Posted on 04/21/2010 5:36:53 AM PDT by SJackson
SINGAPORE — The US has ruled out a military strike against Iran's nuclear program any time soon, hoping instead negotiations and United Nations sanctions will prevent the Middle East nation from developing nuclear weapons, a top US defense department official said Wednesday.
"Military force is an option of last resort," Undersecretary of Defense for Policy Michele Flournoy said during a press briefing in Singapore. "It's off the table in the near term."
The US and its allies fear Tehran is using its nuclear program to build arms. Iran denies the charges, and says its program only aims to generate electricity.
"Right now the focus is a combination of engagement and pressure in the form of sanctions," Flournoy said. "We have not seen Iran engage productively in response."
Iran has rejected a 2009 U.N.-backed plan that offered nuclear fuel rods to Tehran in exchange for Iran's stock of lower-level enriched uranium. The swap would curb Tehran's capacity to make a nuclear bomb.
Iran has proposed variations on the deal, and Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said Tuesday that a fuel agreement could be a chance to boost trust with the West.
Earlier this week, he said Iran wants direct talks about the deal with all the UN Security Council members, except one with which it would have indirect talks — a reference to the United States, which with Tehran has no relations.
The US is lobbying heavily in the Security Council for sanctions against Iran over its nuclear program.
If you’d like to be on or off, please FR mail me.
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This surprises no one, if it was "on", it would be over
even if it is “off the table” why say so?
thats the part i dont get.
It’s almost like he is trying to make a nuclear Iran possible. Wonder why that would be..................
Hear O Israel...you’re on your own.
You always were and always will be.
At least now, it’s out in the open.
So start acting like you’re on your own.
Don’t worry about taking out Iran’s reactors.
Take out Iran’s leaders.
Wooo, big surprise.....it’s up to you, Israel.
You have our blessing.
Armageddon?
“transparency” - at least, with ahmadinnerjacket
Neither do the simpleton's formulating our policy.
Obama has stated that when it get’s messy he’s going to side with the Muslims.
He’s not one of us.
It’s not only off the table, it is out the door and down the street, with the current regime headed by a Muslim Marxist in the Oval Office.
Imagine a world with Iran having nuclear tipped ICBMs.
It’s easy if you try.
You could wish in one hand and $hit in the other and see which one fills the fastest, that might work.
yeah, I wonder.
In 50 years with nuclear contaminated drinking water, uninhabited cities and toxic air, some of our surviving descendants when not scavenging for food, will wonder why no one had the b__s to stop Iran while we had the chance.
Why am I not surprised at the Socialist Muslim cowards in Washington, D.C. who made this decision. Impeach Obamalama!!
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