Obama tightens noose on Tehran: Three conditions for Geneva 2
In a special comment Thursday night, Oct. 1, President Barack Obama administered a cold shower to the Iranian delegate Saeed Jalili and European official Javier Solana, who earlier in the day at the end of the six-power meeting with Iran in Geneva, smilingly announced a second round of talks would take place within weeks. In a side meeting, Jalili also had a one-on-one meeting with US undersecretary of state William Burns, who did not join the announcement.
Obama’s first condition for another round of talks was that International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors be given “unfettered access within two weeks” to Iran’s newly-discovered uranium enrichment facility near Qom.
His second: “Iran must prove its program is peaceful.”
Iran had already announce that inspection would be allowed but, according to debkafile‘s military sources, “unfettered access” would expose additional secret plants hidden at the Qom underground site whose sole function is to support a military program.
The US president’s third condition was no less problematic for Iran: “The IAEA has proposed in principle that Iran transfer its enrichment production to a third country.” Iran has a right to peaceful energy, he said, but rights also carry obligations.
This condition means that Iran must pack up its enrichment facilities and rely on a third country, a proposition it rejected in the past when put by Russia. President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has said he is willing to “purchase” enriched uranium from Russia, but Tehran would never give up Iran’s “right” to make its own fissile fuel in any circumstances.
Obama said distinctly that today’s meeting was a constructive meeting but it must be followed by concrete actions. “The burden is now on Iran.” He added: “We are willing to engage Iran but our patience is not unlimited.”
He did not say the word sanctions only that Iran’s non-compliance would be met with international pressure and isolation.