Iran
Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner says the United States considers Iran's entire financial sector to be a threat to foreign governments and international businesses.
07 February 2013 U.S. Iran Sanctions Exempt Food, Medicine, Remittances U.S. sanctions have been steadily tightening on Iran as a result of the Iranian government’s continued failure to live up to its international obligations regarding its nuclear and ballistic missile activities. However, Americans have remained free to send humanitarian assistance to help the Iranian people, including food, medicine and money, according to the U.S. Treasury Department.
2012
13 December 2012 State Dept. on Sanctions Against Iranian Nuclear Networks Today the Secretaries of State and Treasury have imposed sanctions on seven Iranian private sector companies and five individuals for proliferating weapons of mass destruction pursuant to Executive Order 13382. These entities and individuals were designated because they provide the Iranian government goods, technology and services that increase Iran’s ability to enrich uranium and/or construct a heavy water moderated research reactor, both of which are activities prohibited by UN Security Council Resolutions.
08 November 2012 State Dept. on Sanctions Against Iranian Entities for Censorship Today, the U.S. Department of State reported to the Congress the designations of four Iranian individuals and five Iranian entities for having engaged in censorship or other activities that prohibit, limit, or penalize freedom of expression or assembly by citizens of Iran, or that limit access to print or broadcast media, including by jamming international satellite broadcasts into Iran, and related activities.
18 October 2012 Rewards for Justice - al-Qaida Reward Offers The Department’s Rewards for Justice program is offering rewards for information on two key Iran-based facilitators and financiers of the al-Qaida terrorist organization. The U.S. Department of State has authorized a reward of up to $7 million for information leading to the location of Iran-based senior facilitator and financier Muhsin al-Fadhli and up to $5 million for information leading to the location of his deputy, Adel Radi Saqr al-Wahabi al-Harbi.
25 September 2012 World Cannot Contain Challenge of Nuclear-Armed Iran, Obama Says President Obama says the United States “will do what we must” to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon because of the global and regional threat that a nuclear-armed Iran would pose.
21 August 2012 U.S. Treasury Authorizes Assistance for Iran Earthquake Victims “The United States has made it clear that it would offer assistance to the Iranian people as they recover and rebuild” following the August 11 earthquake that ravaged northwestern Iran, said an August 21 statement from the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).
15 August 2012 Panetta: Iran Increases Support to Assad Regime Iran is increasing its presence in Syria, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta said August 14, through apparent efforts to bolster the Bashar Assad regime by training a militia and other tactics.
12 August 2012 White House on Earthquake in Iran
10 August 2012 U.S. Sanctions Syrian Oil Company for Selling Gas to Iran The United States has imposed sanctions on Syria’s state-run oil company for selling gasoline to Iran, saying it will “employ all available measures” to halt sales of refined petroleum products to Iran.
01 August 2012 Expanded U.S. Sanctions on Iran Focus on Petrochemicals, Banks President Obama has broadened U.S. sanctions on Iran as concerns continue over the country’s nuclear program and its failure to comply with its international obligations to suspend uranium enrichment and demonstrate that it is not developing nuclear weapons under the guise of a civilian energy program.
31 July 2012 White House Fact Sheet on Additional Iran Sanctions In July 2012, the Obama Administration took two actions to further
isolate and penalize Iran for its refusal to live up to its
international obligations regarding its nuclear program, and to hold
accountable financial institutions that knowingly provide financial
services to Iranian banks that are under U.S. sanctions for their
connection to illicit activities. These steps are part of President
Obama’s commitment to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons by
raising the cost of Iran’s defiance of the international community.
• Obama on Additional Sanctions Related to Iran
12 July 2012 Announcement of Increased Sanctions Against Government of Iran Today, the United States is imposing additional sanctions on Iran’s
nuclear and ballistic missile proliferation networks, and is also taking
additional steps to prevent the evasion of sanctions by publicly
identifying a group of Iranian front companies and banks. These actions
are part of the United States government’s dual-track approach of
increasing pressure to convince Iran to engage seriously and address the
international community’s concerns about its nuclear program.
• State Dept Fact Sheet : Increasing Sanctions Against Iran
11 June 2012 Clinton on Reduction of Oil Purchases from Iran "Today I have made the determination that seven economies have all significantly reduced their volume of crude oil purchases from Iran. They join the 11 countries for which I made this determination in March. As a result, I will report to the Congress that sanctions pursuant to Section 1245(d)(1) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012 will not apply to their financial institutions for a potentially renewable period of 180 days."
05 June 2012 U.S. Envoy Wood on Implementation of NPT on Iran "The Director General's resulting conclusions are clear: the [IAEA] Agency is still unable to provide credible assurance about the absence of undeclared nuclear material and activities in Iran, and therefore cannot conclude that all nuclear material in Iran is in peaceful activities."
