U.S., EU Demand Iran Cooperate With Nuclear Probe

A senior U.S. diplomat urged Iran on Wednesday to follow up on good will generated by moderate statements from its new president with actions that ease suspicions it is trying to make nuclear arms.

The tone of outreach instead of censure reflected Washington’s hopes that Tehran will seize the moment created by change in its political leadership and act to ease international tensions over its nuclear ambitions

Still, U.S. envoy Joseph Macmanus warned of tough diplomatic action unless Tehran cooperates with U.N. experts trying to determine whether it ever worked on such weapons — a threat echoed by a statement from the European community.

Ten rounds of negotiations over the past two years have failed to end the deadlock. The two sides meet again Sept. 27, and Macmanus indicated that the West will consider those talks a yardstick of Rouhani’s professed interest in easing nuclear tensions.

The West, he said, will work with other board members to hold Iran accountable should it fail to seize the moment and “continue its intransigence and obfuscation.”

His comments appeared to be diplomatic code for an effort in November to again refer Iran to the U.N. Security Council if the Sept. 27 talks end inconclusively.

This article appeared in print on page 2 of the September 12th, 2013 edition of Hamodia.