Forum Views ()
Forum Replies ()
Read more with google mobile :
US Officials: Iran's behavior will bring penalties
Yahoo!
My Yahoo!
Mail
More Yahoo! Services
Account Options
New User? Sign Up
Sign In
Help
Yahoo! Search
web search
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Africa
Europe
Latin America
Middle East
North America
US Officials: Iran's behavior will bring penalties
By JIM ABRAMS,Associated Press writer -
Wednesday, October 7
Send
IM Story
Print
WASHINGTON – Administration officials told impatient lawmakers Tuesday that they are ready to take swift and substantial action against Iran if it disregards current diplomatic efforts to stop its alleged nuclear weapons program.
At a Senate Banking Committee hearing, lawmakers expressed skepticism that Iran would negotiate in good faith. They said they would not wait long before acting on legislation to impose tough new sanctions on the Tehran government.
Banking Committee Chairman Christopher Dodd, D-Conn., said he planned to move forward this month on a proposal to extend restrictions on financial transactions, impose new sanctions on oil and gas pipelines and tankers, restrict exports of certain refined petroleum products to Iran and impose a broad ban on imports from Iran.
He said the world, and particularly the Iranian government, must know that the United States won't wait long to act and Congress wants action: "The fear here collectively is that the Iranian government is taking us to the cleaners on this issue."
Administration officials at the hearing stressed that sanctions against Iran are most effective if imposed by a united international coalition. Undersecretary of the Treasury Stuart Levey told the panel: "The less united we are in applying pressure, the greater the risk our measures will not have the impact we seek."
Last week, the United States and five allies held talks with Iran in Geneva where Iranaian officials agreed to open its newly disclosed nuclear plant to U.N. inspectors and take other steps to show it is not trying to develop nuclear weapons.
President Barack Obama said the talks were a "constructive beginning," while adding that his administration was working with Congress on new actions targeting Iran's energy, financial and telecommunications sectors in the event Iran did not live up to its promises.
James Steinberg, deputy secretary of state, told the hearing that the administration was "realistic" about prospects for engaging with the Iranian government. But he said the current dual-track strategy of diplomatic talks with the threat of punitive action was helping develop a strong consensus within the international community if the talks falter.
He said it would be clear by the end of this month whether Iran is serious about meeting two specific commitments: providing access to the newly revealed nuclear facility and shipping low enriched uranium out of the country.
"Our patience is not unlimited," he added.
Levey said that with targeted sanctions backed by a broad coalition of governments, "we can at the very least demonstrate to the Iranian government that there are serious costs to any continued refusal to cooperate with the international community."
International concerns about Iran's nuclear work grew Tuesday with an Iranian newspaper report that the country plans to install a more advanced type of centrifuge at its newly revealed uranium enrichment site near the holy city of Qom
Iran insists its enrichment work is only meant for use in generating power, but Washington and its allies are suspicions of Tehran's intentions and fear its mastery of the technology will give them a pathway to weapons development.
Despite years of diplomatic efforts, Iran has "continued to choose a collision course with the free world," said Sen. Sam Brownback, R-Kan. Brownback and Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa., are promoting a bill that would allow state and local governments and universities to divest their assets from any company that invests $20 million or more in Iran's energy sector.
Rep. Robert Menendez, D-N.J., said Iran has a history of using diplomatic talks to stall for time and said the United States should move with urgency to impose "severe sanctions to arrest Iran's nuclear ambitions." He said steps to box in Iran's financial and energy sectors could have a profound effect, and that blocking gasoline exports "could be devastating to Iran's economy."
Dodd raised the issue of whether sanctions that disrupt the lives of ordinary Iranians are effective.
Sanctions, said Steinberg, are a matter of judgment and not science, and that the administration needed to decide what are the "smart sanctions that have the biggest impact."
Recommend
Send
IM Story
Print
Related Articles
Utah Gov. Herbert meets with gay rights groups AP - Wednesday, October 7
Bill allowing same-sex marriage in DC introduced AP - 2 hours 30 minutes ago
Officials release body of hanged Ky. census worker AP - 1 hour 55 minutes ago
6 soldiers killed in Afghanistan return to US AP - Wednesday, October 7
Airlines ordered to test, disinfect onboard water AP - Wednesday, October 7
News Search
Top Stories
Gold price hits record high on 'plan' to ditch dollar
Cracks emerge as IMF, World Bank work for recovery
'Masters of light' win Nobel Physics Prize
Global economic crisis to slash carbon emissions: IEA
Experts find 'faulty' gene linked to cancers
More Top Stories »
ADVERTISEMENT
Most Popular
Most Viewed
Most Recommended
Unemployment to peak in 8-12 months: IMF chief
Trio win Nobel Medicine Prize for research into ageing
Letterman apologizes to wife over affairs
Furious farmers bring Brussels to a standstill
Mother in plea to Elton John over adoption plan
More Most Viewed »
Oldest hominid skeleton sheds light on human origins
Implanted tooth helps blind US woman recover sight
More Most Recommended »
Elsewhere on Yahoo!
