BICOM

The US Administration said the upcoming International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) report due next week will be a critical opportunity for the international community to see if Iran is meeting its international obligations involving its nuclear programme.

US President Barack Obama discussed the Iranian nuclear issue with French President Nicolas Sarkozy yesterday and called on the international community to maintain “unprecedented pressure” on Iran to meet its nuclear obligations. “The IAEA is scheduled to release a report on Iran’s nuclear program next week and President Sarkozy and I agree on the need to maintain the unprecedented pressure on Iran to meet its obligations,” President Obama said.

In related news, a US congressional committee approved a bill on Thursday that would allow President Obama to expand sanctions against Iran, following the revelation of an Iranian plot to assassinate the Saudi ambassador to the US. Under the Senate measure that passed on a voice vote, Obama could impose new U.S. sanctions that would target Iran’s gasoline imports and oil refining capacity, as well as other aspects of Iran’s oil industry. It also would ban most direct imports and exports between Iran and the United States, along with other steps aimed at preventing business ties with some Iranian companies and individuals.

The US and international community are concerned that Iran’s nuclear programme is aimed at creating nuclear weapon capabilities, while Tehran says its programme is for producing energy for its population.