Iran risks 'consequences' if it ignores UN: Clinton

NUKEWARS

Iranian foreign minister says satellite 'meant for peace'
Iran's first-ever satellite launch is meant only for peaceful purposes such as gathering environmental data, Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said Tuesday in Addis Ababa. Iran on Monday launched its Omid (Hope) satellite with a locally-made rocket, in a move likely to further alarm an international community already at odds with Tehran over its controversial nuclear drive. "The satellite enables us to receive environmental data and lots of necessary information," Mottaki told reporters in the Ethiopian capital on the sidelines of the African Union summit. "The technological capacity of Iran is meant to meet the needs of the country," he said. "Iran's satellite activities are solely meant for peace and our military capacity is meant for defensive purposes." The launch coincided with the 30th anniversary of the Islamic revolution. The West suspects Iran of secretly trying to build an atomic bomb and fears the technology used to launch a space rocket could be diverted into development of long-range ballistic missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads. Iran vehemently denies the charges, saying its nuclear programme is for peaceful energy purposes and that it has the right to the technology already in the hands of many other nations including its archfoe the United States.

by Staff Writers
Washington (AFP) Feb 3, 2009
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton Tuesday warned Iran it faced consequences if it failed to respect UN resolutions demanding a halt to its uranium enrichment activities.

"President Obama has signaled his intention to support tough and direct diplomacy with Iran but if Iran does not comply with the UNSC and the IAEA mandate, there must be consequences," Clinton said.

She was referring to resolutions passed by the UN Security Council and the UN's nuclear watchdog, the IAEA, calling on Iran to halt its suspect nuclear activities.

As Clinton welcomed German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier for talks here, she added that the United States and Germany must cooperate in getting Iran to comply with its international obligations.

Iran said on Tuesday it had launched its first domestically manufactured satellite into orbit, raising fresh concerns among world powers already at odds with Tehran over its nuclear drive.

The launch comes at time when Iran is ignoring repeated UN Security Council demands to freeze sensitive nuclear work.

The West suspects Iran of secretly trying to build an atomic bomb and fears the technology used to launch a space rocket could be diverted into development of long-range ballistic missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads.

Iran vehemently denies the charges, saying its nuclear program is for peaceful energy purposes only and that it has the right to the technology already in the hands of many other nations including archfoe the United States.

US will use "all elements" of its power with Iran
The United States will use "all elements of our national power" to deal with Iran, White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said Tuesday after Iran said it had launched a satellite into orbit.

"This action does not convince us that Iran is acting responsibly to advance stability or security in the region," Gibbs told reporters, asked if the satellite launch undermined Obama's desire to open talks with Iran.

"All of this continues to underscore that our administration will use all elements of our national power to deal with Iran and to help it be a responsible member of the international community," he said.

"Efforts to develop missile delivery capability, efforts to continue on an illicit nuclear program, or threats that Iran makes toward Israel and its sponsorship of terror are of acute concern to this administration.

"The president is clear that he wants Iran to be a responsible member of the world community."

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmedinajad announced his country had launched its first domestically made satellite into orbit, declaring the Islamic republic had "officially achieved a presence in space."

State Department acting spokesman Robert Wood expressed concern after another US official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said Tehran appeared to have put the satellite into low Earth orbit.

"Developing a space launch vehicle that ... could put a satellite into orbit could possibly lead to development of a ballistic missile system," Wood told reporters.

"That's of great concern to us," he said.

US must leave all options open on Iran: Israel's Barak
Any future talks the United States holds with Iran on its nuclear drive must be limited in time and not exclude military action, Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak said on Tuesday.

"We must reach strategic understanding with the United States on the essence of Iran's nuclear programme and make sure that even if they choose a diplomatic track to halt it, the talks must be limited to a short time and then harsh sanctions and readiness to take action," Barak said in a speech.

"Limited time; harsh sanctions and all the options are on the table," he said.

Israel, which goes to the polls next week, and the United States claim that the Islamic republic's nuclear bid is aimed at developing an atomic bomb, but Tehran says it is meant for peaceful use only.

US President Barack Obama declared he would break away from his predecessor George W. Bush's tough stance towards Iran and has said he was willing to hold direct talks with Tehran to defuse the crisis.

But the White House said last week that while Obama prefers diplomacy with Iran, he is still preserving "all his options," refusing to rule out military strikes despite promises of a new rapprochement.

Memory Foam Mattress Review

SPACE MEDIA NETWORK PROMOTIONS
Solar Energy Solutions
Tempur-Pedic Mattress Comparison ...

Newsletters :: SpaceDaily :: SpaceWar :: TerraDaily :: Energy Daily
XML Feeds :: Space News :: Earth News :: War News :: Solar Energy News

NUKEWARS

Iran defiant on nuclear programme ahead of key meeting

Tehran (AFP) Feb 2, 2009
Iran remained defiant over its nuclear programme on Monday as representatives of six major powers prepare to meet in Germany this week to look at ways of persuading it to curb its atomic ambitions.

ROCKET SCIENCE Two Rockets Fly Through Auroral Arc U.S. rocketry competition is under way ATK And NASA Complete Major Milestones For NASA Constellation Program KSC Operations And Checkout Facility Ready To Start Orion Spacecraft Integration	LAUNCH PAD Arianespace To Launch Hispasat 1E Arianespace seals four-billion-euro rocket deal Arianespace Orders 35 Ariane 5 ECA Launchers From Astrium Russia Makes First Space Launch Of 2009
SHUTTLE NEWS NASA delays Discovery mission to space station STS-119 Mission Preps Move Forward Discovery Gets New Valves - Crew Practices Simulated Liftoff Preparations Continue Toward Discovery's Liftoff	STATION NEWS Russia To Use Two Launch Pads At Baikonur For ISS Missions Kogod Students Pioneer Branding Potential Of International Space Station Spacehab To Support Pre-Launch Preparations For Russian Module Russia Tests Phone Home To Santa Network
SPACE TRAVEL Western powers worried about Iran satellite technology NASA Ames Becomes Home To Newly Launched Singularity University Successful Test In Development Of NASA's New Crew Rocket Planetary Society Reaches Out To Congress On NASA Funding	DRAGON SPACE China plans own satellite navigation system by 2015: state media Fengyun-3A Weather Satellite Begins Weather Monitoring Shenzhou-7 Monitor Satellite Finishes Mission After 100 Days In Space China Launches Third Fengyun-2 Series Weather Satellite
ROBO SPACE ASI Chaos Small Robot To Participate In Series Of Exercises Iowa Staters Advance Developmental Robotics With Goal Of Teaching Robots To Learn Japanese security robot nets intruders AF Officials Look At Robots For Aircraft Ground Refueling	MARSDAILY Spirit Resumes Driving NASA And Google Launch Virtual Exploration Of Mars NASA-Derived Technology Captures Unique Inaugural Image Mars Rover Team Diagnosing Unexpected Behavior

The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright Space.TV Corporation. AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA Portal Reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space.TV Corp on any Web page published or hosted by Space.TV Corp. Privacy Statement