Friday, 25 September 2009
U.S. President Barack Obama, French President Nicolas Sarkozy, and British Prime Minister Gordon Brown accused Iran of building a uranium enrichment plant during the Group of 20 Summit in Pittsburgh.
“Iran is breaking rules that all nations must follow,” said U.S. President Obama. French President Sarkozy said Iran has to act in accordance; otherwise they will take the risk of new sanctions while British Prime Minister Brown accused Iran of "serial deception."
The G-20 Economic Summit began with the three Western leaders’ joint statement over Iran’s nuclear program.
The U.S. has not been in “direct talks” with Tehran because of the same reason for a long time. "The Iranian government must now demonstrate through deeds its peaceful intentions or be held accountable to international standards and international law," Obama said, adding "It is time for Iran to act immediately to restore the confidence of the international community by fulfilling its international obligations." The U.S. officials said that Obama hopes that this disclosure with the joint statement by Western leaders will lead to new pressure on Iran to stop its nuclear program.
Obama said, "We remain committed to serious, meaningful engagement with Iran to address the nuclear issue through the P5+1 negotiations,” regarding the previously scheduled October 1 talks between Iran and six world powers.
Sarkozy said, "Everything, everything must be put on the table now" and set December as a deadline for Iran. "The level of deception by the Iranian government ... will shock and anger the whole international community, and it will harden our resolve," Brown stated, adding “it's time to draw a line in the sand.”
Iranian officials had previously accepted that they have only one plant, which is being monitored by IAEA, and had denied accusations of an undeclared nuclear program.