01 May 2012 Treasury: New Order Targeting Foreign Iran, Syria Sanctions Evaders The President signed an Executive Order (E.O.), “Prohibiting Certain Transactions with and Suspending Entry into the United States of Foreign Sanctions Evaders with Respect to Iran and Syria,” providing the U.S. Treasury Department with a new authority to tighten further the U.S. sanctions on Iran and Syria.
24 April 2012 U.S. Government Targets Computer-Using Abusers in Iran, Syria President Obama issued an executive order that targets
people in Iran and Syria using information technology to commit human
rights abuses. The order places sanctions on people involved in computer or network
disruption or who are engaged in monitoring that enables human rights
abuses by the government of Iran or Syria, the U.S. Treasury Department
said in an April 23 press release. The sanctions block any assets they
may have in the United States and prohibit U.S. people from engaging in
any transactions with them.
• White House: Sanctions Against Those Complicit in Grave Human Rights Abuses Via IT in Syria and Iran
01 April 2012 Briefing on U.S. Sanctions on Iranian Oil-Related Transactions Background conference call by senior administration officials on presidential determination required pursuant to Section 1245 of the 2012 National Defense Authorization act
22 March 2012 U.S. Exempts 11 Nations on Iran Oil Sanctions Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton praised 11 nations — 10 European nations and Japan — for substantially reducing their purchases of oil from Iran. The 11 nations — Belgium, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain and the United Kingdom — were granted waivers by Clinton and will not be charged with penalties under a U.S. law that would impose sanctions on those nations who buy oil supplies from Iran. The waiver is for a renewable period of 180 days.
20 March 2012 Statement on Significant Reductions of Iranian Crude Oil Purchases Secretary Clinton: "I am pleased to announce that an initial group of eleven countries has significantly reduced their volume of crude oil purchases from Iran -- Belgium, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain, and the United Kingdom."
05 March 2012 Obama Will Prevent Iran from Getting Nuclear Weapon President Obama says he is dedicated to preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, arguing that if Iran becomes a nuclear-armed power it would spark an arms race in the Middle East and Iran could supply a nuclear device to a terrorist group.
01 March 2012 Iran Sanctions Enter New Phase, U.S. Official Says The United States and its partners are tightening sanctions against Iran to compel it to stop its illicit nuclear program, a U.S. Treasury official says.
17 February 2012 U.S., EU Want Sustained and Productive Talks with Iran Clinton welcomed Iran's apparent readiness to return to talks, but said, "If we do proceed, it will have to be a sustained effort that can produce results."
16 February 2012 Sanctions on Iran's Ministry of Intelligence and Security
Today the United States Government took three separate sanctions actions against Iran’s primary intelligence agency, the Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS). MOIS was designated for its involvement in the commission of serious human rights abuses against the Iranian people, as well as its support to terrorist groups, including al-Qa’ida, Hizballah and Hamas.
16 February 2012 Assistant Secretary Gordon’s Interview with BBC on Iran
06 February 2012 Obama Orders Stricter Sanctions Against Iran President Obama ordered stricter sanctions be imposed on Iran and its central bank for noncompliance with its international obligations to halt development of nuclear weapons. He also cited weaknesses in Iran’s regime to fight money-laundering, which pose an unacceptable risk to the international financial system.
26 January 2012 U.S. Hits Key Iranian Bank with Sanctions The United States has imposed sanctions on a key Iranian bank for its involvement in Iran’s sensitive nuclear program, the U.S. Treasury Department announced January. Bank Tejarat, Iran’s third-largest bank, was designated by the department for providing services to Iranian financial institutions and companies that already are subject to international sanctions related to Iran’s nuclear program.
23 January 2012 Obama, Clinton and Geithner Welcome New EU Sanctions on Iran President Obama, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner welcomed new European Union sanctions on Iran, measures agreed to by the organization’s Foreign Affairs Council in an effort to increase the pressure on Tehran to address concerns surrounding its nuclear activities.
17 January 2012 Rescuing Iranian Sailors? U.S. Says It Is Just Doing Its Duty Recent actions by U.S. Navy and NATO ships to rescue Iranian mariners endangered by shipboard mechanical problems or pirates reflect a longstanding international custom on the world’s high seas that whenever a seafarer is in distress, the first duty to respond outweighs any other concerns. In recent weeks, meeting the call of those in distress has happened several times.
11 January 2012 Ambassador DiCarlo’s Remarks at U.N. on Iran’s Nuclear Program Obviously, Iran has no justification for enriching uranium at this level, not for peaceful uses. We have very serious concerns about this blatant disregard for fulfillment of their international obligations. We too have made very clear and called on Iran to cease uranium enrichment and to come back to negotiations with the P5 plus 1.
