US, France reach accord on Iran
Sunday, 23 September 2007
WASHINGTON, Sept 22 (AP): The US and France have reached an agreement on how to pressure Iran to abandon its nuclear ambitions, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Friday.
Meanwhile, at a meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna, Israel accused Iran of lying, while Tehran challenged the international community to send inspectors for a probe of its arch-rival's nuclear capabilities, in a rare and unusually bitter direct confrontation.
Ms. Rice and French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner, appearing in a joint news conference, both spoke of the need for new sanctions against Iran. "I think that there's, essentially, no difference in the way that we see the situation in Iran and what the international community must do," she said.
The two countries were preparing the groundwork for the new United Nations Security Council resolution at a Friday meeting of political directors from six major nations that have been trying to negotiate with Iran -- Russia, China, Britain and Germany, as well as France and the US
The French government's tougher line has brought it closer to the Bush administration, which has made a renewed US push to tighten sanctions.
Ms. Rice said she and Kouchner had also discussed Middle East peace efforts, Kosovo, Afghanistan and Lebanon.
During his two-day Washington visit, Kouchner has expanded on the recommendation made by his boss, President Nicolas Sarkozy, Thursday for tightening international sanctions against Iran.
"We have explored and have used various freezes on assets of individuals. We have used visa bans. I think that there are any number of ways that we can expand those efforts," Ms. Rice said in discussing what kind of sanctions the US would like to see approved by the Security Council.
Kouchner also addressed his country's recent call for European Union sanctions against Iran. He said that European countries are discussing sanctions that would be targeted against banking and industrial interests in Iran.
The tougher position has been welcomed in Washington, where Kouchner also met lawmakers, as well as Defence Secretary Robert Gates and national security adviser Stephen Hadley.
The harsh words from Israel and Iran's representatives came after an attempt by Iran and Arab nations to submit a resolution on "Israel Nuclear Capabilities and Threat" was blocked by the European Union, the US and other Western nations.
Meanwhile, at a meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna, Israel accused Iran of lying, while Tehran challenged the international community to send inspectors for a probe of its arch-rival's nuclear capabilities, in a rare and unusually bitter direct confrontation.
Ms. Rice and French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner, appearing in a joint news conference, both spoke of the need for new sanctions against Iran. "I think that there's, essentially, no difference in the way that we see the situation in Iran and what the international community must do," she said.
The two countries were preparing the groundwork for the new United Nations Security Council resolution at a Friday meeting of political directors from six major nations that have been trying to negotiate with Iran -- Russia, China, Britain and Germany, as well as France and the US
The French government's tougher line has brought it closer to the Bush administration, which has made a renewed US push to tighten sanctions.
Ms. Rice said she and Kouchner had also discussed Middle East peace efforts, Kosovo, Afghanistan and Lebanon.
During his two-day Washington visit, Kouchner has expanded on the recommendation made by his boss, President Nicolas Sarkozy, Thursday for tightening international sanctions against Iran.
"We have explored and have used various freezes on assets of individuals. We have used visa bans. I think that there are any number of ways that we can expand those efforts," Ms. Rice said in discussing what kind of sanctions the US would like to see approved by the Security Council.
Kouchner also addressed his country's recent call for European Union sanctions against Iran. He said that European countries are discussing sanctions that would be targeted against banking and industrial interests in Iran.
The tougher position has been welcomed in Washington, where Kouchner also met lawmakers, as well as Defence Secretary Robert Gates and national security adviser Stephen Hadley.
The harsh words from Israel and Iran's representatives came after an attempt by Iran and Arab nations to submit a resolution on "Israel Nuclear Capabilities and Threat" was blocked by the European Union, the US and other Western nations.