WASHINGTON, September 27, 2009
Clinton on Iran: Transparency or Sanctions
Says U.S. Doubts Iran Has Convincing Proof Its Nuclear Program Is Only Peaceful But Will "Put Them to the Test"
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Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton on "Face the Nation," Sept. 27, 2009. (CBS)
"If we don't get the answers that we are expecting and the changes in behavior that we're looking for, then we will work with our partners to move towards sanctions," she said during an interview pre-taped on Friday.
CBS News' Harry Smith, sitting in for Bob Schieffer, asked Secretary Clinton what she meant this summer by "crippling sanctions" which would face Iran should diplomacy fail.
Clinton said that they are still "exploring" how to broaden proposed sanctions and that the current sanctions program is "leaky."
She also noted that multinational discussions on sanctioning North Korea has produced some consensus on how to deal with rogue nations.
On October 1 the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council - Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States - and Germany will hold talks with representatives of Iran over that nation's nuclear ambitions.
Iran, she said, has present "convincing evidence as to the purpose of their nuclear program. We don't believe that they can present convincing evidence that it's only for peaceful purposes, but we are going to put them to the test on October 1st."
Secretary Clinton said that the only acceptable response from Tehran to ward off additional sanctions would be for Iran to open up its nuclear system to extensive investigation.
"Words are not enough," she said. "They're going to have to come and demonstrate clearly to the international community what they're up to."
Clinton said that it is "hard to accept" that the covert uranium enrichment facility plant disclosed by leaders of Great Britain, France and the United States Friday is for "peaceful purposes," as Iran argues, given that the facility's existence had been hidden from nuclear regulators, thus raising suspicions.
"One has to ask, if it's for peaceful purposes, why was it not public? Why was the fact of it not generally known through our working with partners to discover it?" she asked.
In discussions about Iran, Clinton repeatedly brought up Russia and President Medvedev, who spoke in support of sanctions against Iran Friday, after being informed by President Obama this week about the existence of the previously-secret nuclear facility.
Smith asked the secretary whether Russia is really "in tune" with the United States on this.
Yes, she replied, reiterating that the six countries in talks with Iran are "all in agreement, saying that we expected answers from Iran."
Alluding to Moscow's recent announcement that it would not deploy missiles on its border with Poland after President Obama announced he was killing the Bush-era missile defense system, and Medvedev's criticism of Tehran on Friday, Clinton also said, "in working closely with Russia, sharing information, that they have been quite helpful this past week."
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- I don't know what the answer is but more sanctions is cowardly and a cop out. Sanctions don't work. Just look at Cuba, North Korea, and Iran....the government grows stronger while "the people" grow weaker. Sanctions strengthen a tyrannical government!
Good luck IAEC....this will be a showdown at high noon between peaceful nations and a crazed Iranian tyrannical government. - Reply to this comment
- It appears to me a significant number of Obama supporters here can't spell. However, this does not suprise me in the least.
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- I would LOVE to see Hillary take on Palin in a debate!!! My that would be great to see Palin humiliated. And maybe Rowdy can join in and be humiliated too.
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- hungry1968-16
I forgot to mention, how did you like the NY football Giants beating the Cowboys at the opening of your billion$ stadium ? - Reply to this comment
- by jimmyc1955 September 28, 2009 6:52 AM EDT
That is what we should be fighting - people who use children as bombs to kill other children.
So an extremist blowing himself up on a bus killing children is a "bad thing", but Israel's military targeting schools and hospitals killing children, is acceptable?!? - Reply to this comment
- by ffoulkes-2009 September 28, 2009 2:02 AM EDT
Yes, hungry...Sworn Enemy. AhmaNutJob has sworn many times to be our enemy...thus sworn enemy.
Okay, I'll play along.
Where and when did Ahmadinejhad make this alleged threat, or vow to be our enemy?