10 January 2011 Secretary Clinton on Iran’s Announcement on Qom Facility The United States condemns the Iranian government’s decision to begin enrichment operations at its Qom facility, an act contrary to its obligations under multiple United Nations Security Council and International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Board of Governors resolutions. This step once again demonstrates the Iranian regime’s blatant disregard for its responsibilities and that the country’s growing isolation is self-inflicted.
07 January 2012 U.S. Rescues Iranians Held Hostage by Pirates A U.S. Navy ship has rescued 13 Iranians being held hostage by pirates in the Arabian Sea, days after Iran warned U.S. vessels not to return to the Persian Gulf. The U.S. Navy announced Friday that it detected the pirates' skiff alongside the Iranian fishing vessel, the Al Molai, on Thursday after receiving a distress call from the Iranian ship. The Navy said a team of military personnel from the destroyer USS Kidd boarded the Iranian vessel, or dhow, and detained 15 pirates who were holding the Iranians hostage.
2011
21 December 2011 Ambassador Rice on Iran and Resolution 1737 The United States would like to express appreciation for the Panel's recent work, including its Midterm Report and its recent report on Iran’s space-launch activity, which involved both projects related to ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons and launches using ballistic missile technology in violation of resolution 1929 (2010).
07 December 2011 White House on Iran’s Blockage of Virtual Embassy Tehran
06 December 2011 Virtual Embassy Tehran
22 November 2011 Iran Cut Off from U.S., U.K. and Canadian Financial Systems Iran’s continued violation of its international nuclear obligations, as outlined in a recent International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) report, has been met with new sanctions from the United States that target its financial, petroleum and nuclear sectors, and President Obama has warned that Iran will face more isolation and pressure if it “continues down this dangerous path.”
21 November 2011 New Sanctions on Iran Secretary Clinton: "The message is clear: If Iran’s intransigence continues, it will face increasing pressure and isolation....Today the United States is taking a series of steps to sharpen this choice."
• President Obama on Additional Sanctions on Iran
• Fact Sheet : New Sanctions on Iran
• White House Executive Order -- Iran Sanctions
18 November 2011 International Atomic Energy Agency Board of Governors' Resolution on Iran We welcome today’s resolution by the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) Board of Governors to hold Iran accountable for its failure to cooperate on its nuclear program. The world has sent a clear and unified message to Tehran that it is deeply troubled by the evidence revealed in last week’s report by Director General Amano.
26 October 2011 Secretary Clinton’s Interview with BBC Persia Interview of Secretary of State Clinton with Bahman Kalbasi of BBC Persia
18 October 2011 Interim Report of the UN Special Rapporteur for Human Rights in Iran "We welcome the first interim report by the UN Special Rapporteur for human rights in Iran, Dr. Ahmed Shaheed, and take note of his assessment regarding the Iranian government’s “pattern of systemic violation” of its citizens’ rights. The UN Secretary General’s report on Iran’s human rights situation also described an “intensified” campaign of abuses."
15 October 2011 U.S. Seeks Iran Sanctions Enforcement After Assassination Plot The United States is urging the international community to consider the ramifications of the alleged plot involving members of the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ Quds Force to assassinate a Saudi Arabian diplomat. U.S. officials are asking other nations to join the Obama administration in implementing financial sanctions to further isolate Iran’s regime and pressure it to comply with international demands concerning its nuclear activities, support for terrorism and the repression of its people.
12 October 2011 Obama: Iranian Plot a Flagrant Violation of International Law President Obama says an alleged Iranian plot to assassinate Saudi Arabian Ambassador to the United States Adel al-Jubeir and kill Americans in the United States is “a flagrant violation of U.S. and international law.
11 October 2011 U.S. Attorney General on Assassination Plot against Saudi Envoy The Department of Justice announced charges against two people who allegedly attempted to carry out a deadly plot that was directed by factions of the Iranian government to assassinate a foreign ambassador here in the United States.
12 September 2011 Bushehr Fuel Deal Shows There Is No Need for Iranian Enrichment The Obama administration noted the official inauguration of Iran’s Bushehr nuclear reactor and says the agreement by which Russia will be providing uranium for the facility as well as taking back its spent fuel “underscores the point that Iran doesn’t need its own enrichment facilities.”
07 September 2011 Ambassador Rice at U.N. Briefing on Iran and Resolution 1737 Remarks by Ambassador Susan E. Rice, U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations, at a Security Council Briefing on Iran and Resolution 1737.
07 July 2011 Persecution of Religious Minorities in Iran "We join the international community in continuing to call on the Iranian government to respect the fundamental rights of all its citizens and uphold its international commitments to protect them."
23 June 2011 Joint Statement on Iran Sanctions Joint statement by U.S. Department of State Secretary Hillary Clinton and U.S. Department of the Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner on Iran sanctions.
