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Obama demands Iran open plant!
PITTSBURGH - President Barack Obama demanded Friday that Iran open up a previously covert nuclear fuel facility to international inspectors, saying "Iran is breaking rules that all nations must follow."
Hours later, Iran's nuclear chief confirmed the existence of a new plant, which he said was still under construction, and suggested that U.N. inspectors could be allowed to visit the facility.
Obama, flanked by British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and French President Nicolas Sarkozy, said the site "deepens a growing concern" that Iran has failed to live up to its international obligations.
Obama said the "size and configuration" of the site was inconsistent with a peaceful facility, which is a direct challenge to Tehran's claim that its nuclear plants are designed for civilian purposes.
The three leaders made the announcement before the opening of the Group of 20 economic summit in Pittsburgh.
'Line in the sand'
Speaking after Obama, Sarkozy said Iran must comply with international demands by December or face a new round of sanctions. "Everything must be put on the table now," the French leader said.
Brown bluntly accused Iran of engaging in "serial deception" that would "shock and anger" the world.
The Western powers had "no choice but to draw a line in the sand" on Iran's nuclear program, Brown said.
Raising the pressure
The Obama administration wants to ratchet up pressure on Iran on the eve of talks set for next week and make clear that Tehran has not been forthcoming about its nuclear activities, officials told NBC.
Earlier, senior administration officials noted that the nuclear non-proliferation treaty requires countries to disclose such facilities at the beginning of construction. This plant, located about 20 miles from the holy city of Qum, would also be in violation of U.N. resolutions requiring Iran to halt enrichment activities.
U.S. officials said that the proximity to Qum would make a strike on the facility very difficult politically as it would likely spark an uproar in the Muslim world.
Later Friday, Ali Akbar Salehi, who heads the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, confirmed that Tehran was "now in the process of building" what he called "a semi-industrial plant for enriching nuclear fuel," according to the state news agency IRNA.
But Salehi, who said the plant would "be in the framework of the measures" of the International Atomic Energy Agency, gave no details on the facility, including its name or location.
Iran had previously said it was operating only one plant, which is being monitored by the IAEA.
Iran has kept the facility, 100 miles southwest of Tehran, hidden from weapons inspectors until a letter it sent to the IAEA on Monday, which was publicly disclosed for the first time Friday.
But the U.S. has known of the facility's existence "for several years" through intelligence developed by U.S., French and British agencies, a senior White House official said. Obama decided to gather allies to talk publicly about it after Iran's letter made clear it had become aware that Western intelligence knew of the project, officials said. They spoke on condition of anonymity to let the statements from Obama and the leaders remain the focus.
The plant would be about the right size to enrich enough uranium to produce one or two bombs a year, but inspectors must get inside to know what is actually going on, the official said.
Obama hopes the disclosure will increase pressure on the global community to impose new sanctions on Iran if it refuses to stop its nuclear program.
Beyond sanctions, the leaders' options are limited and perilous; military action by the United States or an ally such as Israel could set off a dangerous chain of events in the Islamic world. In addition, Iran's facilities are spread around the country and well-hidden or buried, making an effective military response logistically difficult.
The leaders did not mention military force. But Sarkozy said ominously, "Everything, everything must be put on the table now. We cannot let the Iranian leaders gain time while the motors are running."
Nothing to see here... Please disperse!
The disclosure comes on the heels of a U.N. General Assembly meeting at which Obama saw a glimmer of success in his push to rally the world against Iranian nuclear ambitions. And it comes just days before Iran and six world powers are scheduled to discuss a range of issues including Tehran's nuclear program.
'Grave development'
Germany is one of those six powers, and German Chancellor Angela Merkel told reporters Friday that her country views the revelation of the second nuclear site as "a grave development" and called on Iran to answer IAEA questions about it "as quickly as possible."
She said Germany, Great Britain, France and the United States had consulted on the issue and agreed to a joint response. Merkel did not appear with Obama, Sarkozy and Brown because she had an already-scheduled meeting with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev at the same time.
She said "we will see" about the reactions of Russia and China, which also are part of the group of six but always more reluctant to take a firm line on Iran.
Earlier this week, Medvedev opened the door to backing potential new sanctions against Iran as a reward to Obama's decision to scale back a U.S. missile shield in Eastern Europe. But it's unclear if that will translate into action.
The senior administration official said Obama told Medvedev about the facility during their meeting this week in New York. The Chinese were informed about 48 hours ago and are "just absorbing these revelations," the official said.
Before the scheduling of the Oct. 1 meeting, the U.S. had long avoided direct talks with Tehran over its nuclear program.
