Azerbaiajn, Baku, Dec. 9 / Trend T. Jafarov, D. Khatinoglu /
The U.S. policy toward Iran is conducted in two directions, spokesman for the U.S. State Department Alan Eyre said in an interview with Trend today.
"The U.S. policy toward Iran is to increase the pressure on this country, and at the same time, to invite the Iranian side to participate in serious negotiations to resolve the issue of Iran's nuclear program diplomatically," Eyre said.
IAEA Secretary General Yukiya Amano's last report on Iran's nuclear program was the cause of the tightening the sanctions against this country. The U.S., the EU, Canada, Australia and Japan imposed various sanctions against Iran last month.
The West accuses Iran of trying to develop nuclear weapon. Tehran denies all the charges, saying that its nuclear program is peaceful. So far, the UN Security Council has imposed four economic sanctions against Iran. The U.S. and EU imposed tougher sanctions against Iran.
Amano's last report showed that the world community is concerned about Iran's nuclear program. Meanwhile, Iran said that the IAEA's documents are not credible. The U.S. and its allies are willing to strengthen pressure on Iran, particularly on the central bank of this country, oil and petrochemical industry.
"The pressure is exerted for Iran to agree to the changes in its strategic calculations, to fulfill its international obligations and to join the discussions with the '5 +1' countries," he said.
Sanctions were imposed on Iran, rather than people
Eyre said that the sanctions of the international community against Iran are aimed at Iran, rather than Iranian people. "We try to minimize the negative impact of sanctions on the Iranian people," he said.
He said that the sanctions are aimed at Iran and its illegal activity. "I should stress that this issue is the issue of international level," he said. "That is, the international community wants Iran to fulfill its obligations. The international community is concerned with Iran's nuclear program and its possible military consequences and the situation with human rights in this country. We must ask if Iran's nuclear program has only peaceful purpose, why Iran is not willing to cooperate with the IAEA? If there is nothing secret, there must not be any fear."
Iran creates "e-curtain"
Eyre also commented on the statements of Iranian officials that Iran has found the ways to counter the U.S. project 'Internet in a Suitcase'.
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said that Internet usage is part of fundamental human rights. Iran's attempt to create the "electronic curtain" in front of its people is regrettable, he said.
The U.S. Department of State's project "Internet in a suitcase" is designed for Iran and other countries, introducing restrictions on the access to the Internet. After a "suitcase" is transported across the border secretly, a wireless communication, creating the access to the Internet over a wide area can be created.
Without specifying the details, the Iranian side said that some measures were made against the project "Internet in a suitcase".
"Our intention is for the Iranian people to have the opportunity to establish relations with other world peoples," he said. "The U.S. is implementing various initiatives and programs to resolve this electronic curtain, created around the Iranian people. We and our allies are concerned that Iran is trying to restrict the access to the Internet for his people."
Preference of diplomacy
At present, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton on behalf of the "5 +1" countries continues discussing the nuclear issue with Iran. The last meeting between the parties was held in January. She said that no progress was achieved. The negotiations between Iran and the West have been suspended since January.
The U.S. urges Iran to continue the discussions, Eyre said.
"We will not reach the goal, expressing opinions on various hypotheses," Eyre said. "The international community wants Iran to join the negotiations and a satisfactory, comprehensive and long-term way to be found to resolve the issue. The issue is that if Iran's nuclear program has peaceful purposes, why it does not want to join these discussions?"