Reflecting an element of frustration in the Bush administration over the deadlocked UN talks over the Iran nuclear issue, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has said "there can't be any stalling" in dealing with the problem.
"There is no time for delay in taking up this issue. A presidential statement will reaffirm the understandings that we had at the London meeting, the understandings that under-girded the February 4th resolution in the Board of Governors for which a number of countries, including Russia, voted", Rice told reporters.
"We need to have this statement and to make clear to the Iranians that the international community is united in demanding that Iran return to a posture that is consistent with its NPT obligations and consistent with the international community's need to know that Iran is, indeed, conducting a peaceful nuclear program," she said.
Rice said there is an "erosion of confidence in Iran on this point because they lied to the IAEA for 18 years."
"They do want a civil nuclear program. That's fine. They can have one, but not with enrichment and reprocessing on Iranian territory. They need to suspend the activities in which they're engaged and return to negotiations", the top State Department official added.
{{/usCountry}}"They do want a civil nuclear program. That's fine. They can have one, but not with enrichment and reprocessing on Iranian territory. They need to suspend the activities in which they're engaged and return to negotiations", the top State Department official added.
{{/usCountry}}"There shouldn't be any delay. There can't be any stalling. The international community has got to act. People are looking to the international community to show that this can, indeed, be dealt with diplomatically. And we are committed to a diplomatic solution, but it has to be dealt with", Rice said firmly.