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Last update - 02:48 16/07/2009
Clinton warns Iran: U.S. will protect its friends
By Shlomo Shamir, Haaretz Correspondent, and Agencies
Tags: israel news, iran, clinton 

NEW YORK - U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton Wednesday gave Iran an ultimatum to accept the administration's offer for engagement and join the international community or to "continue down a path of further isolation." She urged Arab states to take immediate steps to improve their ties with Israel in order to bolster Mideast peace hopes.

"We remain ready to engage with Iran, but the time for action is now," she said. "The opportunity will not remain open indefinitely."

In a wide-ranging policy address to the Council on Foreign Relations, Clinton pledged that the U.S. will "not hesitate to defend our friends, our interests, and above all, our people vigorously and when necessary with the world's strongest military."
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"Our willingness to talk is not a sign of weakness to be exploited," she said. "This is not an option we seek nor is it a threat; it is a promise to all Americans." Clinton said the U.S. administration was appalled by Iran's post-election crackdown on protesters. She said the hard-line regime would face new penalties and increasing isolation over its nuclear program and support for extremists unless it took up the U.S. overture soon.

Clinton did not set a deadline, but President Barack Obama said last week that the U.S. wants to see a positive response by the fall or it will press for additional bilateral and United Nations sanctions.

Clinton set Iran's leaders an unequivocal ultimatum: "... to join the international community as a responsible member or to continue down a path to further isolation."

"Neither the president nor I have any illusions that dialogue with the Islamic Republic will guarantee success of any kind, and the prospects have certainly shifted in the weeks since the election," Clinton said. "But we also understand the importance of trying to engage Iran," she said.

In the speech, which marked her return to a full public schedule after having been sidelined with an elbow injury for the last month, Clinton defended the administration's outreach to Iran and other past adversaries, such as Syria.

Clinton also called on Arab states to live up to their stated support of a Saudi proposal for a comprehensive Arab-Israeli peace by supporting the weak Palestinian Authority and taking steps to improve relations with Israel.

"Direct talks provide the best vehicle for presenting and explaining that choice," Clinton said. "That is why we offered Iran's leaders an unmistakable opportunity: Iran does not have a right to nuclear military capacity, and we're determined to prevent that. But it does have a right to civil nuclear power if it reestablishes the confidence of the international community that it will use its programs exclusively for peaceful purposes."

"Iran can become a constructive actor in the region if it stops threatening its neighbors and supporting terrorism. It can assume a responsible position in the international community if it fulfills its obligations on human rights. The choice is clear. We remain ready to engage with Iran, but the time for action is now. The opportunity will not remain open indefinitely," she said.

