TIMESONLINE: Hillary Clinton today vigorously defended President Obama’s recent overtures to Iran, insisting that the US would be in a better position to organise “crippling” international sanctions should diplomacy fail.
Giving her first congressional testimony on US foreign policy since becoming Secretary of State, Mrs Clinton said stopping Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon was one of the Obama administration’s highest priorities.
“We actually believe that by following the diplomatic path we are on, we gain credibility and influence with a number of nations who would have to participate in order to make the sanctions regime as tight and as crippling as we would want it to be,” Mrs Clinton told the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
“We know the imperative of preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons,” she added. “After years during which the United States basically sat on the sidelines, we are now a full partner” in international talks with Iran.
Iran said today that it welcomed “constructive” talks with world powers and the US, but added that it would press ahead with its programme to develop atomic energy. >>> Tim Reid in Washington | Wednesday, April 22, 2009
