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Last update - 13:14 08/07/2009
Clinton: U.S. to demand tighter Iran sanctions if outreach fails
By News Agencies

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said that Washington would call for more sanctions against Iran if the White House policy of engagement with Tehran failed.

Clinton said U.S. outreach to Iran may not work given the country's recent repression of protests after a disputed election.

"It may not be possible, in which case we would ask the world to join us in imposing even stricter sanctions on Iran to try to change the behavior of the regime," Clinton said in an interview with Venezuelan television station Globovision, broadcast late on Tuesday.
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"We have seen in the last weeks that Iran has not respected its own democracy," she said.

In May, Clinton said more multilateral sanctions could be a way to curb the nuclear ambitions of Iran, which the United States says is seeking to develop a nuclear weapon.

The top U.S. military officer said Tuesday that a military strike to thwart Iran's nuclear weapons capability remains on the table but could have grave consequences and would be "very destabilizing."

"I worry a great deal about the response of a country that gets struck," said Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. "It is a really important place to not go, if we can not go there in any way, shape or form."

Iran is perhaps one to three years away from getting the bomb, leaving a small and shrinking opening for diplomacy to avert what he said could be a dangerous nuclear arms race in the Middle East, Mullen said.

"I think the time window is closing."

Mullen said President Barack Obama's diplomatic outreach to Iran holds promise, despite political upheaval and deadly protests following Iran's disputed presidential election.

Obama told The Associated Press last week that persuading Iran to forgo nuclear weapons has been made more difficult by the Iranian government's handling of claims that President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad stole re-election.

Mullen pointedly said "the strike option" - is one possible outcome. He suggested that a strike, meaning missile or other attacks to blow up Iran's known nuclear facilities, is a last resort. It would be "very destabilizing," Mullen said.

Mullen was referring to Iran's response should it be attacked by either the United States or Israel, although he was careful to say that Israel can speak and choose for itself. His remarks made clear that the Obama administration wants to avoid a strike by either country.

Mullen, speaking at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said it is critical to find a solution "before Iran gets a nuclear capability, or that anyone ... would take action to strike."

On Sunday, Vice President Joe Biden had suggested that the new U.S. administration would not stand in the way of an Israeli strike. That is not the message U.S. officials have been trying to deliver in public and private, but spokesmen insisted Biden was not speaking out of turn.

The United States would join European nations, Russia and China in negotiations over Iran's disputed nuclear program, if Iran agreed to terms for beginning the talks. Obama has also said he would hold direct talks with Iran's leadership if it would help.

The leaders of Group of Eight countries, set to meet in Italy, have yet to forge a common position on Iran's violent crackdown on post-electoral protests, Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi said Tuesday on the eve of the summit.

Berlusconi, who chairs the gathering of world leaders opening Wednesday, noted that some countries, such as France, were calling for tougher action against Tehran, while others, such as Russia, favored a softer stance to keep dialogue open.

Iran claims its fast-track nuclear development project is intended only for the peaceful production of electricity. Mullen, like other U.S. officials, said he is sure Iran intends to develop weapons and is working hard and fast to do so.

