Kerry advises on relations with Iran
Senator discusses possibility of required force in negotiations with nuclear country
William Douglas
Issue date: 3/5/09 Section: Nation and World
WASHINGTON - Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-Mass.) praised President Barack Obama's desire for direct negotiations with Iran, but warned Tuesday he must be prepared to do more than talk, as Tehran forges ahead with its nuclear program.
"While Iran was just talking to the world, it moved to the threshold of becoming a nuclear state," Kerry said during a hearing on Iran. "I point this out because we cannot move forward to a solution without understanding how we got to this dangerous juncture in history. The time for incremental steps and unanswered questions is over."
Tuesday's hearing came amid growing concerns about Iran's nuclear program after the United Nations International Atomic Energy Agency issued a report two weeks ago revealing that Iran has enough low-enriched, or reactor-grade, nuclear fuel to build a weapon.
Also contributing to the unease Tuesday were reports that blueprints of one of two helicopters used in the U.S. presidential fleet were found in a computer in Iran after they were accidentally disclosed by a U.S. defense contractor last year.
"Iran is important, Iran is dangerous, Iran is urgent, and we have no choice but to deal with Iran, despite the negatives," Frank G. Wisner II, former U.S. ambassador to Egypt, told the committee. "In short, if we're to make any progress with the questions that we face in Iraq, Afghanistan, with the nuclear questions, energy issues, Israel-Palestine, we have to be able to take Iran into account and deal with it."
At an IAEA meeting in Vienna, Austria, on Tuesday, the United States and five other countries reinforced their commitment to direct talks with Iran after voicing "serious concern" about Iran's nuclear progress and growing restrictions on U.N. inspectors.
"(We) urge Iran to take this opportunity for engagement with us and thereby maximize opportunities for a negotiated way forward," Olivier Caron, France's IAEA governor, said on behalf of France, the United States, Britain, Germany, Russia and China.
"While Iran was just talking to the world, it moved to the threshold of becoming a nuclear state," Kerry said during a hearing on Iran. "I point this out because we cannot move forward to a solution without understanding how we got to this dangerous juncture in history. The time for incremental steps and unanswered questions is over."
Tuesday's hearing came amid growing concerns about Iran's nuclear program after the United Nations International Atomic Energy Agency issued a report two weeks ago revealing that Iran has enough low-enriched, or reactor-grade, nuclear fuel to build a weapon.
Also contributing to the unease Tuesday were reports that blueprints of one of two helicopters used in the U.S. presidential fleet were found in a computer in Iran after they were accidentally disclosed by a U.S. defense contractor last year.
"Iran is important, Iran is dangerous, Iran is urgent, and we have no choice but to deal with Iran, despite the negatives," Frank G. Wisner II, former U.S. ambassador to Egypt, told the committee. "In short, if we're to make any progress with the questions that we face in Iraq, Afghanistan, with the nuclear questions, energy issues, Israel-Palestine, we have to be able to take Iran into account and deal with it."
At an IAEA meeting in Vienna, Austria, on Tuesday, the United States and five other countries reinforced their commitment to direct talks with Iran after voicing "serious concern" about Iran's nuclear progress and growing restrictions on U.N. inspectors.
"(We) urge Iran to take this opportunity for engagement with us and thereby maximize opportunities for a negotiated way forward," Olivier Caron, France's IAEA governor, said on behalf of France, the United States, Britain, Germany, Russia and China.
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