Yeah, we know. At least some of us do...
PITTSBURGH - President Barack Obama demanded Friday that Iran open up a previously covert nuclear fuel facility to international inspectors, saying "Iran is breaking rules that all nations must follow."
Hours later, Iran's nuclear chief confirmed the existence of a new plant, which he said was still under construction, and suggested that U.N. inspectors could be allowed to visit the facility.
Obama, flanked by British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and French President Nicolas Sarkozy, said the site "deepens a growing concern" that Iran has failed to live up to its international obligations.
Obama said the "size and configuration" of the site was inconsistent with a peaceful facility, which is a direct challenge to Tehran's claim that its nuclear plants are designed for civilian purposes.
Hmmm... Obama building a case to attack Iran !!
Say it aint so!!!
LMAO!
The three leaders made the announcement before the opening of the Group of 20 economic summit in Pittsburgh.
'Line in the sand'
Speaking after Obama, Sarkozy said Iran must comply with international demands by December or face a new round of sanctions. "Everything must be put on the table now," the French leader said.
Brown bluntly accused Iran of engaging in "serial deception" that would "shock and anger" the world.
The Western powers had "no choice but to draw a line in the sand" on Iran's nuclear program, Brown said.
Raising the pressure
The Obama administration wants to ratchet up pressure on Iran on the eve of talks set for next week and make clear that Tehran has not been forthcoming about its nuclear activities, officials told NBC.
Earlier, senior administration officials noted that the nuclear non-proliferation treaty requires countries to disclose such facilities at the beginning of construction. This plant, located about 20 miles from the holy city of Qum, would also be in violation of U.N. resolutions requiring Iran to halt enrichment activities.
U.S. officials said that the proximity to Qum would make a strike on the facility very difficult politically as it would likely spark an uproar in the Muslim world.
Later Friday, Ali Akbar Salehi, who heads the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, confirmed that Tehran was "now in the process of building" what he called "a semi-industrial plant for enriching nuclear fuel," according to the state news agency IRNA.
But Salehi, who said the plant would "be in the framework of the measures" of the International Atomic Energy Agency, gave no details on the facility, including its name or location.
Iran had previously said it was operating only one plant, which is being monitored by the IAEA.
Disclosure on Monday
Iran has kept the facility, 100 miles southwest of Tehran, hidden from weapons inspectors until a letter it sent to the IAEA on Monday, which was publicly disclosed for the first time Friday.
But the U.S. has known of the facility's existence "for several years" through intelligence developed by U.S., French and British agencies, a senior White House official said. Obama decided to gather allies to talk publicly about it after Iran's letter made clear it had become aware that Western intelligence knew of the project, officials said. They spoke on condition of anonymity to let the statements from Obama and the leaders remain the focus.
The plant would be about the right size to enrich enough uranium to produce one or two bombs a year, but inspectors must get inside to know what is actually going on, the official said.
Obama hopes the disclosure will increase pressure on the global community to impose new sanctions on Iran if it refuses to stop its nuclear program.
Beyond sanctions, the leaders' options are limited and perilous; military action by the United States or an ally such as Israel could set off a dangerous chain of events in the Islamic world. In addition, Iran's facilities are spread around the country and well-hidden or buried, making an effective military response logistically difficult.
The leaders did not mention military force. But Sarkozy said ominously, "Everything, everything must be put on the table now. We cannot let the Iranian leaders gain time while the motors are running."
The disclosure comes on the heels of a U.N. General Assembly meeting at which Obama saw a glimmer of success in his push to rally the world against Iranian nuclear ambitions. And it comes just days before Iran and six world powers are scheduled to discuss a range of issues including Tehran's nuclear program.
'Grave development'
Germany is one of those six powers, and German Chancellor Angela Merkel told reporters Friday that her country views the revelation of the second nuclear site as "a grave development" and called on Iran to answer IAEA questions about it "as quickly as possible."
She said Germany, Great Britain, France and the United States had consulted on the issue and agreed to a joint response. Merkel did not appear with Obama, Sarkozy and Brown because she had an already-scheduled meeting with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev at the same time.
She said "we will see" about the reactions of Russia and China, which also are part of the group of six but always more reluctant to take a firm line on Iran.
Earlier this week, Medvedev opened the door to backing potential new sanctions against Iran as a reward to Obama's decision to scale back a U.S. missile shield in Eastern Europe. But it's unclear if that will translate into action.
The senior administration official said Obama told Medvedev about the facility during their meeting this week in New York. The Chinese were informed about 48 hours ago and are "just absorbing these revelations," the official said.
