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Iran: U.S.-EU Statement Says Iran Must Accept Further Inspections The United States and the European Union released a joint nonproliferation statement yesterday that expressed “serious concern” over Iran’s nuclear development and pushing Tehran to agree to more intrusive inspections (see GSN, June 25). “We are troubled by the information in the IAEA’s [International Atomic Energy Agency’s] report detailing Iran’s failures to meet its safeguards obligations, and we fully support ongoing investigation by the IAEA to answer the unresolved questions and concerns identified in that report,” the joint statement said. The United States has alleged that Iran is developing nuclear weapons, a charge that Tehran denies. The statement said Iran must sign the Additional Protocol to its IAEA safeguards agreement, granting intrusive inspections of nuclear activities, without “conditions.” While singling out Iran and North Korea, the statement primarily addresses broader nonproliferation goals. “We pledge to use all means available to avert WMD proliferation and the calamities that would follow,” the statement says. Echoing recent initiatives to crack down on international WMD shipments (see related GSN story, today), the statement adds, “We will strengthen identification, control and interdiction of illegal shipments, including national criminal sanctions against those who contribute to illicit procurement efforts (White House release, June 25). U.S. officials were enthusiastic about the statement, which did not direct any specific threats or deadlines to Iran (Judy Dempsey, Financial Times, June 25). “I don’t want to oversell this, but we have something we can work with,” said an administration official. “It was the first time they used the word ‘interdiction,’” the official added (Michael Dobbs, Washington Post, June 26). U.S. President George W. Bush, however, was more pointed in his comments. “Iran must comply. I mean, the free world expects Iran to comply. Just leave it at that,” Bush said. The president also specifically supported the Additional Protocol as a sign of Iranian cooperation. “If they don’t [comply], we’ll deal with that when they don’t,” Bush said. Iranian officials criticized the U.S. effort. “The U.S. approach to Iran is one of threats and seeking concessions, in other words forcing Iran to accept its unlawful demands,” said Iranian Defense Minister Rear Adm. Ali Shamkhani. “The reason why the U.S. is pressuring the IAEA … is to escape from its claims on the Iraqi weapons of mass destruction that it has not found,” he added (Joseph Curl, Washington Times, June 26).
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