The American Jewish Committee called
for extra vigilance in the face of Iranian deceit and delaying tactics after Tehran
ignored today's deadline to respond to an International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
proposal to ship most of its uranium abroad for enrichment.
"Iran ignored today's deadline with the same feeble excuse it has given before -
that it needs more time," said AJC Executive Director David Harris. "Let's recall
that since 2006, this brutal regime has defied three UN Security Council
resolutions, continuing to enrich uranium and refusing to disclose the full extent
of its nuclear program. The United States has said that negotiations will not
continue indefinitely, but the Iranians seem determined to prove otherwise."
Western efforts to negotiate with Iran over its nuclear program have been
continually frustrated. Iran claims that it will respond next week to the IAEA plan,
which is supported by the U.S., Russia and France.
AJC has consistently highlighted the danger that an Iran armed with nuclear weapons
would pose to regional and global stability. "The message to Iran's leaders - that
they will not, under any circumstances, be permitted to develop a nuclear weapon -
urgently needs to get through," Harris said.
© 2009 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