09 June 2011 U.S. Sanctions Iranian Security Forces for Rights Violations The United States is marking the second anniversary of the violent repression of Iran's opposition by imposing sanctions on the security forces involved in the crackdown. The sanctions announced against Iran's Islamic Republican Guard Corps, the Basij militia, the national police and police commander Ismail Ahmadi Moghadam are the most recent in a series imposed on Iranian officials and organizations for violations of human rights.
24 May 2011 State Department Briefing on Latest Iran Sanctions
17 May 2011 Clinton, EU's Ashton Say Iran Must Take Nuclear Talks Seriously The United States and the European Union called on Iran to drop its preconditions and agree to serious talks on its nuclear program and to start addressing the international community’s concerns that its civilian nuclear program is being used as a cover for the development of nuclear weapons.
11 May 2011 Human Rights and Democratic Reform in Iran Statement before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Subcommittee on Near Eastern and South and Central Asian Affairs.
29 March 2011 Announcement on Iran Sanctions Act
23 February 2011 Deteriorating Human Rights Situation in Iran
23 February 2011 U.S. Designates Iranian Officials for Human Rights Abuses The U.S. State and Treasury departments have announced the designation of two Iranian officials for “serious human rights abuses in Iran.”
14 February 2011 Clinton Says Iranian Aspirations Similar to Those of Egyptians Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said the Obama administration’s support for the aspirations of the Egyptian people is also true for Iran, and that the protests under way in Iran are “a testament to the courage of the Iranian people.”
20 January 2011 U.S. Hoping for Constructive Talks with Iran in Istanbul The United States is hoping that talks in Turkey with Iranian officials will evolve into a "meaningful and practical negotiation process" that will address the international community’s concerns over Iran’s nuclear activities, according to State Department spokesman Mark Toner. Toner also said the Obama administration is willing to discuss an updated deal to provide nuclear fuel for Iran’s Tehran Research Reactor (TRR).
06 January 2011 Iranian World Bank Economist Counts the Cost of Barriers to Women Nadereh Chamlou is a citizen of the world who has stayed put, an optimistic practitioner of the "dismal science" of economics. As senior adviser to the World Bank's chief economist for the Middle East and North Africa, Chamlou is an authority on the crucial difference women can play in the economic success of families, companies and countries. She has seen that in her native Iran, where women represent a higher proportion of the work force than in surrounding countries.
10 January 2011 Clinton: Iran Sanctions Working, Need to Be Maintained Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said economic sanctions are slowing down Iran's ability to acquire nuclear weapons, and she urged Iran's neighbors to maintain pressure on the country. Speaking to university students in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Clinton said, "The most recent analysis is that sanctions have been working" and they "have made it much more difficult for Iran to pursue its nuclear ambitions."
07 December 2010 U.S. Hopes Talks with Iran Have Started a "Serious Process" The Obama administration hopes that December 6–7 meetings in Geneva between representatives of Iran, China, Russia, France, the United Kingdom, the United States and Germany mark the beginning of “a serious process” to address the global concerns over Iran’s nuclear activities. State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley said the United States is encouraged by European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton’s announcement that the talks between Iran and the other countries, collectively known as the P5+1, will continue in late January 2011 in Istanbul, Turkey.
03 December 2010 Clinton in Bahrain: Iran's Nuclear Activities Threaten Mideast Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton says there is "no debate" in the international community over shared concern that Iran may be developing nuclear weapons, and that Iran's neighbors view the threat even more acutely. She also urged Iran to "engage seriously" during upcoming talks in Geneva.
10 November 2010 In Iran, Trying to Make Sense of a Very Different Democracy Hooman Majd is trying to explain Iran to the United States, and he wishes someone would explain the United States to Iran. Majd, a Western-raised son of a pre-revolution Iranian diplomat, has spent years doing the journalistic equivalent of shuttle diplomacy, traveling between the two countries and writing about their troubled, complicated ties, as well as writing about an Iranian political, social and religious landscape that outsiders find baffling.
27 October 2010 Treasury Exposes Efforts by Iran to Avoid Sanctions on Shipping The U.S. Department of the Treasury today announced the designation of 37 front companies based in Germany, Malta, and Cyprus and five Iranian individuals for being owned or controlled by, or acting for or on behalf of, the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines and its affiliates.
30 September 2010 Pressure Increases to Discourage Energy Investment in Iran The Obama administration is working with international companies invested in Iran’s energy sector to encourage them to withdraw, announcing September 30 that four major energy companies have agreed to terminate their investments. And the United States has imposed economic sanctions on a Swiss-based company that has continued its dealings with Iran’s petroleum sector.
