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President Obama Warns Iran: 'Our Patience Is Not Unlimited'

October 01, 2009 3:54 PM

Jake Tapper and Sunlen Miller report:

President Obama appeared in the Diplomatic Reception Room of the White House Thursday afternoon to demand that leaders of the Islamic Republic of Iran take concrete actions to defuse international tensions regarding its nuclear program, beginning with allowing the International Atomic Energy Agency “full access” to Iran’s nuclear facility at Qom within the next two weeks.

IAEA Director General Mohamed ElBaradei, with whom the president has been in close contact, will be arriving in Tehran in the next few days, the president said.

“Our patience is not unlimited,” the president said, alluding to tougher economic sanctions if Iran does not take the necessary steps. “The United States will not continue to negotiate indefinitely, and we are prepared to move towards increased pressure.”

The president said that today’s meeting between Iranian leaders and the representatives of countries from the United Nations Security Council permanent members -- the US, China, Russia, France, the UK -- as well as Germany, “was a constructive beginning, but it must be followed with constructive action by the Iranian government.”

He suggested that Iranian rulers take “confidence-building” steps such as transferring low-enriched uranium from the Tehran Research Reactor to a third-country for fuel fabrication so others could verify that that nuclear program is for peaceful means.

Mr. Obama put today’s talks within the context of his outreach to Iran since taking office, efforts to strengthen the Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty, and last week’s UN Security Council meeting.

“The result is clear,” the president said. “We have an international community that has reaffirmed its commitment to nonproliferation and disarmament.  That's why the Iranian government heard a clear and unified message from the international community in Geneva” that they “must demonstrate through concrete steps” that they intend to live up to their previous obligations and abide by previous United Nations Security Council resolutions about its nuclear program.

The president said he is not interested in mere talk for talk’s sake.

“There is a path towards a better relationship with the United States, increased integration for Iran within the international community, and a better future for all Iranians,” he said. “The burden of meeting these responsibilities lies with the Iranian government, and they are now the ones that need to make that choice.”

-- Jake Tapper and Sunlen Miller

October 1, 2009 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (81)

User Comments

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If we went into Iran instead of Iraq which by the way was the bigger threat at the time and still is,we wouldn't have to be dealing with this now.It seems President Oboma has inherited many problems.I think that the President has access to alot more info than we are getting and things are changing by the minute,so give the guy a chance to do his job.

Posted by: J Jarvis | Oct 2, 2009 7:05:59 PM

Maybe it's time for that face to face chat with M.A. .. didn't I hear that nonsense.. didn't the current S.O.S. say it was election bunk?

Posted by: DontGet818OnMeNow | Oct 2, 2009 2:52:03 PM

Why hasn't anyone taken up the Jimmy Carter idea of "leave Iran alone."

LOL - frigging Jimmy Carter - what a joke. He was a joke as President, he is a joke now.

Posted by: Lone Star Rules | Oct 2, 2009 8:18:47 AM

"bet Ahmajinedad and his government are much more concerned about Obama."
BWAHAHAHA please! Stop! You're killing me! BWAHAHAHA

Posted by: JamesJ | Oct 2, 2009 7:36:04 AM

so, does obama still think he can sit down with ahmadenjad and talk this out? i can't be the only one who has come to realize that obama's as naive as he is arrogant.

Posted by: davidfrat21 | Oct 2, 2009 7:00:53 AM

just like the Clinton years, all talk and bluster, no action or results..

Posted by: libsarecowards | Oct 2, 2009 3:39:11 AM

"So to me, it sounds a whole lot like déjà vu, exactly the kind of nonsense that led us into a no-win, nonsensical war in Iraq where we’re still bogged down. We’re bogged down in Afghanistan and Pakistan and here they are trying to stir up another fight with another country. It is of no benefit to the American people. It is of no benefit to our national security interest and the sooner we get to the bottom of this and know the facts, the better off we would be as Americans." - Congressman Paul

Posted by: Leo Liberty | Oct 2, 2009 3:03:17 AM

Anybody who thinks threatening Iran with an attack will be productive is out of touch.

Posted by: Skip |

That's a lot easier to say when you are out of range.

Posted by: Foghorn Leghorn | Oct 2, 2009 1:17:19 AM

They feared Reagan and what he would do.
Posted by: Sigmonde

what the Mr. Ray-Gun did was align the US military support with Saddam against Iran,.. in that terrible conflict it's estimated that 250,000 Iranians died, many from WMD weapons.
ironic that it was OK for Saddam, sanctioned by the US to kill Iranians with WMD's, but 'W' had to start a war with Iraq because of non-existent WMD's years later.. go figure..

It's unfortunate that many don't take the time to review the history of the region for the last 60 - 80 years and see how and why we have arrived at the point we are at today.

