Thaindian News

Washington, May 17 (DPA) Iran’s latest agreement to ship its enriched uranium to Turkey is a “positive step”, but falls short of meeting international demands regarding its nuclear activities, the White House said Monday.
Spokesman Robert Gibbs said the deal, brokered by Brazil and Turkey, does not require Iran to halt its own uranium enrichment programme - a key demand of the international community and previous UN Security Council resolutions.

The United States and other countries will continue to pursue sanctions on Iran if it did not comply with international demands, Gibbs said, while questioning Iran’s past record of not living up its obligations.

“Given Iran’s repeated failure to live up to its own commitments, and the need to address fundamental issues related to Iran’s nuclear programme, the United States and international community continue to have serious concerns,” Gibbs said.

“The United States will continue to work with our international partners … to make it clear to the Iranian government that it must demonstrate through deeds ­ and not simply words ­ its willingness to live up to international obligations or face consequences, including sanctions,” Gibbs said.

The leaders of Brazil and Turkey signed the accord with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in an effort to prevent the sanctions sought by the United States as well as Britain, France and Germany.

The United States has also received support for sanctions from China and Russia, two countries with veto authority on the Security Council who have previously been reluctant to impose strong sanctions.

Under the deal, Iran would ship most of its stockpile of low-enriched uranium to Turkey in exchange for medium-enriched uranium for a medical research reactor in Tehran.

Neither type of the uranium is weapons grade, but the United States and other countries worry Iran will continue enriching at concentration levels that could eventually lead to a nuclear weapons capability.

Gibbs said the agreement must be clearly explained to the international community and the UN nuclear monitoring body known as the International Atomic Energy Agency, or IAEA, before it can be considered.

“Iran must take the steps necessary to assure the international community that its nuclear programme is intended exclusively for peaceful purposes, including by complying with UN Security Council resolutions and cooperating fully with the IAEA,” Gibbs said.