Biden: Tough on Iran at the European Parliament

David Streeter — May 7, 2010 – 8:23 am | Foreign Policy | Iran | Terrorism Comments (0) Add a comment

Vice President Joe Biden addressed the European Parliament in Brussels, Belgium yesterday and delivered the following tough message to Iran:

 

… [T]he United States and Europe are standing side-by side to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, a development that would endanger the citizens and menace its neighbors, including some of our closest allies. …

 

… [A]s the world has now watched and seen, Iranian leaders spurned our collective good-faith efforts and continue to take actions that threaten regional stability. 

 

Let me be state it flatly:  Iran’s nuclear program violates its obligations under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and risks sparking a nuclear arms race in the Middle East …

 

In addition, the Iranian leadership supports terrorist organizations and that support continues unabated.  And it continues unconscionably to persecute those of its citizens who peaceably take to the streets in a quest for justice, a betrayal of the duty of all governments in terms of what they owe their citizens.

 

Tehran faces a stark choice: abide by international rules and rejoin the community of responsible nations, which we hope for, or face further consequences and increasing isolation.

 

In the face of the threat Iran poses, we are committed to the security of our allies.  That is why we’ve deployed the phased, adaptive missile defense program to deter and defend against missile attacks on this continent—on this continent. 

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