US: Iran will suffer for enrichment

Wed, 09 Jul 2008 22:38:33

US Under Secretary of State, William Burns says Iran's determination to enrich uranium will have 'increasing costs' for the country.

“Any continuation on its present course will entail high and increasing costs for Iran,” Burns said in prepared testimony to a House of Representatives panel. The US has adopted a carrot and stick policy toward Iran, on the one hand calling for a diplomatic solution to Tehran's nuclear standoff with the West, on the other hand threatening the country with military action.

"We view force as an option that is on the table but a last resort," said Burns while accusing Iran of trying to 'create the perception of advancement.' "It is apparent that Iran has not yet perfected enrichment, and as a direct result of UN sanctions, Iran's ability to procure technology or items of significance to its missile programs, even dual use items, is being impaired," he said.

Iran test-fired nine state-of-the-art long and medium-range missiles on Wednesday including Shahab-3 which is capable of hitting targets within a range of 2,000 kilometers. Officials in the Pentagon called the maneuvers 'troop trainings' similar to exercises Iran staged two years ago, but the US Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice seized the moment to justify the installment of an anti-missile shield in Eastern Europe. This is while Iran's Defense Minister Mostafa Mohammad-Najjar stated that the country's missile capabilities would only be used to protect the nation from invaders. (Source)

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