Clinton Calls on Arab States to Help Stop Iran; Chides Palestinians’ Rumored UN Plans

David Streeter — January 10, 2011 – 3:40 pm | Foreign Policy | Iran | Israel | Terrorism Comments (0) Add a comment

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton recently called upon Arab states in the Middle East to assist the United States in enforcing sanctions against Iran because of its nuclear weapons ambitions. The AP reported:

Clinton told reporters accompanying her on a three-nation tour of the Persian Gulf that Iran ‘remains a serious concern’ no matter when it might be able to produce a nuclear weapon. And she urged countries in the region that do business with Iran ‘to do everything within reason’ to help ensure the sanctions are enforced.

‘We have had a consistent message to our friends in the Gulf that there is no part of the world that has more at stake in trying to deter Iran from becoming the creator and possessor of nuclear weapons than you,’ she said.

‘I don’t know that it gives much comfort to someone who is in the Gulf or in a country that Iran has vowed to destroy that it’s a one-year or three-year timeframe. So, I think we should keep the focus where it belongs,’ she said, referring to the sanctions and efforts by world powers to persuade Iran to halt uranium enrichment.

The AP also reported that Clinton told an audience that sanctions have affected Iran’s nuclear weapons program:

Clinton told a pan-Arab television talk show that sanctions against Iran have slowed its progress in developing nuclear weapons. But she said the world has to keep up the pressure. She said that if Iran is able to produce a nuclear weapon, it will spark a disastrous arms race in the region.

Clinton also firmly reiterated the United States’ opposition to the Palestinian Authority’s rumored plans to unilaterally declare a state or take diplomatic action against Israel from within the United Nations.

‘We continue to believe strongly that New York is not the place to resolve the longstanding conflict and outstanding issues between the Israelis and the Palestinians,’ Clinton said. ‘We do not think that that is a productive path for the Palestinians or anyone to pursue.’

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