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      1.   AN Iranian instigated attack by Its Shia/Hamas/Syrian clientss 08:07  |  PETER SM 08/07/09
      2.   Mullen - Talk Like a Sailor Next Time 08:08  |  Mark of Lewiston 08/07/09
      3.   Israel 08:16  |  Yosemite 08/07/09
      4.   Iran, the biggest danger to the Middle East and to the world. 08:32  |  B. Gold 08/07/09
      5.   Iran does not stand a chance 08:42  |  arik 08/07/09
      6.   iran already has nnukes stupid!!!!!! 08:55  |  AsAD 08/07/09
      7.   Mullen is right, and some Israelis understand that. 09:02  |  Fortuna Benmayor 08/07/09
      8.   Irans` Strategy -TOP SECRET- 09:11  |  Brendan 08/07/09
      9.   Admiral Mullen`s remarks 09:12  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 08/07/09
      10.   Did the Admiral mean "destabilizing" to Iran?? 09:16  |  Kenny 08/07/09
      11.   ask Mahmoud Ahmadinejad 09:31  |  his intentions 08/07/09
      12.   What`s worse: Iran with nukes or attacked Iran? 09:44  |  Joe Sittizen 08/07/09
      13.   Has Iran got the message? 09:44  |  laternamagica 08/07/09
      14.   Allowing a nuclear Iran is even more destabilizing 09:46  |  Samuel Prime 08/07/09
      15.   US Army chief ? Your headline is not correct 09:57  |  Ardi 08/07/09
      16.   US army chief : Iran strike would be `very destabilizing` 10:09  |  Akram Zekaria 08/07/09
      17.   What happens on the day after? 10:12  |  bombs away 08/07/09
      18.   Would the US come to Israels aid if ISRAEL strikes Iran? 11:01  |  Marteen 08/07/09
      19.   When Russia and the USA are on the same page 11:08  |  Justine Effort 08/07/09
      20.   iran 11:10  |  brian 08/07/09
      21.   Mullen worries again 11:17  |  DT 08/07/09
      22.   how an attack will affect US interests are not our problem 11:23  |  zionist forever 08/07/09
      23.   Real situation: How would US react if Israel is attaked by Iran? 11:24  |  The Archives 08/07/09
      24.   G-d help Israel if they attack Iranian nuclear facilities... 11:34  |  ...no one else will 08/07/09
      25.   what do they mean? 11:34  |  patriot 08/07/09
      26.   Destabilizing America and the world 11:35  |  Natallie Durson 08/07/09
      27.   MARTEN.US Army has never fought with Israel,just with Arabs 11:40  |  PETER SM 08/07/09
      28.   A contrived story piece 11:46  |  Welshman 08/07/09
      29.   18 Marteen - Above Mullen`s Pay Grade 11:48  |  Mark of Lewiston 08/07/09
      30.   Iran 11:49  |  oz 08/07/09
      31.   Either strike or change the regimes . 11:50  |  Joseph .E 08/07/09
      32.   #18No Marteen, it wouldn`t 12:03  |  David D 08/07/09
      33.   Tehran`s response would be very limited out of 12:11  |  17 08/07/09
      34.   It is all crap 12:13  |  Rob 08/07/09
      35.   # 18 Marteen - The USA will demolish the Shia entity 12:15  |  17 08/07/09
      36.   Proliferation is inevitable... 12:18  |  Internationalist 08/07/09
      37.   # 34 Rob 12:26  |  17 08/07/09
      38.   #34 It is all crap 12:28  |  Albrecht Klein 08/07/09
      39.   OIL, it`s all about the destabalization of the price of a barrel 12:39  |  Erastus CoupeDeVille 08/07/09
      40.   # 18 Marteen 12:42  |  Joseph .E 08/07/09
      41.   Not "Yes,we can!" but "to be or not to..",after devouring thousan 12:45  |  Absolute Sweden 08/07/09
      42.   Is this woman to destroy where Obama ... 13:03  |  Edith 08/07/09
      43.   Iran. 13:15  |  sandra chitayat. 08/07/09
      44.   NATALIE" Destabilising"?Most conflicts in the world involve the 13:31  |  PETER SM 08/07/09
      45.   # 43 sandra 13:43  |  Axel 08/07/09
      46.   to AsAD Collapsing US economy and Oil hits 400 ? 13:47  |  CM 08/07/09
      47.   Clinton...imposing even stricter sanctions...? 13:59  |  Darth Zaider (Ed) 08/07/09
      48.   More `sanctions`? Grrr, yeah, that`ll show them 14:04  |  Lolza Minnelli 08/07/09
      49.   "EDITH"are riots in Belgium going to fix Belgium 14:06  |  PETER SM 08/07/09
      50.   @36 single global govern. would fail but single global ethiks not 14:11  |  Jew-and Bookburner 08/07/09
      51.   Sanctions 14:26  |  patriot 08/07/09
      52.   #37 to 17 16:18  |  Mark B. 08/07/09
      53.   #7 A rational voice in a sea of just emotions 16:57  |  Ardi 08/07/09
      54.   Obama/Clinton and respect 17:09  |  Christopher 08/07/09
      55.   #47 US is tiger paper!!! US never Win a war except with weak foe! 18:54  |  spander 08/07/09
      56.   idf largely better and very efficiency than US army i studied 19:03  |  spider 08/07/09
      57.   #16 uS army is rich but IDF is largeley better and capable than.. 19:08  |  spander 08/07/09
      58.   There are already US soldiers on the ground defending Israel 19:35  |  binny 08/07/09
      59.   Iran 20:00  |  James 08/07/09
      60.   Natallie Durson # 26 no threat to U.S. 21:58  |  Eaglebeak 08/07/09
      61.   Uzi Arad Cears it Up 21:59  |  Mark of Lewiston 08/07/09
      62.   Rob # 34 22:04  |  Eaglebeak 08/07/09
      63.   To spender@52 QUITE TRUE(THIRD TRY) AND TO binny 22:19  |  Whiskey/Bravo 08/07/09
      64.   to spender@54 You`ve said it chum.Our IDF is by far more SUPERIOR 22:30  |  Whiskey/Bravo 08/07/09
      65.   To Mark of Lewiston@57 What an inept government You have! 22:56  |  PRINT THAT NOW! 08/07/09
      66.   #55, binny 23:16  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 08/07/09
      67.   sanctions 23:42  |  me again 08/07/09
      68.   US will feel the response in Afghanistan... 23:42  |  Roo 08/07/09
      69.   26 23:52  |  zionist forever 08/07/09
      70.   destabilizing 23:54  |  patriot 08/07/09
      71.   Haaretz Where my posts? Sent one to M.of Lewiston,1 to Yosemite 00:14  |  Whiskey/Bravo 09/07/09
      72.   To spender posts and spider.Good and relevant posts.binny is: 00:21  |  Whiskey/Bravo 09/07/09
      73.   Mark of Lewiston@58 WRONG SENT A POST REMARKING ON... 00:45  |  Whiskey/Bravo 09/07/09
      74.   Good post, Brendan # 8, exactly. 00:56  |  Fortuna Benmayor 09/07/09
      75.   Oooooh, Iran is so scared 00:58  |  Jason 09/07/09
      76.   Mark of Lewiston @58 On Uzi Arad And Conclusion(nevermind Haaretz 01:08  |  Whiskey/Bravo 09/07/09
      77.   Power Shift will destroy Israel`s power to keep the occupation 01:52  |  Marc Leb 09/07/09
      78.   Two simple facts 04:11  |  Mark Lincoln 09/07/09
      79.   60/63 Whiskey Bravo - Least Unfriendly 05:00  |  Mark of Lewiston 09/07/09
      80.   Solution 05:11  |  BJ 09/07/09
      81.   Less Presian rugs and less pistacchio. 07:39  |  Fortuna Benmayor 09/07/09
      82.   M.LINCOLN 2 simple facts.1.Iran chose to confront Israel 08:12  |  PETER SM 09/07/09
      83.   18 You would think after the Georgian conflict 18:46  |  lydia 09/07/09
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