nuclear weapons

U.S., EU to Take Iran to Security Council

By John Jessup
Washington Correspondent

CBN.com – WASHINGTON - For years, how to deal with Iran and its suspected nuclear weapons program has been a very complicated and difficult issue. But now, after Tehran recently resumed its program for uranium enrichment, there is growing consensus something must be done.

Now France has rejected Iran’s request for further diplomatic talks. And, the U.S. and European Union (EU) negotiators have begun drafting a resolution to take Tehran to the UN Security Council.

Meeting with an EU counterpart in Washington, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Iran’s disregard will not be tolerated.

“Iran must not be allowed to get a nuclear weapon; it must not be allowed to pursue activities that might lead to a nuclear weapon,” Rice stated.

But Iran is not backing down. Its hard-line president says he is unconcerned about talks of UN referral. Iran says it might cut its oil exports if the UN tries to impose sanctions. And he insists his country is only interested in developing alternative forms of energy.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad called this "a political move" and accused the West of being "arrogant" and thinking it's "the lord of the world." Then he went on to suggest that the U.S. and Europe will end up trying to "rely on their military" powers.

Some are not ruling that out. Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) declared, “We can't take the military off the table. But we have a lot of other options to pursue before then.”

Today, Israel's foreign minister called Iran the "greatest danger of our time" and called for a united front against Iran’s growing threat. If that leads to sanctions or military action, it could further inflame tensions in the Middle East and send oil prices soaring.

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