Africa Map

African Press Agency

African Press Agency Logo
   

 Home
 Country Profile
 Useful Links
 Contact us

Home

US/IRANBack
[Published: Saturday December 12 2009]

US threatens tough Iran sanctions

 

Washington, 11 Dec-(ANA)-Iran faces "significant" new sanctions over its nuclear programme, according to US Defense Secretary Robert Gates.

 

And he reiterated that all options - including possible military action - should stay on the table.

 

Mr Gates was speaking to US troops during a visit to northern Iraq.

 

His comments come a day after the US, Britain and France warned that Iran faced tougher sanctions unless it immediately complied with UN Security Council resolutions.

 

But despite warning that possible military action should stay on the table, he said it would "only buy some time, maybe two or three years".

 

Iran is already subject to UN sanctions over its nuclear programme, which the West suspects is for military purposes.

 

Any move towards a new round of sanctions is expected to involve long and arduous negotiations with reluctant Security Council members, such as China.

 

Iran has insisted its nuclear programme is for purely peaceful purposes and has warned that further sanctions will be ineffective.

 

It has not signed up to a six-nation compromise plan over its controversial uranium enrichment programme.

 

Russia, China, the US, UK, France and Germany have suggested uranium enrichment for civilian nuclear energy could be regulated if Iran handed over its uranium to Russia to manage the process. (ANA)

FA/ANA/11 December 2009---

 

 


North South News website

Advertise banner

News icon US/Fundraiser
News icon Russia/NATO
News icon Trade/Vessel Traffic
News icon Global/Value Chain
News icon OECD/Jobless
News icon SIPRI/Arms Import
News icon EU/Kenya/Pesticides
News icon UN/Israel/Gza
News icon US/Israel/Gaza
News icon Pakistan/ISI Interference

AFRICAN PRESS AGENCY Copyright © 2005 - 2007