President Obama reiterates international concerns over Iran’s nuclear program in call with Turkish PM Erdogan
May 20th, 2010 - 6:26 am ICT by BNO NewsWASHINGTON, D.C. (BNO NEWS) — President Barack Obama on Wednesday stressed that the international community continues to have concerns about Iran’s nuclear program in a phone call with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, just days after Iran signed a nuclear fuel-swap deal with Turkey.
Obama acknowledged the efforts of Turkey and Brazil, which helped broker the nuclear fuel-swap deal, and noted that the United States and the international community awaits a formal and authoritative message from Iran to the International Atomic Energy Agency.
“The President stressed the international community’s continuing and fundamental concerns about Iran’s overall nuclear program as well as Iran’s failure to live up to its international obligations,” the White House said in a statement. Obama told Erdogan that negotiations on a new U.N. Security Council resolution will continue, noting that Iran’s ‘persistent refusal’ to meet with the P5+1 on Iran’s nuclear program and recent refusal to halt enriching uranium to nearly 20 percent, do not build confidence.
Monday’s agreement between Iran and Turkey comes after mediation talks in Tehran with Turkish and Brazilian leaders. Under the deal, Iran will ship 1,200kg (2,645lb) of low-enriched uranium to Turkey, in return for fuel for a research reactor.
Western countries suspect that Iran’s nuclear program is aimed at making nuclear weapons, but Tehran has rejected that charge on numerous occasions.
The President and Prime Minister also discussed the ongoing government formation process in Iraq and the need to advance peace in the Middle East.
- Iran-Turkey nuclear deal can build confidence: UN - May 25, 2010
- Iran agrees to make uranium swap in Turkey - May 17, 2010
- Iran wants n-talks in Istanbul - Mar 30, 2012
- US moves for Iran sanctions; UN calls fuel deal positive step - May 19, 2010
- Nuclear swap deal, opportunity for dialogue: Iran - May 23, 2010
- Obama's secret message: Iran can have civilian n-programme - Apr 07, 2012
- Turkish PM warns of 'disastrous' consequence if Israel strikes Iran - Apr 01, 2012
- France sees Iran nuclear deal as 'positive' - May 19, 2010
- Tehran calls on US, EU to settle nuclear dispute - Jul 26, 2010
- Turkish PM says they will not remain silent if Israel attacks Lebanon - Nov 26, 2010
- Iran could develop nuke weapon of 'mass destruction' by 2012: UK Defence Secy - Feb 01, 2011
- 'Iran has 25 kg of 20 percent enriched uranium' - Aug 27, 2010
- Iran enriches 100 kg of Uranium to 20 percent (Lead) - Feb 20, 2012
- Iran asks assurance of nuke fuel supply before swap deal - May 10, 2010
- Iran sends letter to IAEA on swap deal - May 23, 2010
Tags: atomic energy agency, barack obama, bno, enriching uranium, fundamental concerns, government formation, international atomic energy, international atomic energy agency, international concerns, international obligations, mediation talks, nuclear program, nuclear weapons, peace in the middle east, prime minister recep tayyip erdogan, recep tayyip erdogan, research reactor, security council resolution, swap deal, turkish prime minister