Financial news on Yahoo! Finance
Stars and latest movies
Best travel destinations
More on Yahoo! News
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Subscribe to our news feeds
Top StoriesMy Yahoo!RSS
» More news feeds | What are news feeds?
Also on Yahoo
Answers
Groups
Mail
Messenger
Mobile
Travel
Finance
Movies
Sports
Games
» All Yahoo! Services
Site Highlights
Singapore
Full Coverage
Most Popular
Asia Entertainment
Photos
Copyright © 2009 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte. Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved.
Terms of Service |
Privacy Policy |
Community |
Intellectual Property Rights Policy |
Help
Other News on Wednesday, 7 October 2009 Turkish police fire tear gas on IMF protesters
Experts find 'faulty' gene linked to cancers
'Masters of light' win Nobel Physics Prize
Palestinians seek ITU support in frequency row
Iraqi police: market blast kills 8 in Fallujah
Threat of next world war may be in cyberspace: UN
Verizon to sell 2 Google phones this year
U.S. approves Adobe, Omniture tie-up
U.S. warns Iran may face more sanctions
| International
|
Verizon Wireless, Google to release Android phone
Minibus bomb kills 9 in west Iraq: police
| International
|
Microsoft launches new phone software
Emerging market firms turn giants in telecom sector
Turkey extends mandate to fight rebels in Iraq
Iran plans to use new centrifuge at nuclear plant
Travelling Israeli officials fear war crimes probes
Israeli police nab 2 for vandalizing ancient site
Verizon Wireless, Google to release Android phone
Microsoft launches new phone software
Verizon to sell 2 Google phones this year
Zelaya mistrusts Honduras talks
| International
|
Italy's top court debates Berlusconi immunity law
| International
|
UN appeals for $74M in flood aid to Philippines
Thai rebels kill three, wound 34: police
Weather aids defense of Calif. mountain town
Japan's government to trim 'wasteful' extra budget: minister
France, Kazakhs ink military transit, energy deals
Former NY power broker guilty in pension probe
US troops ramp up Indonesia quake relief
White House: Delay of Dalai Lama meeting mutual
CORRECTED
IEA says $10 trillion needed for clean technology
55 linked to motorcycle club indicted in W.Va.
Pakistan braces for more bombings
Man upset at closed Miami Taco Bell shoots worker
UN seeks $74 mln in aid for flood-hit Philippines
Drug record limit sought by mom in girl's fatal OD
U.S. approves Adobe, Omniture tie-up
| Technology
|
Del. GOP rep to seek Biden's former Senate seat
Biden heads to Poland, Romania, Czech Republic
US Officials: Iran's behavior will bring penalties
Prosecutor: Pediatrician molested male patients
Palestinians seek ITU support in frequency row
| Technology
|
Philippine inflation up 0.7 pct as fears grow over storm effects
Tata Consultancy Services gets new chief executive
Mongolia signs with Rio, Ivanhoe on $4B gold mine
Chinese recovery is not stable: finance minister
Aid pours into quake-hit Indonesia
Rome exhibit traces European history through its saints
Chanel goes rustic
More US schools shun sale of 'junk food'
From Kyoto to Machu Pichu: world's heritage at risk
New Seinfeld turns marriage into "comedy gold mine"
Amenabar nervous ahead of premiere of Agora blockbuster
Increasing use of face veil worries Egyptian government
'Gooooood mornin' Afghanistan!' US fights Taliban on airwaves
Nobel Literature Prize could go to a poet this year
Pusan festival opens window wider to world to stay on top
Mel Gibson's drunken driving conviction erased
| Entertainment
|
Elizabeth Taylor in hospital for heart surgery
| Entertainment
|
Madonna wins damages in UK over wedding pics
| Entertainment
|
Playboy names president, will keep print magazine
| Entertainment
|
Obama holds intense talks on Afghan war
Campaigners press for arms trade deal
Mobile phones ring in growth in emerging markets
Gold price hits record high on report to ditch dollar
Security walls at Samarra shrine now create divide
Italy's top court mulls stripping Berlusconi's immunity
Google widens lead over Bing and : Hitwise
Minibus bomb kills 9 in west Iraq -police
AT&T opens wireless network to Internet voice calling
'Masters of light' win Nobel Physics Prize
FIFA launches soccer World Cup for virtual players
Typhoon bears down on Japan's main islands
| International
|
Taliban vow 'long fight' despite 100 dead in clashes
Amazon, Apple, Google, targeted in patent case
Global economic crisis to slash carbon emissions: IEA
Twitter user who helped G20 protestors facing charges
Microsoft unveils line of Windows phones
Uganda military to free Somali state minister
| International
|
Canwest seeks bankruptcy protection
Honduras talks hopes brighter, Zelaya doubts rival
| International
|
