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remarks by secretary hillary rodham clinton on iran with Qatari foreign minister Sheikh Hamad bin jassim al thani

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE

February 14, 2010

Excerpts

 

. . .

QUESTION: (Via translator) Good evening, Your Excellencies. Two of -- for Madam Secretary of State -- two of your assistants said to news agencies that your visit is to obtain support for putting pressure on Iran. And has Turkey done something in this regard?

Another question to the Prime Minister. Have you received an answer from the letter of guarantees you asked for -- the peace process?

SECRETARY CLINTON: Well, first, let me say that there are many reasons for my visit here to Qatar. We have a broad range of issues to discuss. Certainly, we talked in depth about Iran. The Emir has a lot of very well-developed and informed opinions about Iran that he shared with me.

We made it clear that we want to, as we have from the beginning of President Obama's term, engage with Iran. And President Obama has consistently said that he is willing to do so. Unfortunately, that has not been received positively by the Iranians.

We have always had a dual track policy, because we believe that it is important for the stability and the peace of the region that Iran not acquire nuclear weapons. They are going to have to make a decision as to which direction they will go. And we are going to continue to work with our friends and partners in the region, as well as countries around the world, to send a clear message to the Iranians, and to take action in the Security Council that sends that message that we do not believe that Iran should be a nuclear weapons power. We believe they do have a right to peaceful nuclear power, and we stand ready to engage with them. But we are going to have to move forward in the absence of any positive response.

. . .