29 September 2010 Iranian Human Rights Abusers Slapped With U.S. Sanctions For the first time, the United States is sanctioning individuals inside Iran for human rights abuses, using a recently enacted law to seize U.S. assets and deny visas to individuals who are responsible for or complicit in serious human rights violations against the Iranian people during or after the country’s disputed June 2009 presidential election.
24 September 2010 Obama Chastises Ahmadinejad, Challenges Iran to Change Course A day after an inflammatory speech in New York by Iran's president, President Obama is offering Iranians a scenario for better relations with the U.S., an end to sanctions and a role to play from the Palestinian Territories to Afghanistan. The common thread: Iran's government must choose a more responsible path.
20 September 2010 Treasury Official on U.S. Strategy for Iranian Nuclear Program Remarks by Stuart Levey, Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, D.C.
16 September 2010 Statement by Ambassador Rice on Iran and Resolution 1737 U.S. goal is to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons.
07 September 2010 A Joyful Picture of a Timeless Iran Nasser Ovissi says his parents had a concern about their son the painter: "My parents told [me] that if you study art and become artist, you will die of hunger." So, at their urging, he studied political science and became a cultural affairs officer in the Iranian diplomatic corps in 1958. He would have a practical career to support him if art would not.
09 August 2010 To Reassure World, Iran's Leaders "Know What They Have to Do" The Obama administration remains committed to peaceful dialogue with Iran to resolve international concerns over its nuclear activities, but Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton says Iran’s leadership "holds the keys" to a successful engagement.
04 August 2010 Sanctions Against Iran Dissuading Overseas Investment, U.S. Says The State Department says it is seeing increasing reluctance by international companies to put assets at risk by providing insurance or capital for projects associated with Iran following the recent tightening of sanctions against that nation. This reluctance, according to U.S. officials, “is having an effect” on the ground in Iran, and might be moving the Iranian government toward a serious dialogue that could address international concerns about Iran’s nuclear activities.
30 July 2010 U.S. Officials to Press Enforcement of Iran Sanctions Senior U.S. officials are traveling in August to East Asia, the Middle East and South America seeking compliance with obligations in the U.N. Security Council sanctions on Iran and North Korea over nuclear weapons development programs.
26 July 2010 State, Treasury Secretaries' Joint Statement on Iran Sanctions U.S. welcomes new European, Canadian measures to hold Iran accountable.
16 July 2010 Statement by President Obama on Bombings in Iran U.S. strongly condemns terrorist attacks on a mosque in southeast Iran.
01 July 2010 Obama to Sign Bill on Additional U.S. Sanctions Against Iran President Obama will sign legislation that expands unilateral U.S. sanctions against Iran’s energy and financial sectors in response to the country’s nuclear activities. The legislation Obama will sign, would exclude from the U.S. market companies involved in selling refined petroleum products to Iran and would prevent foreign banks from accessing the U.S. financial system if they do business with key Iranian institutions or Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Corps.
16 June 2010 A Long March to Human Rights in Iran Negar says that when she and her friends poured onto the streets of Tehran in June 2009 to protest the official results of the Iranian presidential election, they were sure that they had altered Iran’s future. "Everything changed in one night. Unbelievable," she said.
15 June 2010 U.N. Rights Body Rebukes Iran on Human Rights The United States joined 55 other nations in rebuking Iran for its lack of progress in providing human rights protections for its citizens after national elections in June 2009. Norway’s representative to the U.N. Human Rights Council, Ambassador Bente Angell-Hansen, read a statement during the 14th session of the council that expressed concern about the Iranian regime’s treatment of its citizens following disputed national elections a year ago.
09 June 2010 Obama on U.N. Security Council Resolution on Iran Sanctions Says Iran has failed to live up to its obligations under NPT.
09 June 2010 Statement by Foreign Ministers of P5+1 on the Adoption of UNSCR
1929 on Iran "We, the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of China, France,
Germany, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States, would like to take
this opportunity to reaffirm our determination and commitment to seek an early
negotiated solution to the Iranian nuclear issue. The adoption of UNSCR 1929,
while reflecting the international community's concern about the Iranian nuclear
program and reconfirming the need for Iran to comply with the UN Security
Council and IAEA Board of Governors requirements, keeps the door open for
continued engagement between P5+1 and Iran."
• U.N. Security Council Resolution 1929 on Sanctions Against
Iran
09 June 2010 Secretary Clinton on the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 1929 on Iran
02 June 2010 A Battle over Ancient Bits of Clay The fate of clay tablets that recorded details of everyday government transactions in the Persian Empire 2,500 years ago might depend on maneuverings in the government of the modern United States. A proposed amendment to the annual U.S. Defense Department authorization bill would protect cultural artifacts from seizure for a foreign government’s debt if the artifacts are held by institutions such as museums and libraries.
