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TOPIC: Clinton: New Iran Sanctions Will Be Toughest Ever (HuffPo 6/8/10)

Jen the Michigander

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Date: Jun 9, 2010

Clinton: New Iran Sanctions Will Be Toughest Ever (HuffPo 6/8/10)	Permalink

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/06/08/clinton-new-iran-sanction_n_605177.html U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton on Tuesday called the proposed new U.N. sanctions against Iran's suspect nuclear program the toughest ever, a day before the U.N. Security Council was expected to vote on the measure. Clinton told reporters in Ecuador's capital that there is strong support for a fourth resolution penalizing Iran for its refusal to prove its nuclear program is peaceful and defying international demands to halt uranium enrichment. "I think it is fair (to say) that these are the most significant sanctions that Iran has ever faced," Clinton said at a news conference with Ecuador's president. "The amount of unity that has been engendered by the international community is very significant." She declined to predict the outcome of the vote in the 15-member Security Council, but U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates in London said the measure would pass and pave the way for tougher additional measures by the U.S. and its allies. "The strategy here is a combination of diplomacy and pressure to persuade the Iranians that they are headed in the wrong direction in terms of their own security, that they will undermine their security by pursuit of nuclear weapons, not enhance it," Gates said. In the final version of the U.N. resolution, obtained Monday by The Associated Press, sanctions would be tougher than previous penalties but still far short of crippling economic punishments or an oil embargo. The sanctions would ban Iran from pursuing "any activity related to ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons," bar Iranian investment in activities such as uranium mining, and prohibit Iran from buying several categories of heavy weapons including attack helicopters and missiles. The resolution, if adopted, would impose the fourth round of sanctions against Iran. The six countries have been trying for years to draw Tehran into serious negotiations about its nuclear program. The final draft also calls on all countries to cooperate in cargo inspections – which must receive the consent of the ship's flag state – if there are "reasonable grounds" to believe the cargo could contribute to Iranian nuclear program. On the financial side, the draft calls on – but does not require – countries to block financial transactions, including insurance and reinsurance, and ban the licensing of Iranian banks if they have information that provides "reasonable grounds" to believe these activities could contribute to Iranian nuclear activities. The draft adds language "emphasizing the importance of political and diplomatic efforts to find a negotiated solution guaranteeing that Iran's nuclear program is purely for peaceful purposes," but also emphasizes "the importance of Iran addressing the core issues related to its nuclear program." After Gates and new British defense chief Liam Fox met in London Tuesday, they warned that an Iranian nuclear weapon would start a Mideast arms race. "The overwhelming fear is that if Iran is to become a nuclear weapons state that will be the end" of the international treaty limiting the spread of atomic weapons, Fox said. "We surely want to do more than leave the next generation a legacy of a new nuclear arms race in the world's most unstable region." Estimate of Iran's nuclear progress vary, but most experts believe the nation is at least two years away from being able to build a workable weapon. "I do not think we have lost the opportunity to stop the Iranians from having a nuclear weapon," Gates said. "I think the clock is ticking." __________________ Nobody puts THIS baby in the corner!

freespirit

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Date: Jun 9, 2010

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I hope Gates is right. Under current leadership, Iran won't do the right thing unless forced to do so. __________________ It was we, the people; not we, the white male citizens; nor yet we, the male citizens; but we, the whole people, who formed the Union.... Men, their rights and nothing more; women, their rights and nothing less. ~Susan B. Anthony

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