Posted by: POV | Oct 2, 2009 1:10:46 AM

Ahmajinedad knew that and that's why he only fired the nuclear missile under the Obama administration.
Posted by: marco

'fired the nuclear missile".. whoa...
I missed the explosion, where and when did the detonation take place

Posted by: 007 | Oct 2, 2009 1:02:08 AM

Great headline, Jake and Sunlen. You had to know it would evoke peals of laughter around the world and you had the guts to file it anyway. Keep your spirits up, and ours, too. It's a tough job putting a credible spin on the White House beat.

Posted by: Dale Richardson | Oct 2, 2009 1:01:37 AM

"If you don't halt your nuclear program
right now I'll hold my breath
until I turn blue!"


Tough economic sanctions are only the same as holding one's breath to the disreputable fringe. Ahmadinejad would probably like it if we bombed his facilities--guaranteed executive employment for the rest of his life. Right now he's not very popular; In fact he probably lost the last election; Tough sanctions will weaken his position even further. Ahmadinejad would love it if Israel bombed him. He could justify this supposed holy war all the right-wingers think he wants to start. Do you think America is up for that? Do you think it will make things easier for our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan? Anybody who thinks threatening Iran with an attack will be productive is out of touch.

Posted by: Skip | Oct 2, 2009 12:31:15 AM

I don't think our country stands a chance if we keep giving this president a chance.
All these chances are hurting not helping us.

Posted by: Nicole | Oct 2, 2009 12:18:30 AM

I agree with JP. Let's give this president a chance. He may rank right up there with Hoover, Wilson, LBJ and Carter.

Posted by: Oops | Oct 2, 2009 12:09:19 AM

“Our patience is not unlimited,” the president said, alluding to tougher economic sanctions if Iran does not take the necessary steps. “The United States will not continue to negotiate indefinitely, and we are prepared to move towards increased pressure.”
Blah,Blah,Blah!
The paper tiger roars on!
If you don't halt your nuclear program
right now I'll hold my breath
until I turn blue!
I guess for Halloween President Obama
is going to dress up as
someone with a Backbone! Ugh!

Posted by: reaganfan | Oct 1, 2009 11:49:52 PM

"The Fordham analysis..." blah blah blah
Posted by: Fascist Hyena | Oct 1, 2009 8:50:22 PM

Wrong, Fascist, WRONG.

Did you notice what it said at the very top of that “Fordham analysis”:
"Poll Accuracy in the 2008 Presidential Election
—Initial Report, November 5, 2008—"

The report was done the day after the election, using incorrect preliminary popular vote percentages.

Did you even read what you posted from that report?
“6.15-point popular vote lead”

Didn’t that give you a clue that something was amiss? The official popular vote was 52.93% to 45.65% - that’s a 7.28-point lead for Obama, not 6.15.

Even Rasmussen notes the change from preliminary numbers. Last November 6th, he wrote:
“The final Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Election 2008 showed Barack Obama leading John McCain 52% to 46%. We are pleased to report that those figures precisely matched the actual election returns.”

Currently, Rasmussen writes:
“In 2008, Obama won 53%-46% and our final poll showed Obama winning 52% to 46%.”

So, dear Fascist, CNN/Opinion Research and McClatchy/Ipsos were most accurate with their poll figures of 53% to 46%. Rasmussen and Pew with 52% to 46% were close, but no cigar.

Posted by: Numeros | Oct 1, 2009 11:46:39 PM

Why does the U.S. worry about any country and their primative Nuclear weapons?
As long as we have the PU-22 Explosive Space Modulator we rule all!

Posted by: Find your way back | Oct 1, 2009 11:26:12 PM

0k0k"Last I checked, it was Iran that wants to wipe Israel off the map. It is Iran that has a national holiday where they all celebrate the idea of wiping Israel off the map. They deny the holocaust etc. etc. Your name fits (huh?)"

Yep they do for their reasons. Of course Israel wants and is slowly wiping the Palestinians off the map. Your name is ok I suppose.

Posted by: Huh | Oct 1, 2009 11:20:44 PM

The people who think the president is naive in his handling of Iran are dead wrong. Everybody seems to underestimate Obama. You can bet that each and every word of his speech was calculated and reviewed and fine-tuned by a bunch of advisors before he went in front of the cameras. The president didn't just make that speech off the cuff. Are you serious?

Posted by: JP | Oct 1, 2009 11:18:58 PM

Sigmonde Said: "The Ayatollahs have no fear of American Democrat presidents. They have Obama pegged as weak, same as they did Carter. They feared Reagan and what he would do."
=========================
LOL... Give me a break! I guess that's why this Uranium enhancement facility was being built over the PAST 3 / 4 years, RIGHT UNDER BUSH AND CHENEY'S NOSES! It took a Democratic President to bring this out in the open and challenge Iran about it. Why? Because Bush knew he couldn't do anything about it with all of his military committed in a war that had nothing to do with 9-11............ man, you "right-whiners" are CLUELESS!

Posted by: X-Republican Because of Bush | Oct 1, 2009 11:13:11 PM

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