25 May 2010 Clinton Says Iran Nuclear Swap Plan a Ploy Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, in China for strategic and economic negotiations, says a plan offered by Iran to swap some of its enriched uranium for reactor fuel is a “transparent ploy” to avoid U.N. Security Council sanctions.
18 May 2010 Major Powers Agree on Iran Sanctions Secretary of
State Hillary Rodham Clinton says the major powers have agreed on a
draft sanctions resolution against Iran’s nuclear weapons program.
• Remarks
by Amb. Susan E. Rice, U.S. Permanent Representative to the United
Nations On the P5+1 Draft Sanctions Resolution on Iran
17 May 2010 U.S. Not Convinced by Iranian Nuclear Arrangement The United States will continue to work with its partners and the U.N. Security Council to convince the Iranian regime that it must show its willingness to live up to international obligations and forgo a nuclear weapons development program, White House press secretary Robert Gibbs says.
22 April 2010 Reports of Syrian Arms Transfers to Hizballah Raise Concerns Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says the United States is concerned by reports that suggest Syria is transferring arms to the Iranian-backed Hizballah militia group in Lebanon. She also said the return of a U.S. ambassador to Damascus would improve communication between Syria and the United States.
13 April 2010 U.S., China Share Concern over Iranian Nuclear Program President Obama and Chinese President Hu Jintao have instructed their delegations to work with other nations and the U.N. Security Council in drafting potential sanctions against Iran over its nuclear development program, a senior presidential adviser says.
20 March 2010 Remarks of President Obama Marking Nowruz President Obama extends best wishes to all who are celebrating Nowruz in the United States and around the world and also discusses U.S. relations with Iran.
15 March 2010 Secretary Clinton's Interview with CNN’s Jill Dougherty Discusses women's rights, Middle East peace process, Afghanistan and Iran.
12 March 2010 State Department on Persecution of Religious Minorities in Iran Urges Iran to meet obligations under Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
03 March 2010 Iran Could Face Further Economic Sanctions over Nuclear Program The Iranian regime’s refusal to provide a full disclosure of its nuclear development program to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) will leave the international community no choice but to pursue further, deeper economic sanctions, U.S. Ambassador Glyn Davies said March 3. The IAEA 35-nation board of governors is holding a weeklong meeting in Vienna, and the major topic has been Iran and its nuclear development program.
25 February 2010 Clinton: Concern over Iran Should Be Addressed with “One Voice” The international community has “little choice” but to impose higher costs on Iran due to its provocative actions related to its nuclear program, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton tells congressional panels, adding that the Iranian leadership’s failure to respond to U.S. engagement efforts have helped to build international consensus in support of economic sanctions that some countries might have opposed otherwise.
17 February 2010 Iranian Decisions Increasingly Being Made by Revolutionary Guard Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton’s observation that Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) is supplanting the country’s political leadership reflects an assessment by U.S. officials that the IRGC is increasing its responsibility well beyond Iran’s security sector. The IRGC is influencing the country’s decisions on the brutal suppression of Iran’s political opposition and on President Obama’s offers of engagement, U.S. officials say.
15 February 2010 U.N. Sanctions Against Iran Would Target Revolutionary Guard The United States wants the Middle East ultimately to be free of nuclear arms, and while the Obama administration remains open to engagement with Iran, it is working with others in the international community on economic sanctions to discourage the Iranian government from pursuing those weapons.
10 February 2010 Sanctions Against Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Affiliates Treasury freezes assets of supporters of weapons proliferation, terrorism.
03 February 2010 Iran Urged to Inform U.N. Agency of Position on Nuclear Deal Iran needs to inform the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on whether it has changed its position toward a proposed agreement that would enable it to have its uranium supply enriched for use in a Tehran medical research reactor, according to Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs P.J. Crowley.
12 January 2010 United States, Allies Exploring Further Sanctions Against Iran The United States believes that the most effective way to convince Iran to abandon nuclear weapons efforts is to impose highly targeted sanctions against the Iranian leadership’s political and commercial base. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton told reporters January 11 who were accompanying her on a 10-day trip to the Asia-Pacific region that the six nations actively engaged in talks tentatively are set to meet about January 16 in New York to explore the kind and degree of sanctions that will best suit the emerging situation.
05 January 2010 Allies Want Nuclear Talks with Iran to Stay Open The United States and its allies are trying to keep talks with Iranian officials over its nuclear development program open and moving forward, but additional pressure and sanctions may be appropriate, says Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. “We remain committed to working with our international partners on addressing the serious concerns we have regarding Iran’s nuclear program,” Clinton said 04 January at a Washington press briefing with Qatar Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad Bin Jassim Bin Jabr Al-Thani.
