Iran's announcement of its second nuclear facility has sparked condemnation from the West. Leaders of the US, France and Britain condemned Tehran on Friday for deceiving the international community.
US President Barack Obama accused Iran of breaking the UN's strict nuclear regulations. He demanded Tehran fully disclose its nuclear ambitions and warned of severe consequences if Iran failed to comply .
US President Barack Obama said, "Iran must comply with UN Security Council resolutions and make clear it is willing to meet its responsibilities as a member of the community of nations. We have offered Iran a clear path toward greater international integration if it lives up to its obligations, and that offer stands. But the Iranian government must now through deeds its peaceful intentions, or be held accountable to international standards and international law."
Britain and France echoed the US President's calls, accusing the Islamic republic of serial deception.
British PM Gordon Brown said, "The level of deception by the Iranian government, and the scale of what we believe is the breach of international commitments, will shock and anger the whole international community, and it will harden our resolve."
Brown warned Iran will be further isolated if it does not engage with the international community. French President Nicolas Sarkozy said Iran has until December to comply or face new sanctions.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy said, "We met yesterday for a summit meeting of the Security Council on non-proliferation and nuclear disarmament. I repeated my conviction that Iran was taking the international community on a dangerous path. I recalled all the attempts we have made to offer a negotiated solution to the Iranian leaders, without any success."
Iran has previously acknowledged having only one uranium enrichment plant under international monitoring. It has denied allegations of undeclared nuclear activities.
But Iran's reluctance to meet international demands for more transparency continues to fuel global apprehension for now.
(CCTV September 27, 2009)
