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When President Barack Obama
addressed the United Nations General Assembly, he said that peace and
prosperity can only be reached through international cooperation. And that
cooperation must be based on a guiding principle:
"That all nations have rights,
but all nations have responsibilities as well. That is the bargain that makes
this work."
A day or two after Mr. Obama spoke, the international community was informed
that Iran has been building a covert uranium enrichment facility near the city
of Qom - - in violation of its international obligations to disclose all
nuclear-related activities.
President Obama said that the new enrichment facility "represents a direct
challenge to the basic compact at the center of the nonproliferation
regime":
"Iran has a right to peaceful nuclear
power that meets the energy needs of its people. But the size and configuration
of this facility is inconsistent with a peaceful program. Iran is breaking
rules that all nations must follow, endangering the global nonproliferation
regime, denying its own people access to the opportunity they deserve, and
threatening the stability and security of the region and the world."
President Obama said he remains committed to serious, meaningful engagement
with Iran over its nuclear program; but "it is time for Iran to act
immediately to restore the confidence of the international community by
fulfilling its international obligations. . . .To put it simply", said
President Obama, "Iran must comply with U.N. Security council resolutions
and make clear it is willing to meet its responsibilities as a member of the
community of nations."