Before the scheduling of the Oct. 1 meeting, the U.S. had long avoided direct talks with Tehran over its nuclear program.
Gee... I wonder why...
Hours later, Iran's nuclear chief confirmed the existence of a new plant, which he said was still under construction, and suggested that U.N. inspectors could be allowed to visit the facility.
Obama, flanked by British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and French President Nicolas Sarkozy, said the site "deepens a growing concern" that Iran has failed to live up to its international obligations.
Obama said the "size and configuration" of the site was inconsistent with a peaceful facility, which is a direct challenge to Tehran's claim that its nuclear plants are designed for civilian purposes.
The three leaders made the announcement before the opening of the Group of 20 economic summit in Pittsburgh.
'Line in the sand'
Speaking after Obama, Sarkozy said Iran must comply with international demands by December or face a new round of sanctions. "Everything must be put on the table now," the French leader said.
Brown bluntly accused Iran of engaging in "serial deception" that would "shock and anger" the world.
The Western powers had "no choice but to draw a line in the sand" on Iran's nuclear program, Brown said.
Raising the pressure
The Obama administration wants to ratchet up pressure on Iran on the eve of talks set for next week and make clear that Tehran has not been forthcoming about its nuclear activities, officials told NBC.
Earlier, senior administration officials noted that the nuclear non-proliferation treaty requires countries to disclose such facilities at the beginning of construction. This plant, located about 20 miles from the holy city of Qum, would also be in violation of U.N. resolutions requiring Iran to halt enrichment activities.
U.S. officials said that the proximity to Qum would make a strike on the facility very difficult politically as it would likely spark an uproar in the Muslim world.
Later Friday, Ali Akbar Salehi, who heads the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, confirmed that Tehran was "now in the process of building" what he called "a semi-industrial plant for enriching nuclear fuel," according to the state news agency IRNA.
But Salehi, who said the plant would "be in the framework of the measures" of the International Atomic Energy Agency, gave no details on the facility, including its name or location.
Iran had previously said it was operating only one plant, which is being monitored by the IAEA.
Iran has kept the facility, 100 miles southwest of Tehran, hidden from weapons inspectors until a letter it sent to the IAEA on Monday, which was publicly disclosed for the first time Friday.
But the U.S. has known of the facility's existence "for several years" through intelligence developed by U.S., French and British agencies, a senior White House official said. Obama decided to gather allies to talk publicly about it after Iran's letter made clear it had become aware that Western intelligence knew of the project, officials said. They spoke on condition of anonymity to let the statements from Obama and the leaders remain the focus.
The plant would be about the right size to enrich enough uranium to produce one or two bombs a year, but inspectors must get inside to know what is actually going on, the official said.
Obama hopes the disclosure will increase pressure on the global community to impose new sanctions on Iran if it refuses to stop its nuclear program.
Beyond sanctions, the leaders' options are limited and perilous; military action by the United States or an ally such as Israel could set off a dangerous chain of events in the Islamic world. In addition, Iran's facilities are spread around the country and well-hidden or buried, making an effective military response logistically difficult.
The leaders did not mention military force. But Sarkozy said ominously, "Everything, everything must be put on the table now. We cannot let the Iranian leaders gain time while the motors are running."
Nothing to see here... Please disperse!
The disclosure comes on the heels of a U.N. General Assembly meeting at which Obama saw a glimmer of success in his push to rally the world against Iranian nuclear ambitions. And it comes just days before Iran and six world powers are scheduled to discuss a range of issues including Tehran's nuclear program.
'Grave development'
Germany is one of those six powers, and German Chancellor Angela Merkel told reporters Friday that her country views the revelation of the second nuclear site as "a grave development" and called on Iran to answer IAEA questions about it "as quickly as possible."
She said Germany, Great Britain, France and the United States had consulted on the issue and agreed to a joint response. Merkel did not appear with Obama, Sarkozy and Brown because she had an already-scheduled meeting with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev at the same time.
She said "we will see" about the reactions of Russia and China, which also are part of the group of six but always more reluctant to take a firm line on Iran.
Earlier this week, Medvedev opened the door to backing potential new sanctions against Iran as a reward to Obama's decision to scale back a U.S. missile shield in Eastern Europe. But it's unclear if that will translate into action.
The senior administration official said Obama told Medvedev about the facility during their meeting this week in New York. The Chinese were informed about 48 hours ago and are "just absorbing these revelations," the official said.
Before the scheduling of the Oct. 1 meeting, the U.S. had long avoided direct talks with Tehran over its nuclear program.
Yeah, we know. At least some of us do...
