Obama on Iran: No options off table
- 12 years ago
U.S. President Barack Obama said Thursday that the United States was considering all options on Iran and would work with allies, including Israel, to prevent Tehran from acquiring a nuclear weapon.
Obama was asked about Iran at a White House news conference.
Reporter asking, (English):
"Are you intentionally trying to ramp up the pressure on Iran? And given that you stated that no options are off the table, should we take that to mean that you are considering some other options?"
U.S. President Barack Obama, saying, (English):
"No options off the table means I am considering all options."
Reporter asking, (English):
"Can you tell us what those options might be?"
U.S. President Barack Obama, saying, (English):
"No. Iran understands that they have a choice. They can break that isolation by acting responsibly and foreswearing the development of nuclear weapons, which would still allow them to pursue peaceful nuclear power like every other country that is a member of the nonproliferation treaty or they can continue to operate in a fashion that isolates them from the entire world. And if they are pursuing nuclear weapons, then I have said very clearly that is contrary to the national security interests of the United States, it is contrary to the national security interests of our allies, including Israel, and we are going to work with the world community to prevent that."
Tensions with the West rose after hardline students stormed two British diplomatic compounds in Tehran last week, in protest against new sanctions imposed after the U.N. nuclear watchdog suggested that Iran was pursuing nuclear weapons.
Britain closed its embassy and France, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands recalled their envoys.
Obama's comments come on the same day that Iranian TV aired footage of what it says is a downed U.S. drone.
Iranian military officials say they brought down the drone with minimal damage on Sunday in eastern Iran.
U.S. officials says there is no indication the aircraft had been shot down. They say a malfunction likely put the drone in Iranian hands.
Deborah Lutterbeck, Reuters.
Obama was asked about Iran at a White House news conference.
Reporter asking, (English):
"Are you intentionally trying to ramp up the pressure on Iran? And given that you stated that no options are off the table, should we take that to mean that you are considering some other options?"
U.S. President Barack Obama, saying, (English):
"No options off the table means I am considering all options."
Reporter asking, (English):
"Can you tell us what those options might be?"
U.S. President Barack Obama, saying, (English):
"No. Iran understands that they have a choice. They can break that isolation by acting responsibly and foreswearing the development of nuclear weapons, which would still allow them to pursue peaceful nuclear power like every other country that is a member of the nonproliferation treaty or they can continue to operate in a fashion that isolates them from the entire world. And if they are pursuing nuclear weapons, then I have said very clearly that is contrary to the national security interests of the United States, it is contrary to the national security interests of our allies, including Israel, and we are going to work with the world community to prevent that."
Tensions with the West rose after hardline students stormed two British diplomatic compounds in Tehran last week, in protest against new sanctions imposed after the U.N. nuclear watchdog suggested that Iran was pursuing nuclear weapons.
Britain closed its embassy and France, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands recalled their envoys.
Obama's comments come on the same day that Iranian TV aired footage of what it says is a downed U.S. drone.
Iranian military officials say they brought down the drone with minimal damage on Sunday in eastern Iran.
U.S. officials says there is no indication the aircraft had been shot down. They say a malfunction likely put the drone in Iranian hands.
Deborah Lutterbeck, Reuters.