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Clinton Pushes China on Iran Sanctions

   US  secretary of state says Iran's nuclear ambitions could destabilize
   Persian  Gulf  region and threaten flow of energy, other raw materials
   to China

   VOA News 29 January 2010
   US Secretary of State Clinton delivers speech in France, 29 Jan 2010

Photo: AP

   US Secretary of State Clinton delivers speech in France, 29 Jan 2010

   The  United  States  is warning China its reluctance to take a tougher
   stance on Iran's nuclear program could backfire.
   U.S.  Secretary  of  State  Hillary Clinton said Friday Iran's nuclear
   ambitions  could  destabilize the Persian Gulf region and threaten the
   flow of energy and other raw materials to China.
   Clinton  said  she  understands  Beijing's  reluctance  to back strong
   sanctions  against  a key trading partner, but urged China to consider
   the long-term consequences.
   Iran  has  frustrated the United Nations as well as the U.S. and other
   key  members  of  the  U.N. Security Council, by backing off on a deal
   that would have supplied Tehran with fuel a nuclear research reactor.
   In  exchange,  Iran  would have been required to send its low-enriched
   uranium  to France and Russia for processing.  Highly-enriched uranium
   is a key component in nuclear weapons.
   Iran  insists  that  its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes, but
   the  U.S. and other Western countries accuse Iran of trying to build a
   nuclear arsenal.
   Like  the  U.S.,  Russia  is  also  interested  in  imposing  stronger
   sanctions on Iran.
   Russian  Foreign  Ministry  spokesman Andrei Nesterenko said in Moscow
   Friday   that   Iran's   continued  reluctance  to  comply  with  U.N.
   resolutions will only intensify ongoing concerns.
   Still,  the  chief of the United Nation's nuclear watchdog says he has
   not given up on a possible deal on Iran's nuclear program.
   International  Atomic  Energy  Agency  (IAEA)  Director-General Yukiya
   Amano  told  officials  meeting  at  the World Economic Forum in Davos
   Friday that talks with Iran were still under way saying, "the proposal
   is on the table."  Amano's comments were his first on the Iran nuclear
   issue  since  he succeeded Mohamed Elbaradei two months ago as head of
   the IAEA.
   Iranian  Foreign  Minister  Manouchehr  Mottaki,  also  in Davos, said
   Friday there is still a chance a deal could be reached.

   Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.

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