On September 9th Glyn Davies, the U.S. Ambassador to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), used these reports to claim Iran has "possible breakout capacity if the Iranians chose to enrich its uranium stockpile. Referring to Iran's uranium enrichment program, Davies said ''This ongoing enrichment activity ... moves Iran closer to a dangerous and destabilizing possible breakout capacity". Taken in connection with Iran's refusal to engage with the IAEA regarding its past nuclear warhead-related work, we have serious concerns that Iran is deliberately attempting, at a minimum, to preserve a nuclear weapons option.''An IAEA report claims Iran now has a minimum of 3,153 pounds of low-enriched uranium hexafluoride according to Davies.
Twin Weapons of Diplomacy and Sanctions
This latest charge is being leveled at this time to strengthen the U.S. weapons of diplomacy and sanctions, but it could just as easily strengthen the U.S. ability to go to war against Iran should Obama choose to do so. Obama has been pressuring Iran to enter into negotiations regarding its nuclear enrichment program. Obama has given Iran until the end of this month to respond to an offer of "nuclear talks with the "five plus one group of permanent U.N. Security Council members and Germany. But this offer is similar to the offer made in the Godfather movie " an offer that can not be refused. The U.S. has made it quite clear that if the Iranians do not capitulate to U.S. demands, the U.S. will then move to further pressure U.S. allies to impose more severe sanctions against Iran later this month.
Among the additional sanctions that the U.S. is considering is the cutoff of gasoline to Iran. Even though Iran produces much oil, its ability to refine this into enough gasoline to be self-sustaining does not currently exist and Iran must import gasoline to run the country. Cutting off its gasoline supply would cripple the economy and in effect be an act of war. Iran has previously defied three sets of U.N. Security Council sanctions since 2006. Iran denies accusations that it is using its nuclear program to develop nuclear arms. Tehran has refused to stop its enrichment of uranium, declaring it has such a right under the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty.
Iran though is certainly aware that it is being pressured to "negotiate. On September 7th Iranian President Ahmadinejad stated, "We will continue our work in the framework of global regulations and in close cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency. He further claimed he was willing to engage in "fair and logical discussions to "solve global challenges with the five plus one group. He said he expected a "change of approach from them and went on to say "the nuclear issue is over from Iran's perspective.
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