America speaking with FORK TONGUE as usual....
Obama warns of Iran threat to world economy
By Daniel Dombey in Washington
FT.COM
Published: March 30 2010 23:57 | Last updated: March 30 2010 23:57
Barack Obama on Tuesday warned that a conflict in the Middle East set off by Iran’s nuclear programme could destabilise the world economy as he and Nicolas Sarkozy, the French president, stepped up their push for sanctions on Tehran.
At a joint press conference at the White House during a day of meetings between the two leaders, Mr Obama said he wanted United Nations measures against Tehran in weeks not months, but acknowledged that the world’s big powers were still not united.
“A conflict in the Middle East, as a consequence of Iran’s actions, could have a huge destabilizing effect in terms of the world economy at a time when it’s just coming out of a very deep recession,” the US president said.
His remarks reinforced his administration’s consistent message to Israel, which Washington has sought to rein in from considering any military action against Iran’s nuclear programme.
But the alternative set out by Washington of securing UN sanctions has experienced difficulties and delays because of resistance from countries such as China, which has a Security Council veto, and Turkey and Brazil.
“It’s still difficult, partly because, let’s be honest, Iran is an oil producer, and there are a lot of countries around the world that, regardless of Iran’s offences, are thinking that their commercial interests are more important to them than these long-term geopolitical interests,” Mr Obama said on Tuesday. “We have to make sure that we are communicating very clearly that this is very important to the US.”
US officials seek a similar sanctions regime to one imposed on North Korea last year and express hope that if they can win China round, a UN resolution will soon follow. But some foreign diplomats say a deal may not be reached until June at the earliest – in spite of Mr Obama’s earlier comments that Iran faced “consequences” if it did not rein in its nuclear programme by the end of last year.
The issue is also moving up the US agenda, amid work by the country’s intelligence agencies to update a 2007 National Intelligence Estimate on Iran which concluded that Tehran had halted weaponisation efforts in 2003 – a finding contested by some of Washington’s closest allies. The update is expected to be ready during the summer.
Mr Sarkozy declared his backing for “stronger, tougher sanctions at the Security Council”.
On the air-tanker contract he said: “If you say to me that the request for proposals, the call for tenders will be free, fair and transparent, then we say EADS will bid and we trust you.” Mr Obama replied: “The trust is justified.”
