Weapon Program:
- Nuclear
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QUESTION: Can I ask you about Iran? Today again a senior official, Moussavian, he sometimes has a voice on nuclear issues, has muddied the waters over the negotiations with the E.U.-3, saying that if Iran's needs aren't satisfied by March, then they will end their suspension of uranium enrichment.
My question is: What's your reaction to this type of statement that shows their suspension is only that, it's a limited suspension, it doesn't appear to be anything permanent? Do we just wait for the negotiations to inevitably collapse?
ERELI: What we're waiting for is for Iran to adequately respond to and answer the concerns of the international community, as expressed in multiple IAEA Board of Governor resolutions, and as expressed in their meetings with the E.U.-3.
ERELI: Clearly, Iran's uranium enrichment program is a concern. There are clearly outstanding questions that have not been answered.
We look to Iran to provide answers to the questions and the kind of transparency and openness and forthrightness which would dispel the many and significant doubts the international community has about its program.
I haven't seen Moussavian's remarks. And I can't speak to the latest state of negotiations between Iran and the E.U.-3.
But clearly there is a purpose behind these negotiations and that purpose is to help bring Iran into compliance with what their NPT and IAEA obligations are.
Their uranium enrichment program is obviously something that causes -- that raises grave doubts about that commitment, and they've got every opportunity to dispel those doubts, but they, I think, steadfastly persist in causing more problems than they solve.
QUESTION: So is there anything the U.S. can do to help the E.U.- 3 in their negotiations or does it all depend on Iran?
ERELI: Well, the -- look, the United States and the E.U.-3 have the same objective, which is to prevent Iran from having nuclear weapons.
And we believe they have a nuclear weapons program. To the extent that we have supported this E.U. initiative, we think it can help move things in the right direction.
But as I said -- and we continue to, I think, consult with them and share information.
But let's remember there is an IAEA process that at the end of the day Iran is going to have to answer to.
QUESTION: With respect to Iran, there is a report that Halliburton, through some of its subsidiaries in the Cayman Islands and elsewhere, have an ongoing contract right now with Iran.
Isn't that highly illegal as far as you're concerned?
ERELI: I'll have to check on it. I don't know what contract you're talking about.
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