World ‘fails’ to stop Iran

JERUSALEM / TEHRAN

Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu urges world powers to set a ‘clear red line’ for Tehran’s atomic activities. REUTERS photo

The world is failing to draw a “clear red line” for Iran over its nuclear program, Israel’s prime minister said yesterday after a new U.N. report found Tehran had doubled its capacity at a nuclear site.

“I think that we should speak the truth, the international community is not drawing a clear red line for Iran,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said at the start of his weekly Cabinet meeting. “Iran doesn’t see determination from the international community to stop its nuclear program,” he added.

Iran, N Korea sign pact
“Until Iran sees this clear red line, it won’t stop advancing its nuclear program.” The comments are Netanyahu’s first since the details of a new report from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) emerged on Aug. 30. The report said that Iran has doubled its uranium enrichment capacity at the underground Fordo facility.

Meanwhile, Iran and North Korea signed a scientific and technological cooperation agreement on Sept. 1.
Iran’s state TV said the agreement that brings the two nations deeply at odds with the U.S. closer together, was signed in Tehran in the presence of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and North Korea’s nominal head of state, Kim Yong Nam, by Iran’s Minister of Science, Research and Technology Kamran Daneshjoo and North Korea’s Foreign Minister Pak Ui Chun.

State TV said the pact will include setting up joint laboratories, exchange of scientific teams and transfer of technology.