Israel Matzav

Clinton: Well, we're going to talk about Iran's nukes

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says that the United States plans to discuss Iran's nuclear program when it meets with the Islamic country on October 1, even if Iran doesn't want to discuss it.

When the United States sits down with Iran early next month for face-to-face talks, the Iranian nuclear program will be at the top of the American agenda, even though Iranian officials insist it is off the table, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said Tuesday.

“Iran says it has a number of issues it wishes to discuss with us,” Mrs. Clinton told reporters. “But what we are concerned about is discussing with them the questions surrounding their nuclear program and ambitions.”

She said the meeting, to be held Oct. 1, would fulfill President Obama’s pledge to engage with Iran. But she insisted that the United States would not be drawn into a lengthy and fruitless diplomatic dance with Iran, as some analysts have warned.

“We have no illusions about the Iranian government,” Mrs. Clinton said. “The point is to meet and explain to the Iranians, face to face, the choices that Iran has, and to see whether Iran is prepared to engage.”

And if Iran refuses to discuss the nuclear program, the US will get up and walk out and the meeting will be over in 20 minutes?

Come on. Nobody believes that.

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 8:54 PM