28 December 2009 Iranian Demonstrators Have Admiration of the World, Obama Says President Obama says the Iranian government has an international obligation to respect the rights of its people, and he joined the international community in strongly condemning the “violent and unjust suppression” of demonstrators who have been voicing opposition to their government since the country’s disputed June 12 presidential election.
22 December 2009 Deadline for Iranian Response to Nuclear Offer Is Real, U.S. Says Iran must live up to its nuclear responsibilities or face new pressure from the international community, White House press secretary Robert Gibbs told reporters, adding that the December 31 deadline for its response to a proposed agreement that would allow it to receive enriched uranium for medical use is “very real.”
18 December 2009 U.N. Calls on Iran to Address Serious Human Rights Violations U.S. welcomes resolution, calls on Iran to respect human rights obligations
16 December 2009 Test Undermines Iranian Claims, Official Says Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell today expressed concern over Iran’s reported test-fire yesterday of a medium-range missile, saying it undermines Tehran’s claim of peaceful intentions regarding its nuclear program.
15 December 2009 Clinton Says Iranian Actions Have Heightened Concerns
11 December 2009 White House Statement on European Council Declaration on Iran U.S. and international partners, call on Iran to comply on nuclear program.
10 December 2009 United States Condemns Iran’s Nuclear Sanctions Violations The U.N. ambassadors from the United States, Britain and France strongly condemned repeated sanctions violations by Iran over its controversial nuclear development program, and warned of possible further sanctions.
27 November 2009 IAEA Censure of Iran Sends a Strong Unified Signal, U.S. Says U.S. officials say the censure of Iran by the International Atomic Energy Agency’s board of governors sends a strong signal on the country’s continued noncompliance with its obligations for its nuclear program and underscores the international community’s collective concern about Iran’s nuclear activities.
27 November 2009 Press
Briefing on IAEA Resolution on Iran Background briefing by Senior
Administration Officials
on the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
Board of Governors’ Resolution on Iran.
17 November 2009 IAEA Report Shows Iranian Nuclear Activities Have Expanded An International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) report on Iran’s nuclear activities underscores the country’s continued refusal to comply fully with its international nuclear obligations, State Department spokesman Ian Kelly says ...
16 November 2009 Experts See Sustained Human Rights Movement Emerging in Iran To overcome a legacy of suspicion and mistrust, the United States should inaugurate a process of long-term, patient engagement with Iran on a wide range of issues — including its nuclear and human rights policies — according to a distinguished panel of scholars and diplomats appearing on Capitol Hill November 4.
10 November 2009 Iran’s Acceptance of Enrichment Deal Would Build World Confidence The Obama administration continues to expect a favorable response from Iran to a proposed deal that would allow Iran to obtain nuclear fuel for medical isotopes, but Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton noted that internal debate within the Iranian government may account for its failure thus far to respond to the international offer.
23 October 2009 Iran Delays Answer on Draft Enrichment Proposal The United States, France and Russia have given the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) a “positive response” to a draft proposal to supply Iran with nuclear fuel for a medical research reactor, but Iran has asked for a few more days to consider the arrangement.
16 October 2009 Clinton Optimistic About Russian Support on Iran, Missile Defense On October 13 during a trip to Russia, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton gave an extensive interview with the ABC News program Nightline.
13 October 2009 Clinton, Lavrov: No Iran Sanctions Yet U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says it is not yet time for additional sanctions against Iran, and she praised Russia for its cooperation on the issue. Clinton spoke to reporters in Moscow on October 13 after meeting Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
06 October 2009 Minimizing Potential Threats from Iran: Administration Perspectives on Economic Sanctions and Other U.S. Policy Options. Statement by Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg before the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee.
01 October 2009 Obama Says Iran Talks "Constructive" but Need Follow-Up Action President Obama says the first day of talks between Iran and representatives from the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council plus Germany (collectively known as the P5+1) were a "constructive beginning," but Iran's government needs to follow up pledges of cooperation with "constructive action."
30 September 2009 Ahead of Geneva Meeting, U.S. Says Burden of Proof Is on Iran When diplomats gather in Geneva on October 1 for meetings with Iranian representatives, they will be asking Iran for proof that the many statements it has made that describe its nuclear activities as being for purely peaceful purposes are accurate.
• Background Briefing by Senior U.S. Officials on P5+1 Talks
28 September 2009 Iran's Obligations Under Nonproliferation Treaty [From the State Department daily press briefing]. Assistant Secretary Crowley "Iran has obligations under the Nonproliferation Treaty.
25 September 2009 Statements By President Obama, French President Sarkozy, And British Prime Minister Brown On Iranian Nuclear Facility
24 September 2009 Group Hopes Meeting with Iran Will Clarify Nuclear Intentions The six nations engaged with Iran over its nuclear program expressed their shared concerns about Iranian nuclear activities as well as their expectation that Iran will be prepared to have “serious and substantive discussions” when all the parties meet in Geneva October 1.
