White House: Iran report will echo US concerns

Ynetnews

The White House says it expects a pending report on Iran's nuclear capabilities to echo US concerns about Iran's behavior and its failure to live up to its international obligations.

But White House spokesman Jay Carney would not address the specific findings of an International Atomic Energy Agency report expected to be released in the coming week.

Diplomats have told The Associated Press that the new intelligence suggests Iran made computer models of a nuclear warhead, as well as other previously undisclosed details on alleged secret work by Tehran on nuclear arms.

Carney says the US continues to focus on using diplomatic channels to pressure Iran to abandon its nuclear program. But he says that the US continues to keep all options open when it comes to dealing with Iran.

Meanwhile, Germany's Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle told a newspaper that the debate about a military strike against Iran is dangerous and strengthens the leadership of the Islamic Republic rather than weakening it.

Israeli media have been rife with speculation that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is working to secure cabinet consensus for an attack on Iranian nuclear installations.

Western powers suspect Tehran of trying to develop nuclear weapons and have imposed sanctions in an attempt to curb its program. Iran denies seeking nuclear weapons and says its atom program is for power generation.

International community will not ignore Iran

"I warn against floating the idea of military options," Westerwelle told Hamburger Abendblatt. "These are debates...that strengthen the Iranian leadership rather than weaken it."

The UN nuclear watchdog, the IAEA, is expected this week to issue its most detailed report yet on research in Iran seen as geared to developing atomic bombs. But the Security Council is not expected impose stiffer sanctions as a result.

Westerwelle said, however, that if Iran was not cooperating, the "international community will not simply return to business as usual".

"Iran has the right to use nuclear energy for civil purposes but also the duty to exclude a military use," he said.