Please post a link. - Reply to this comment
- by jimmyc1955 September 28, 2009 6:59 AM EDT
And when would it be the right time? When Iran tests their first nuclear weapon? When the launch their first missle at Tel Aviv? When suitcases full of plutonium are all over the globe?
I don't care if Iran gets nukes or not, I don't care if they test them or not, and I really don't care if they attack Israel or not.
I'm FAR, FAR more concerned with Pakistan's nuclear program, than I am with Iran's.
There are ACTUAL TERRORISTS in Pakistan. - Reply to this comment
- What a waste of space. The only thing Iran will understand is all out war. Sanctions are an empty threat and they have been for years. Our government is wasting precious time by threatening these arrogant jerks. I say hit em and hit em hard and fast. Rip that place a new @ss hole and then sit down and see if they want to talk. I for one am sick of them and our worthless government.
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- Iran resistance revealed in 2002 Natanz enrichment facility West gave mullahs time instead of resolute policy . Instead of confronting Iran rgm West collaborated with it in suppressing its opposition that revealed Natanz.
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- maryam_rajavi:Containment of rgm's threat has1& only1solution: recognition of Iran ppl's resistance&uprising 4 democratic change in Iran
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- by gotham1883 September 27, 2009 11:22 PM EDT
Sanctions be damned. Iran isn't just a threat it is a sworn enemy.
A "sworn enemy" to ideological nutbags, and that's about it.
Join us in reality, and suddenly the "threat" is non-existent. - Reply to this comment
- Sanctions be damned. Iran isn't just a threat it is a sworn enemy. It has attacked our country more than once, starting with the attack on our embassy in Iran and the holding of its employees as hostages. It has helped all our enemies any chance it gets with weapons and mercenaries. It has sworn to destroy us and Israel. The leaders in Iran are ruthless bloodthirsty tyrants who are willing to destroy their own people without conscience and are willing to destroy anyone else who gets in their way. To believe such people would worry about sanctions is delusional at best and suicidal at worst. To say that their people will overthrow their government is also delusional. Tyrants have ruled with an iron fist for thousands of years in the middle east. They will continue to rule there. When Iran gets nuclear weapons there is no doubt in my mind that they will use them. There is also no doubt that should they use them we will turn Persia into a glass covered parking lot. However,one last thing, never threaten. Threats only solidify the determination of the opposition. If we really threatened N. Korea we were wrong. If you threaten and do not intend to use it shows your cowardice and lack of will power and resolve.
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- hell with hillary and graham,isreal have nukes ,why not iran.go Ahmadinejad.
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- by Bob_Tx1 September 27, 2009 9:42 PM EDT
Wow Hillary you are truly one of the ugliest looking women in the world.... tried of seeing useless news with your face attached to it. you're not going to do crap about Iran .... like everyone else ... they just laugh in your ugly face.. get a real life.. go hide somewhere and PLEASE do us all a favor ... keep your mug out of the news... DAMN...Sick of this woman... and her family...
Like a post from someone that can't even type in legible English, matters. - Reply to this comment
- by Baghdad_Nights September 27, 2009 9:02 PM EDT
by hungry1968-16 September 27, 2009 8
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I know you are an unconditional Ahmadinejad fan but you have to admit that Iran is the mother of the modern terrorism in the world.Iran started its leadership on the terrorism business by hijacking 400 American civilians in 1979, since then they never stopped.They gave HEZBOLLAH 20k rockets to fire at Israeli urban areas, then they gave HAMAS 10K rockets to fire at Israeli urban areas.Iran is behind every suicide terror attack in Iraq,Afghanistan and Pakistan. But I guess you already know all this but you pretend you are dumb dont you?
I don't care what happens in Israel - as an AMERICAN CITIZEN, I realize that Israel IS NOT my problem or concern.
And everyone knows that Iran has ZERO TIES to Al Qaeda and the Taliban.
