Clinton: Iran's attitude leaves us no choice
US Secretary of State meets European counterparts to discuss additional round of sanctions on Iran. US senators send letter to president, say military action could be inevitable
WASHINGTON - US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Thursday that "Iran's attitude regarding its nuclear program leaves the world community no choice but to increase pressure on Iran."
During a press conference following the convention on Afghanistan in London, Clinton said that pressure would be used in the hope that Iran would reconsider its position regarding diplomatic contacts.
Earlier, Clinton met with the foreign ministers of the UK, France, Germany and Italy to discuss Iran's nuclear program. Some sources reported that the five discussed the latest developments in the Iranian arena and the possibility of implementing another round of sanctions.
Meanwhile, the US House of Representatives and the Senate were calling to expedite steps against Iran in an attempt to prevent it from acquiring nuclear arms.
In a letter to President Obama, senators claimed military action in Iran might be needed, while members of the House of Representatives urged Clinton and Defense Secretary Robert Gates to "support Israel's sovereign right to take whatever action necessary for its own defense."
The two letters were presented Wednesday to high echelons in the administration.
Also on Thursday, US administration strongly condemned Iran's hanging of two men in the wake of political unrest in the country, calling the executions a "low point" in Tehran's crackdown on dissent.
"It will only serve to further isolate Iran's government in the world and from it's people," White House spokesman Bill Burton told reporters.
