U.S. Says Iran Faces Choice Over Nuclear Program

The State Department said that Iran faces the choice of engagement or isolation as it continues its illicit pursuit of nuclear weapons.  “Iran still has a choice to make,” said State Department spokesman Sean McCormack on Tuesday.  “It can go down the pathway of increasing isolation.  It can go down the pathway of cooperation and having a peaceful civilian nuclear energy program, as well as… having the possibility of talks involving the United States at the table, which we can talk about anything.” McCormack added that Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice “has said she is willing to meet any time, any place, anywhere to meet with an Iranian representative in the context of those P-5-plus-1 talks.” Iran has repeatedly spurned multiple incentive offers by the United States and Europe that would provide Tehran with peaceful nuclear power and other benefits in exchange for a cessation of its uranium enrichment efforts.

Rice: Syrian Arms Buildup a Cause for Concern

During her flight on August 25 en route to Tel Aviv to encourage Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice condemned Syria’s ongoing arms build-up as a threat to further peace efforts between Jerusalem and Damascus. Syria’s actions come as it strengthens ties with Russia, which has supplied critical weaponry to Damascus. “I think the region will want to be concerned about a buildup of arms in Syria at a time when, in fact, the Syrians and the Israelis are…trying to talk peace,” Rice said. Syria, along with Iran, has long supported terrorist groups throughout the Middle East, including Hamas and Hizballah, both of which seek Israel’s destruction.

U.S. Warns Turkey on Iran Deal

The United States on August 13 warned Turkey not to strike an energy deal with Iran, noting that it would undermine diplomatic efforts to halt Tehran’s nuclear program, Reuters reported. “Such a deal by Turkey with Iran would send the wrong message at a time when the Iranian regime has repeatedly failed to comply with its U.N. Security Council and IAEA obligations,” the State Department said in a statement. The warning coincides with a visit to Istanbul by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who has repeatedly affirmed his determination to continue his country’s nuclear program. Click here to thank your member of Congress for supporting a critical resolution calling on the president to impose tougher sanctions on Iran.