Well, everyone except you of course. - Reply to this comment
- by Baghdad_Nights September 27, 2009 8:53 PM EDT
You've probably been living in MARS for the past 20 years otherwise you would know that Iran has a terror web in the world.They killed tenths of jews in Argentina in the 80s,they control HAMAS,HEZBOLLAH,MUQTADA AL-SADR AND are arming Taliban and al-qaeda to kill our troops in Pakistan,Afghanistan and Iraq.Get real hungry dummy.
I don't care what happens in Argentina or Israel. That is NONE of America's concern.
Secondly, Iran has ZERO TIES to Al Qaeda and the Taliban, as the US CIA and numerous other sources have confirmed time and time again.
And Muqtada Al Sadr is buddies with Nouri Al Maliki AND the Iranian clerical leadership. You can blame Bush for removing Saddam Hussein that kept the Shia from attaining power during his reign. Power that Bush dropped right into their lap. - Reply to this comment
- by jimmyc1955 September 27, 2009 7:39 PM EDT
Sanctions on Iran are pointless.
What do you propose?
Starting another pointless war, while sacrificing THOUSANDS of lives, and BILLIONS (trillions?) of dollars?
No thanks.
Leave the war mongering to those that are the most experienced in it - the arabs and Israeli's. - Reply to this comment
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- And when would it be the right time? When Iran tests their first nuclear weapon? When the launch their first missle at Tel Aviv? When suitcases full of plutonium are all over the globe?
This isn't as if the Mullahs in Iran haven't made it clear that they intend to wipe Israel off the map. But then the willingness of people to turn their backs while millions are slaughtered is well documented.
Darfor, Rwanda, Cambodia . . . a list of nations where mass murder occurred and we did nothing. Tens of millions dead, because it wasn't "our war." We have the power to prevent it and did nothing. I believe that having the ability to stop murder and choosing not to for reasons of cowardice is as great a sin as the murder itself.
- And when would it be the right time? When Iran tests their first nuclear weapon? When the launch their first missle at Tel Aviv? When suitcases full of plutonium are all over the globe?
- by jimmyc1955 September 27, 2009 7:37 PM EDT
For example, the G20 demonstrators that were deliberately trying to provoke police into a violent action and all to make the police look like gestapo agents aren't exactly from the young republicans club.
Who did she represent?
What was she protesting against? - Reply to this comment
- by armyoftwelve September 27, 2009 7:17 PM EDT
Bottoom line, Iran doesn't need nulcear bombs. All they need to do is distribute plutonium to their global terrorist network and set off dirty bombs everywhere. They will be able to bankrupt the civilized world by forcing it to clean up the mess.....
Since when does Iran have a "global terrorist network"?
Are they even PART of a "global terrorist network"?
Why did you make this up?
You DO KNOW that lying DOES NOT give you credibility, don't you? - Reply to this comment
- The basic fact in this situation is that Israel wants war. They would love nothing better than to drop a couple of biggies on Qom and Narantz and wipe out a million goyim. If the IAEA goes into Qom and finds something, Israel will say "there, we told you so". If the IAEA finds nothing, Israel will embark on a program to discredit the IAEA.
And guess what I've just learned on a radio talkshow: asking for IAEA inspections of Israeli nuclear sites is anti-semitic, just a step away from holocaust denial. Go figure! - Reply to this comment
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- Must be from the middle east - and no Israel doesn't want war - nobody does - but the extremist who have proven over and over that the deaths of innocent old men, women and children are just tools in the propoganda wars. Strap a bomb on a baby, push it on a bus, push the button.
That is what we should be fighting - people who use children as bombs to kill other children.
- Must be from the middle east - and no Israel doesn't want war - nobody does - but the extremist who have proven over and over that the deaths of innocent old men, women and children are just tools in the propoganda wars. Strap a bomb on a baby, push it on a bus, push the button.
The road ahead in Afghanistan, and the crucial decision Obama faces.
