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Iran came under threat of stringent sanctions from the US and its allies as President Barack Obama disclosed "disturbing information" that it is secretly building a second nuclear facility and demanded immediate access to the site.
In an unusual declaration ahead of the start of the G-20 Summit, Obama, flanked by President Nicholas Sarkozy of France and Premier Gordon Brown of Britain, announced they had detailed information that Iran is building a secret uranium enrichment facility near Qom, 160 km south of Tehran, for the past few years, which is not consistent with its energy needs. Obama said they expected the International Atomic Energy Agency to investigate this disturbing information immediately as this was being done without reporting to the UN nuclear watchdog and was in violation of the non proliferation regime.
Obama said, while they recognise the right of all nations to pursue nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, Iran should forsake its controversial atomic weapons programme. The US President said this was not the first time that Iran was doing this but the size and configuration of this facility was breaking all rules of non-proliferation and was a threat to world and regional security. "It is time for Iran to act immediately to restore confidence by fulfilling its international obligations," he said and offered dialogue to help Tehran if it met these obligations.
"Iran must comply with UN Security Council resolutions on this issue and fulfil its responsibilities. We have offered Iran a clear package if it lives up to its responsibilities and displays its peaceful intentions," Obama said. He said the permanent five members (P5) of the UN Security Council -- the US, UK, China, Russia and France -- plus German Chancellor Angela Merkel supported the statement.
Sarkozy echoed Obama's apprehensions and said he expected from the IAEA an exhaustive, strict and rigorous investigation. "We were already in a very severe confidence crisis. We are now faced with a challenge, a challenge made to the entire international community," he said. He said the P5 plus 1 will meet with the Iranian representatives in Geneva. "Everything -- everything must be put on the table now. We cannot let Iranian leaders gain time while the motors are running. If by December there is not an in-depth change by the Iranian leaders, sanctions will have to be taken. This is for the peace and stability," he said.
Brown said the US, UK and France were one that Iran's nuclear programme is the most urgent proliferation challenge that the world faces today. "The level of deception by the Iranian government and the scale of what we believe is the breach of international commitments will shock and anger the whole international community and it will harden our resolve," he said.
The British Prime Minister said, confronted by the serial deception of many years, the international community has no choice today but to draw a line in the sand. "On October the 1st, Iran must now engage with the international community and join the international community as a partner. If it does not do so, it will be further isolated," he said.
Brown said they would not let this matter rest and are prepared to implement further and more stringent sanctions.
"Let the message that goes out to the world be absolutely clear: that Iran must abandon any further ambition for its nuclear programme," he said. Iran already has one enrichment plant at Natanz.