Remarks by Assistant Secretary Philip Crowley on Iranian Enrichment (Excerpts)

February 12, 2010

Weapon Program: 

  • Nuclear

. . .

QUESTION: What's your assessment about Iran's nuclear program, Iran's nuclear program or nuclear capability?

MR. CROWLEY: Mm-hmm.

QUESTION: Yeah.

MR. CROWLEY: And the question?

QUESTION: Yeah. What's your assessment?

MR. CROWLEY: Well, I think in terms of a formal assessment, we'd defer to the IAEA. Iran has been in contact with IAEA inspectors and tried to advise them on what they are trying to do. We believe that any step to further enrich uranium to 20 percent is a violation of their obligations under the - under a number of UN Security Council resolutions, and we think that they should come back and constructively engage in a process where we can - would help them provide whatever their needs are within a civilian nuclear program while reassuring the international community about their intentions regarding their overall nuclear ambitions. But these ongoing statements and ongoing actions are counterproductive and they really call into question whether Iranian claims that their intentions are peaceful are, in fact, true.

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