WASHINGTON (JTA) — The Obama administration says it remains committed to persuading Iran to suspend its enrichment of uranium.
Robert Wood, the State Department spokesman, responded Wednesday to multiple media reports that the United States was ready to join a European initiative that would allow Iran to continue enriching uranium while it engages in talks toward ensuring that it does not launch a nuclear weapons program.
“we are open to a direct dialogue with Iran,” Wood said. “Others have made that point as well from our side. You know, as I said, also, our Iran review is not yet completed. But as I also said yesterday, that suspension is something that the international community wants to see. It is clearly our goal. Iran has obligations that it needs to meet with regard to the international community’s concerns about what it’s doing concerning its nuclear program. Those concerns are not going to go away. They need to be addressed. And if indeed, you know, Iran offers a package or presents a package to the international community, we’ll have to take a look at it.”
Israel backs the Obama administration’s efforts to engage directly with Iran; it also sees Iran’s uranium enrichment as inextricable from its suspected weapons program.
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