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US reiterates to prevent Iran from obtaining nukes

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-08-04 05:46

WASHINGTON: The United States vowed on Monday to "do what has to be done" to prevent Iran from having nuclear weapons.

"We think it's important to do what has to be done in order to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon," White House spokesman Robert Gibbs told a news briefing.

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Gibbs declined to comment specifically on a New York Times report which said that the United States is considering cutting off Iran's gasoline imports if Tehran rejects nuclear talks.

The Obama administration is talking with allies and Congress about the possibility of imposing an extreme economic sanction against Iran if it fails to respond to President Obama's offer to negotiate on its nuclear program: cutting off the country's imports of gasoline and other refined oil products, the New York Times reported Monday.

The United States and its European allies claim that Iran intends to secretly develop nuclear weapons, while the UN Security Council also requires Iran to suspend its uranium enrichment activity.

However, Iran insists that its nuclear plan is only for peaceful purposes, and continues its uranium enrichment activity despite the pressure from the western countries and relevant resolutions and sanctions of the United Nations.