United States Condemns Iran’s Announcement on Qom (January 10)

The United States condemns the Iranian government’s decision to begin enrichment operations at its Qomfacility, an act contrary to its obligations under multiple United Nations Security Council and InternationalAtomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Board of Governors resolutions. This step once again demonstrates the Iranianregime's blatant disregard for its responsibilities and that the country's growing isolation is self-inflicted.
The circumstances surrounding this latest action are especially troubling. Iran only declared the Qom facility tothe IAEA after it was discovered by the international community following three years of covert construction.Iran has announced it intends to consolidate and increase its production of uranium enriched to a near 20percent level at this facility. There is no plausible justification for this production. Such enrichment brings Irana significant step closer to having the capability to produce weapons-grade highly enriched uranium.

Iran claims that this decision was necessary to produce fuel for the Tehran Research Reactor (TRR). This isfalse. The P5+1 has offered alternatives for providing fuel for the TRR despite Iran’s longstanding refusal tofulfill its international nuclear obligations. Iran has refused these offers.

We call upon Iran to immediately cease uranium enrichment and to comply with its international nuclearobligations. We also call on Iran to return to negotiations with the P5+1, prepared to engage seriously on itsnuclear program, and urge Iran to reply to this effect to High Representative Ashton’s letter from October 2011.We reaffirm that our overall goal remains a comprehensive, negotiated solution that restores confidence in theexclusively peaceful nature of Iran's nuclear program while respecting Iran's right to the peaceful use of nuclearenergy consistent with its obligations under the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).