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Obama Warns Iran Over Nuclear Program in UN Address

23 September 2010 19:04 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. U.S. President Barack Obama says United Nations sanctions passed this year against Iran for its controversial nuclear program show that international law is not an "empty promise", APA reports quoting voanews.com website

In an address to the United Nations General Assembly Thursday, Mr. Obama said Iran is being held accountable for failing to meet its responsibilities as a member of the international community.

He said the door remains open to diplomacy, but that Iran must demonstrate the peaceful intent of its nuclear program.

Many in the international community accuse Iran of seeking to develop a nuclear weapon, a charge Iran denies.

The U.S. president also called for international support for the Israeli-Palestinian peace process in the hope of securing a comprehensive agreement in a year’s time.

He said nations that support an independent Palestinian state "must stop trying to tear Israel down," and to provide political and financial support for the Palestinian Authority. He also reiterated his administration’s view that Israel should extend a ban on new settlement construction in land Palestinians want for a future state.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu resumed direct direct peace negotiations in Washington earlier this month.

The negotiations appear to be at a standstill over Israel’s refusal to extend a moratorium on settlements in the occupied West Bank that is scheduled to expire next week. Mr. Abbas has threatened to walk out of the meetings if the construction resumes.