White House says US will keep pressure on Tehran
IAEA progress towards deal with Tehran is a step forward, White House spokesman says, but stresses that US will press on with sanctions until it sees concrete actions on Iran's nuclear program
The White House on Tuesday called the UN nuclear watchdog's progress toward an agreement with Iran a step forward but said it would keep pressuring Tehran until it sees concrete actions on the Iranian nuclear program.
"Promises are one thing, actions and fulfillments of obligations are another," White House spokesman Jay Carney said when asked about the International Atomic Energy Agency's announcement it was close to a deal to unblock monitoring of Iran's suspected work on atom bombs.
- Related articles:
- Israel skeptical on Iran nuke deal
-
Baghdad talks: US mulls Iran incentives
-
Lieberman: Iran trying to deceive West
"We will continue to pressure Tehran, continue to move forward with the sanctions that will be corning online as the year progresses," Carney told a news briefing.
The agency's chief, Yukiya Amano, returned to Vienna on Tuesday from a one-day trip to Tehran and said an agreement is within reach to give inspectors "access to sites, scientists and documents it seeks to restart its probe."
He noted that some differences still exist but claimed they "will not be an obstacle to reach agreement." He gave no details on the unsettled points or when the pact could be signed.
Stalling for time?
Iran made the first move Tuesday in attempts to gain an edge in nuclear talks with the US and other world powers: It agreed in principle to allow UN inspectors to restart probes into a military site suspected of harboring tests related to atomic weapons.
The tentative accord – announced as envoys headed to the Iraqi capital for negotiations – is likely to be used by Iran as added leverage to seek concessions from the West on sanctions.
Iran's ambassador to Iraq, Hasan Danaeifar, said the Baghdad talks could be historic.
"Should the talks set a start for a serious, constructive settlement of the issues, it could be a historic meeting for all sides," the official IRNA news agency quoted him as saying.
A major breakthrough in the impasse was not expected in Baghdad, with officials and experts saying both sides will seek to demonstrate enough progress to keep the process moving forward.
That could cool down worries in international markets over possible military action, but reinforce the suspicions of Israeli leaders who claim Iran seeks only to buy time to keep up its production of nuclear fuel.
Also on Tuesday, the official Islamic Republic News Agency reported that Iranian scientists had inserted a domestically made fuel rod, which contains pellets of 20% enriched uranium, into the core of a research nuclear reactor in Tehran. The advance would be another step in achieving proficiency in the entire nuclear fuel cycle.
AP contributed to the report
- Receive Ynetnews updates
directly to your desktop
