<!-- IMAGE -->When President Barack Obama addressed the United Nations General Assembly, he said that peace and prosperity can only be reached through international cooperation. And that cooperation must be based on a guiding principle:
"That all nations have rights, but all nations have responsibilities as well. That is the bargain that makes this work."
A day or 2 after Mr. Obama spoke, the international community was informed that Iran has been building a covert uranium enrichment facility near the city of Qom -- in violation of its international obligations to disclose all nuclear-related activities.
President Obama said that the new enrichment facility "represents a direct challenge to the basic compact at the center of the nonproliferation regime":
"Iran has a right to peaceful nuclear power that meets the energy needs of its people. But the size and configuration of this facility is inconsistent with a peaceful program. Iran is breaking rules that all nations must follow, endangering the global nonproliferation regime, denying its own people access to the opportunity they deserve, and threatening the stability and security of the region and the world."
President Obama said he remains committed to serious, meaningful engagement with Iran over its nuclear program; but "it is time for Iran to act immediately to restore the confidence of the international community by fulfilling its international obligations. ... To put it simply", said President Obama, "Iran must comply with U.N. Security council resolutions and make clear it is willing to meet its responsibilities as a member of the community of nations."
"That all nations have rights, but all nations have responsibilities as well. That is the bargain that makes this work."
A day or 2 after Mr. Obama spoke, the international community was informed that Iran has been building a covert uranium enrichment facility near the city of Qom -- in violation of its international obligations to disclose all nuclear-related activities.
President Obama said that the new enrichment facility "represents a direct challenge to the basic compact at the center of the nonproliferation regime":
"Iran has a right to peaceful nuclear power that meets the energy needs of its people. But the size and configuration of this facility is inconsistent with a peaceful program. Iran is breaking rules that all nations must follow, endangering the global nonproliferation regime, denying its own people access to the opportunity they deserve, and threatening the stability and security of the region and the world."
President Obama said he remains committed to serious, meaningful engagement with Iran over its nuclear program; but "it is time for Iran to act immediately to restore the confidence of the international community by fulfilling its international obligations. ... To put it simply", said President Obama, "Iran must comply with U.N. Security council resolutions and make clear it is willing to meet its responsibilities as a member of the community of nations."