PITTSBURGH - President Barack Obama demanded Friday that Iran open up a previously covert nuclear fuel facility to international inspectors, saying "Iran is breaking rules that all nations must follow."
Hours later, Iran's nuclear chief confirmed the existence of a new plant, which he said was still under construction, and suggested that U.N. inspectors could be allowed to visit the facility.
Obama, flanked by British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and French President Nicolas Sarkozy, said the site "deepens a growing concern" that Iran has failed to live up to its international obligations.
Obama said the "size and configuration" of the site was inconsistent with a peaceful facility, which is a direct challenge to Tehran's claim that its nuclear plants are designed for civilian purposes.
Hmmm... Obama building a case to attack Iran !!
Say it aint so!!!
LMAO!
The three leaders made the announcement before the opening of the Group of 20 economic summit in Pittsburgh.
'Line in the sand'
Speaking after Obama, Sarkozy said Iran must comply with international demands by December or face a new round of sanctions. "Everything must be put on the table now," the French leader said.
Brown bluntly accused Iran of engaging in "serial deception" that would "shock and anger" the world.
The Western powers had "no choice but to draw a line in the sand" on Iran's nuclear program, Brown said.
Raising the pressure
The Obama administration wants to ratchet up pressure on Iran on the eve of talks set for next week and make clear that Tehran has not been forthcoming about its nuclear activities, officials told NBC.
Earlier, senior administration officials noted that the nuclear non-proliferation treaty requires countries to disclose such facilities at the beginning of construction. This plant, located about 20 miles from the holy city of Qum, would also be in violation of U.N. resolutions requiring Iran to halt enrichment activities.
U.S. officials said that the proximity to Qum would make a strike on the facility very difficult politically as it would likely spark an uproar in the Muslim world.
Later Friday, Ali Akbar Salehi, who heads the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, confirmed that Tehran was "now in the process of building" what he called "a semi-industrial plant for enriching nuclear fuel," according to the state news agency IRNA.
But Salehi, who said the plant would "be in the framework of the measures" of the International Atomic Energy Agency, gave no details on the facility, including its name or location.
Iran had previously said it was operating only one plant, which is being monitored by the IAEA.
Disclosure on Monday
Iran has kept the facility, 100 miles southwest of Tehran, hidden from weapons inspectors until a letter it sent to the IAEA on Monday, which was publicly disclosed for the first time Friday.
But the U.S. has known of the facility's existence "for several years" through intelligence developed by U.S., French and British agencies, a senior White House official said. Obama decided to gather allies to talk publicly about it after Iran's letter made clear it had become aware that Western intelligence knew of the project, officials said. They spoke on condition of anonymity to let the statements from Obama and the leaders remain the focus.
The plant would be about the right size to enrich enough uranium to produce one or two bombs a year, but inspectors must get inside to know what is actually going on, the official said.
Obama hopes the disclosure will increase pressure on the global community to impose new sanctions on Iran if it refuses to stop its nuclear program.
Beyond sanctions, the leaders' options are limited and perilous; military action by the United States or an ally such as Israel could set off a dangerous chain of events in the Islamic world. In addition, Iran's facilities are spread around the country and well-hidden or buried, making an effective military response logistically difficult.
The leaders did not mention military force. But Sarkozy said ominously, "Everything, everything must be put on the table now. We cannot let the Iranian leaders gain time while the motors are running."
The disclosure comes on the heels of a U.N. General Assembly meeting at which Obama saw a glimmer of success in his push to rally the world against Iranian nuclear ambitions. And it comes just days before Iran and six world powers are scheduled to discuss a range of issues including Tehran's nuclear program.
'Grave development'
Germany is one of those six powers, and German Chancellor Angela Merkel told reporters Friday that her country views the revelation of the second nuclear site as "a grave development" and called on Iran to answer IAEA questions about it "as quickly as possible."
She said Germany, Great Britain, France and the United States had consulted on the issue and agreed to a joint response. Merkel did not appear with Obama, Sarkozy and Brown because she had an already-scheduled meeting with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev at the same time.
She said "we will see" about the reactions of Russia and China, which also are part of the group of six but always more reluctant to take a firm line on Iran.
Earlier this week, Medvedev opened the door to backing potential new sanctions against Iran as a reward to Obama's decision to scale back a U.S. missile shield in Eastern Europe. But it's unclear if that will translate into action.
The senior administration official said Obama told Medvedev about the facility during their meeting this week in New York. The Chinese were informed about 48 hours ago and are "just absorbing these revelations," the official said.
Before the scheduling of the Oct. 1 meeting, the U.S. had long avoided direct talks with Tehran over its nuclear program.
Gee... I wonder why...
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