US President Barack Obama delivered a stark warning to Iran today after it was found to be developing a secret nuclear site.
In a joint statement with Prime Minister Gordon Brown and French counterpart Nicolas Sarkozy, Mr Obama said the plant represented a "direct challenge" to international non-proliferation.
"This site deepens a growing concern that Iran is refusing to live up to these international responsibilities," he told a press conference in Pittsburgh.
Mr Brown said news of the covert site had "shocked and angered" leaders.
"We will not let this matter rest," he added.
Speaking alongside Mr Obama and Mr Sarkozy, Mr Brown said: "Iran's nuclear programme is the most urgent proliferation challenge that the world faces today.
"The level of deception by the Iranian government and the scale of what we believe is the breach of international commitments will shock and anger the whole international community and it will harden our resolve."
Mr Brown said the international community must now "draw a line in the sand" and threaten Iran with further sanctions in its talks with the E3+3 states - Britain, the US, France, Germany, Russia and China - in Istanbul on October 1.
"Confronted by serial deception over many years, the international community has no choice today but to draw a line in the sand," said the PM.
"On October 1, Iran must engage with the international community and join the international community as a partner. If it doesn't do so, it will be further isolated.
"I say on behalf of the United Kingdom, we will not let this matter rest and we are prepared to implement further and more stringent sanctions.
"Iran must abandon any military ambitions for its nuclear programme."
independent
In a joint statement with Prime Minister Gordon Brown and French counterpart Nicolas Sarkozy, Mr Obama said the plant represented a "direct challenge" to international non-proliferation.
"This site deepens a growing concern that Iran is refusing to live up to these international responsibilities," he told a press conference in Pittsburgh.
Mr Brown said news of the covert site had "shocked and angered" leaders.
"We will not let this matter rest," he added.
Speaking alongside Mr Obama and Mr Sarkozy, Mr Brown said: "Iran's nuclear programme is the most urgent proliferation challenge that the world faces today.
"The level of deception by the Iranian government and the scale of what we believe is the breach of international commitments will shock and anger the whole international community and it will harden our resolve."
Mr Brown said the international community must now "draw a line in the sand" and threaten Iran with further sanctions in its talks with the E3+3 states - Britain, the US, France, Germany, Russia and China - in Istanbul on October 1.
"Confronted by serial deception over many years, the international community has no choice today but to draw a line in the sand," said the PM.
"On October 1, Iran must engage with the international community and join the international community as a partner. If it doesn't do so, it will be further isolated.
"I say on behalf of the United Kingdom, we will not let this matter rest and we are prepared to implement further and more stringent sanctions.
"Iran must abandon any military ambitions for its nuclear programme."
independent
