Obama: Iran sanctions have "enormous bite"

U.S. President Barack Obama talks with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit leaders plenary session in Kapolei, Hawaii on Nov. 13, 2011. / AP Photo/Charles Dharapak

KAPOLEI, Hawaii - Defending his efforts to contain Iran's nuclear ambitions, President Barack Obama said economic sanctions against Tehran have had "enormous bite," and he will consult with other nations on additional steps to ensure that Iran does not acquire an atomic weapon.

Obama expressed confidence Sunday that Russia and China in particular understand the threat that a nuclear armed Iran would pose and said their leaders agree that Iran cannot weaponize its nuclear power and trigger a nuclear arms race in the region.

The president, answering questions at a press conference during an Asia-Pacific economic summit, did not specifically say he would consider military action if Tehran were to persist in arming itself with a nuclear weapon. But he added: "We are not taking any options off the table. Iran with nuclear weapons would pose a threat not only to the region but also to the United States."

A report Friday from the International Atomic Energy Agency provided new evidence that Iran's nuclear program includes clandestine efforts to build a bomb. The report, circulated among the U.N. watchdog agency's member countries, includes satellite images, letters, diagrams and other documents. It alleges Iran has been working to acquire equipment and weapons design information, testing high explosives and detonators and developing compute models of a warhead's core. Taken together, it's the most unequivocal evidence yet that the Iranian program ranges far beyond enriching uranium for use in energy and medical research, which is what Tehran says it's for.

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In meetings Saturday with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev nor Chinese President Hu Jintao, Obama sought to rally support for putting new pressure on Iran's regime. But there was little public sign either country was ready to drop its opposition to additional sanctions. Four rounds of U.N. sanctions have caused economic hardship in Iran, but have yet to force any change in the nuclear program.

Obama declined to directly respond to criticism of his Iran policy from Republican presidential candidates Saturday, including former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney's declaration that Obama's re-election would mean a nuclear armed Iran. But he took a swipe at his foes anyway.

"Now is this an easy issue?" he asked. "No, anyone who claims it is, is either politicking or doesn't know what they're talking about."

He also rejected assertions from GOP candidates such as Herman Cain and Michelle Bachmann that they would be willing to use the interrogation practice known as waterboarding, a simulated form of drowning, on suspected terrorists.

"Let me just say this: they're wrong," Obama said emphatically. "Waterboarding is torture, it's contrary to America's traditions, it's contrary to our ideals, that's not who we are, that's not how we operate. We don't need it ... and we did the right thing by ending that practice."

"Anyone who has read about and understands the practice of waterboarding would say that that is torture, period," he added.

Obama, hosting the APEC conference in his home state, took questions in the late afternoon sunshine of a quintessential Hawaii scene, with palm trees and blue waters sprawled out behind him.

The president challenged China to move more quickly to let its currency to appreciate more rapidly and ending measures that disadvantage or pirate foreign intellectual property.

"It's time for them to go ahead and move toward a market-based system for their currency," he said.

[noloyalisti]

This smells a lot like the first Bushoccio putting sanctions on Iraq which were disastrous. And then when that wasn't enough, doing a terrorist invasion to seize the oil.

Maybe this is what will happen with Iran. Even the dumb right wing neocons, the Top 1% and their government slaves can change a Q to an N.

[tsigili]

Everyone knows sanctions accomplish nothing. They are no more than a political tool to persuade the people, that something is being done, when in fact, it amounts to nothing.

[Martha12345]

The only thing that bites is Obama. He use to suck, but now he bites.

[bilrobi1]

Is that as articulate as you can Be?

[Kenny777_y]

anyone who thinks Iran is a threat to the UNITED STATES is brain dead. camels dont fly or swim very well.

[Ketwhat]

Anyone else wondering if Ahmed Rezaie was "biten" as a consequence of sanctions and their impact on Iranian leadership?

[freeamerica31]

Unless that enormous bite includes multiple air strikes on Iran's Nuclear Facilities then I guess I'm not that impressed.

Since the Iranian Hostage Crisis, American Presidents have all said we can deal with Iran through sactions. It has never worked and it will never work. If the Iranians want it and America doesn't sell it to them, they will steal or go to other Evil Empire sources to purchase the information or parts necessary.

Bomb the damn place and get it over with now! No troops are necessary...just as many bombs/missles necessary to take down the Iranians a few notches. Let the Iranian population know ahead of time to get out of the way.

Pls consider using tactical nuclear warheads. What we don't get in the way of bomb damage will be radiated and not able to use also for half a century.

[rwsmith29456]

Sanctions have enormous bite?? ROFLMBO