sanctions should target Iran's oil exports, its gasoline imports, or other areas such as technology or corporate ventures.

He and Cannon said the two countries were ready to join other nations in stepping up sanctions on Iran, and both countries condemned Tehran's decision to enrich its nuclear material in defiance of the UN.

Stubb allowed for the possibility of the European Union going beyond UN measures if necessary in its bid to impose strong sanctions.

"The primary source for those sanctions should be a common decision by the UN Security Council. If that is not successful, then we will do it through the European Union," he said.

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper said in Vancouver that he had spoken with Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin on Thursday and welcomed the "very strong statement" that Moscow had made about sanctions on Iran.

Harper said he would continue the discussions with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev as part of the work of the Group of Eight leading industrialized countries, which Canada is chairing. "The international community must take co-ordinated action," he said.

EU backs pro-democracy protestors

EU foreign affairs chief Catherine Ashton on Thursday expressed support for protestors calling for democracy and human rights in Iran, accusing Tehran of letting its citizens down.

"On the anniversary of the Islamic revolution, which for many in Iran should symbolize progress in fundamental freedoms and rights, the European Union notes with great concern that a large number of Iranians have been prevented for expressing their views," she said in a statement.

"The determination shown by protestors on Iran's streets clearly demonstrates the strength of their desire for democracy, human rights and fundamental freedoms. The EU reiterates its support for them," she said.

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said Thursday the West's patience with Iran and its nuclear ambitions would not last forever.

Speaking at a meeting of EU leaders in Brussels, Brown said Iran's choices were clear.

"Iran can either pursue a civilian nuclear program, respect human rights and earn the trust and respect of the international community," the British leader said. "Or it can move ahead with its nuclear weapons program, trample on human rights and be isolated and ostracized on the wrong side of history."

The Associated Press, Reuters and AFP contributed to this report