15 September 2009 Iranian Negotiator Agrees to October 1 Talks with Six Powers Iran can abandon its nuclear weapons development program and join the international community, or it can face increased international isolation, said a State Department official.
14 September 2009 P5+1 Talks With Iran Being Planned for October 1st "... We plan to address this issue of their not living up to their obligations head on. We – this is going to be front and center in our talks with them on October 1st. And we are not planning to start a whole new process here. This is just going to – we’re going to sit down and have the opportunity to explain to them directly what their choice is."
10 September 2009 U.S. Raises New Concerns about Iran’s Bomb-Making Program Iran now may have enough enriched nuclear fuel to make a nuclear bomb, a senior U.S. diplomat said September 9 before the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna.
29 June 2009 Secretary Clinton On Iran during Remarks at Daily Press Briefing
26 June 2009 Obama Praises Demonstrators' "Enduring Pursuit of Justice" President Obama says the bravery of Iranian demonstrators as they face brutality from their government is "a testament to their enduring pursuit of justice," and he said if the Iranian government wants respect from the international community, it must respect the rights of its people.
23 June 2009 U.S. Appalled and Outraged by Violence Against Iranian Protesters President Obama says Iranian government actions against peaceful demonstrators since the country’s June 12 presidential election have been “unjust,” and images of silent demonstrations and the risks being taken by Iranian protesters show a “timeless dignity.”
• The President's Opening Remarks on Iran at Press Conference
23 June 2009 Gulf Nations Support of Iraq Contains Iran Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates today urged Persian Gulf countries to work together and with the United States on securing Iraq and containing Iranian ambitions.
22 June 2009 Obama Says Iranians Taking Risks to Have Their Voices Be Heard President Obama says the world is watching the Iranian government’s response to peaceful demonstrations, and its response will send the international community “a pretty clear signal … about what Iran is and is not.”
19 June 2009 Iranian Demonstrations “Extraordinary,” White House Says White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said ongoing demonstrations in protest of the official results of Iran’s June 12 presidential election show a “ferment of productive change” happening by Iranians inside Iran.
• President Obama's Statement on Iran
18 June 2009 Obama’s Interview with CNBC’s John Harwood on Iran (Excerpt) President Obama answers a question on Iranian election.
15 June 2009 Iran Must Respect the Right of Its People to Peaceful Expression The Obama administration is "deeply troubled" by news reports from Iran of violence and possible voting irregularities in the aftermath of the June 12 presidential election.
27 May 2009 Secretary Clinton Remarks With Roxana Saberi Before Their Meeting
11 May 2009 U.S. Heartened by Saberi's Release from Iranian Prison The United States is heartened by the release of Iranian-American journalist Roxana Saberi from Tehran’s Evin prison after an Iranian appeals court cut her eight-year prison term to a two-year suspended sentence, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said.
08 May 2009 Update on Arrest, Conviction of Silva Harotonian United States urges Iran’s leadership to grant her release.
18 April 2009 Clinton's Remarks on Sentencing of Roxana Saberi in Iran U.S. will continue to vigorously raise concerns to Iranian government.
20 March 2009 Obama Calls for New Beginning in U.S.-Iranian Relations In a special video message to the people of Iran, President Obama called for a "new day" in relations between Washington and Tehran and a future rooted in honest engagement and mutual respect.
05 March 2009 Six Powers Seek Diplomatic Solution to Iran Nuclear Dispute Top diplomats pledged renewed unity in efforts to convince Iran to freeze its uranium enrichment program and other sensitive nuclear activities and join the United States for international talks.
• Statement of "P5+1" Group on Iran's Nuclear Program
20 February 2009 Report Says Iran Has Enough Uranium to Make a Nuclear Bomb The U.S. finds an international nuclear inspection report that shows Iran has enough weapons-grade uranium on hand to make a nuclear bomb "deeply troubling," State Department deputy spokesman Gordon Duguid says.
• Taken Question on IAEA Director General's Report on Iran
10 February 2009 Obama Says U.S. Talks with Iran Must Be Built on Mutual Respect Future relations between the United States and Iran will depend significantly on the willingness of Iranian officials to set aside years of mistrust for cooperation, President Obama says.
04 February 2009 Nations Pledge Unity in Containing Iran's Nuclear Challenge Top diplomats pledged continued unity in efforts to convince Iran to suspend its nuclear program and welcomed President Obama's willingness to engage with Tehran.
28 January 2009 Analysis: Will Iran Accept America’s “Open Hand”? President Obama wants to bring change to nearly 30 years of strained ties between Iran and the United States.“If countries like Iran are willing to unclench their fist, they will find an extended hand from us,” Obama said in a January 27 interview with the Saudi satellite channel al-Arabiya.