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      1.   Clinton vs Obama 03:11  |  Zarebin 16/07/09
      2.   Tough language, but. . . . 03:22  |  MichaelF 16/07/09
      3.   The Arabs say No 03:25  |  MichaelF 16/07/09
      4.   The Arabs say No 03:25  |  MichaelF 16/07/09
      5.   The Arabs say No 03:25  |  MichaelF 16/07/09
      6.   Oh hell, is she back already? 04:07  |  Adam 16/07/09
      7.   Naval bolckade or radioactive mushroom once it`s all lost? 04:13  |  Fortuna Benmayor 16/07/09
      8.   We did not expect anything different from Obama 04:39  |  arik 16/07/09
      9.   Dream on Hillary 04:44  |  Cynical American 16/07/09
      10.   The Ayatollahs are not likely to bend like Khadafi 04:53  |  Joe 16/07/09
      11.   It won`t take long now 05:13  |  Fish 16/07/09
      12.   Clinton and Iran 05:22  |  DT 16/07/09
      13.   farrokh # 3 - Revised Message 06:22  |  Jason 16/07/09
      14.   so question for hilarey? who are our friends? 06:46  |  american 16/07/09
      15.   Joe# 06:47  |  Arik 16/07/09
      16.   Maybe I read too fast..... 07:14  |  Mick 16/07/09
      17.   Anti-American sentiment permeates the Arab Muslim culture. 07:15  |  B. Gold 16/07/09
      18.   Never mind....found it. No mention of Israel 07:16  |  Mick 16/07/09
      19.   Why do you believ that, FISH # 12 07:25  |  Fortuna Benmayor 16/07/09
      20.   Maybe if Iran had not been under sanctions for 30 years 07:33  |  Natallie Durson 16/07/09
      21.   Doesn`t Mean A Damn Thing 07:36  |  Carl Yastrzemski 16/07/09
      22.   Enough Americans have already died for nothing.... 07:46  |  Mary 16/07/09
      23.   The Hillary I came to know and love 07:46  |  Andrew 16/07/09
      24.   Iran and Israel are both stonewalling America 07:58  |  Natallie Durson 16/07/09
      25.   Clinton and Obama`s rhetoric 08:35  |  Ruth Broch 16/07/09
      26.   Obama has already made it clear that Israel is not a `friend` 08:58  |  Binyamin Dissen 16/07/09
      27.   Emperor`s clothes 09:10  |  Truth 16/07/09
      28.   adam 09:13  |  Connie 16/07/09
      29.   To Mary 09:18  |  Liat 16/07/09
      30.   Agree with Durson 09:24  |  Liat 16/07/09
      31.   #7Mary- more than enough Americans have voted for Clinton and Oba 09:27  |  S 16/07/09
      32.   Iran won`t even compromise with its own people 09:44  |  Samuel Prime 16/07/09
      33.   Poor Clinton diplomacy: better punish Israel for Settlements 10:48  |  Ivar 16/07/09
      34.   to Nathalie and anyone else 10:49  |  GA 16/07/09
      35.   to Ivar 11:01  |  GA 16/07/09
      36.   GA 11:46  |  Natallie Durson 16/07/09
      37.   This quote could be equally applied to Israel 12:32  |  Apa 16/07/09
      38.   America, "friends" and reality 12:35  |  john Spear 16/07/09
      39.   Natallie Durson - Just a casual one more state with a bomb 13:58  |  Paul 16/07/09
      40.   When would the Zionists leave Jews alone? 14:09  |  Zionists r finished 16/07/09
      41.   Well said Paul; 39 15:05  |  GA 16/07/09
      42.   Jewish Americans will pay the toll. 15:19  |  Dutch Dirk 16/07/09
      43.   Dream on "Cynical American" #9 (3rd try) 15:32  |  S 16/07/09
      44.   #24 Natallie Durson - self appointed teacher of Hillary (3rd try) 15:36  |  S 16/07/09
      45.   Paul in London #39 15:43  |  roo 16/07/09
      46.   Arab peace initiative is just a talk and talk 15:44  |  Abuya 16/07/09
      47.   Samuel Prime, buying into hyperbola 15:44  |  Roo 16/07/09
      48.   Well US will be alone cos the rest of the world wont help 15:56  |  Ezra 16/07/09
      49.   Paul --Pot calling kettle black---hmmm.. 16:08  |  Labhras 16/07/09
      50.   To Paul #40 16:26  |  Pal 16/07/09
      51.   Clinton warns Iran: US will protect its friends? 16:33  |  just wondering 16/07/09
      52.   Defend from an attack by Iran but not from retaliation 16:42  |  American in NY 16/07/09
      53.   Only if Iran attacks first 17:20  |  American 16/07/09
      54.   Natallie 19:12  |  Bev 16/07/09
      55.   The heading is wrong!! 19:14  |  Ice 16/07/09
      56.   America: Israel`s Friendly Foe 19:28  |  Glory 16/07/09
      57.   The ONLY thing the USA will be capable of 23:25  |  Ibn Musa 16/07/09
      58.   By the time the USA comes around to defend 03:16  |  Ibn Musa 17/07/09
      59.   Ibn Musa. Understand your concern 08:19  |  arik 17/07/09
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