Uganda security detains Somali minister of state
| International
|
Armed violence kills 2,000 a day worldwide: groups
| International
|
Facebook measuring the mood in the US
Mobile phones ring in growth in emerging markets
FIFA launches soccer World Cup for virtual players
NKorea considers return to nuclear talks
US troops ramp up Indonesia quake relief
Bombings kill 2, wound 42 in Thai south
Jury expert: Knowledge of Calif. shooting is wide
Dalai Lama receives rights award at Capitol
Albuquerque, NM, voters cast ballots for mayor
Injured Tom DeLay hangs up his `Dancing' shoes
University in Hong Kong acclaims Nobel physics winner
Woman in Philippines cracks Okla. case
NKorea says willing to return to nuclear talks
Britain will stop funding at Sri Lankan war camps
Amazon.com takes Kindle global
| Technology
|
Parents in prayer death get 6 months in jail
Obama to meet Dalai Lama after China trip
US military deaths in Afghanistan region at 791
Looted artifacts on display at Afghan museum
AT&T allows Internet voice calls on Apple's iPhone
| Technology
|
US military deaths in Iraq war at 4,348
FIFA launches soccer World Cup for virtual players
| Technology
|
American Samoa tsunami victims receiving tents
Obama offers assurances to Iraqi president
Man gets life in shooting death of California boy
Pusan festival mixes Asian film, Hollywood glamor
Crisis boosts once-hated IMF with new mission
Mandelson won't rule out UK joining euro zone
Taiwan dollar rises after Australian rate hike
S.Korea bonds extend losses on rate hike fear
S.Korea spotted buying dlrs to check won's rise -traders
Seoul shares rise on foreign buying, shipbuilders
Letterman's apologies bring big night in ratings
Injured Tom DeLay hangs up his 'Dancing' shoes
David Letterman sex-blackmail saga earns ratings bonanza
| Entertainment
|
Tom DeLay bows out of TV's Dancing
| Entertainment
|
Pusan festival mixes Asian film, Hollywood glamor
Tom DeLay expected to quit "Dancing"- reports
Food habits of the poor unchanged by NY calories law: study
Letterman sex-blackmail saga earns ratings bonanza
'Idol Gives Back' coming back to 'American Idol'
Mel Gibson's drunk driving conviction expunged
Elizabeth Taylor in hospital for heart surgery
Julius Baer acquires ING's Swiss unit
Saudi Arabia fears militants use Yemen
US-TECH Summary
Afghan Taliban say they pose no threat to the West
| International
|
Europe hits hole on rough road to economic recovery
Palestinian official: We erred over Gaza report
Amazon.com takes Kindle global, lowers U.S. prices
Tiny moon feeds largest ring around Saturn
Amazon debuts international Kindle e-reader
Iran says some countries offer it nuclear fuel
| International
|
Amazon debuts international Kindle e-reader
Saudi king 'due in Syria' as relations improve
Turkey expects to seal deal with Armenia on October 10
| International
|
UN data shows Afghan voter discrepancies: report
ECB interest rates to stay anchored: analysts
Turkish protesters, police clash at IMF meeting
| International
|
Myanmar minister meets detained democracy icon Suu Kyi
| International
|
Afghan watchdog alters vote recount after criticism
| International
|
Saudi king in Damascus to mend fences with Assad
| International
|
Foreign rescue teams leave quake-hit Indonesia city
| International
|
Iran sees U.S. role in researcher's disappearance
| International
|
The Nation's weather
President meets with national security team
Jury in Abramoff-related case heads into 3rd day
Dell brings baseball, fashion designs to PCs
| Technology
|
Bill would counter Supreme Court age bias ruling
Duncan, Holder in Chicago to discuss teen violence
Microsoft's Ballmer sees Windows 7 effect on PC market muted
| Technology
|
Statue of Helen Keller to be installed in Capitol
EU to market test Microsoft remedies on browsers
| Technology
|
AP Poll: Health care overhaul has a pulse
INSIDE WASHINGTON: Oversight lacking on war costs
Collectors named as suspects in Calif. art heist
It's iSnack3.0 -- Aussie spread renamed 'Cheesybite'
BOK head says S.Korea different from Australia -report
Liberia's looted museum becomes civil war shrine
Novel set in Tudor times wins Booker prize
Rupert Murdoch to visit SKorea: reports
In toothless Cape Town, fashion is better than your bite
SCENARIOS-Bank of Korea to hold rates, flag rise by year-end
Sri Lanka delays budget ahead of elections
Nissan heat sensors guard workers against flu
Seoul shares flat after volatile trade; autos fall
Aid helps quake victims and also Indonesia's sick
Hong Kong firm wins bid for AIG unit: report
Indonesia quake survivor says saved by a coffee
Indonesia mulls declaring villages mass graves
Indonesian villages reduced to mass graves
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights