WASHINGTON, September 28 (RIA Novosti) - The U.S. described on Monday recent missile launches by Iran "provocative" and called on the Islamic Republic to return to the negotiating table.
Iran's national media said Monday the country had test launched the longest-range missile in its arsenal, capable of striking Israel and parts of Europe. The launches come a day after the start of large-scale missile drills and test-firing of short- and medium-range missiles on Sunday.
The U.S. press secretary Robert Gibbs was cited by thehill.com site as saying during a Monday briefing, "They have one of two paths that they can take. They can continue down the path they've been on ... or [Iran] can make a decision to step away from a nuclear weapons program, and build confidence in the world."
The launches come just days after the Islamic Republic announced it was building a second Uranium-enrichment facility further aggravating international tensions.
Gibbs backed the international nuclear watchdog's call "for immediate and unfettered access" to the new facility.
"I think that's certainly what we would hope Iran is willing to do, to engage in full transparency, to demonstrate to the world it will give up its nuclear weapons program and ensure that whatever it does is in the peaceful pursuit of nuclear energy," the press secretary said.
Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov also called on Iran to cooperate with the International Atomic Energy Agency to reach a settlement on the country's nuclear program prior to an upcoming October 1 Iran Six meeting.
"This meeting is acquiring special significance with the emergence of information that a second plant producing low-enriched uranium is being built in Iran," he said.
"In this context we have made clear our position and are calling for maximum cooperation to be displayed to allow the IAEA to clear up issues with the new facility," Lavrov said.
Iran is under three sets of UN Security Council sanctions over its refusal to halt uranium enrichment that could be used both for electricity generation and weapons production.
Iran's underground uranium enrichment center in Natanz, subject to UN inspections, has over 8,300 centrifuges and is expanding rapidly. Iranian authorities have repeatedly said the country needs 50,000 centrifuges to supply its future nuclear power plants with fuel.
Source:
http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/60563-gibbs-iran-must-offer-world-qunfettered-accessq
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