U.S. COMMENTS ON IRANIAN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION RESULTS

FROM: U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT
Result of the Iranian Presidential Election
Press Statement
John Kerry
Secretary of State
Washington, DC
June 15, 2013　


We have seen the announcement by Iran’s Interior Ministry that Hassan Rouhani has been declared the winner of the country’s 11th presidential election.

We admire the courage of the Iranian people who went to the polls and made their voices heard in a rigidly controlled environment that sought to limit freedom of expression and assembly. We remain concerned about the lack of transparency in the electoral process, and the attempts to censor members of the media, the internet, and text messages. Despite these challenges, however, the Iranian people have clearly expressed their desire for a new and better future.

President-elect Rouhani pledged repeatedly during his campaign to restore and expand freedoms for all Iranians. In the months ahead, he has the opportunity to keep his promises to the Iranian people.

We, along with our international partners, remain ready to engage directly with the Iranian government. We hope they will honor their international obligations to the rest of the world in order to reach a diplomatic solution that will fully address the international community’s concerns about Iran’s nuclear program.

SEC. OF DEFENSE PANETTA VISITS ISRAEL

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Iranian Nuke Program Dominates Panetta's Talks in Israel
By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

JERUSALEM, Aug. 1, 2012 - Iranian nuclear ambitions dominated discussions between Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu here today.

The Israeli leader stated there is no greater challenge than stopping Iran's pursuit of nuclear weapons.

"Everything must be done to keep Iran, the world's most dangerous regime, from developing the world's most dangerous weapons," he said before his meeting with Panetta.

Panetta was direct and unequivocal in his reply to the prime minister. The United States, he said, "will not allow Iran to develop a nuclear weapon. Period."

While both countries are united in that goal, they disagree on timing and tactics. Netanyahu said sanctions are having an effect on Iran, but are not working fast enough. "Neither sanctions nor diplomacy have yet had any impact on Iran's nuclear weapons program," he said.

The sanctions, economic pressure and forceful statements, "have not convinced Iran that we are serious about stopping them," the prime minister said.

"Right now, the Iranian regime believes that the international community does not have the will to stop its nuclear program," he added. "This must change, and it must change quickly, because time to resolve this issue peacefully is running out."

Panetta said continued close defense cooperation between the U.S. and Israeli militaries is important because of the huge changes in the Middle East and North Africa in the past two years. In addition to Iran, the civil war in Syria is costing thousands of lives. Egypt has its first democratically elected president, and the country is moving to build the infrastructure to support democracy. Threats from terror groups -- some supported by Iran -- threaten not only Israel but the world, Panetta said.

In this time of change, the United States remains a firm friend and ally to Israel, Panetta said.

"I want you and the people of Israel to know a few things that have not and will not change," he said. "The United States stands firmly with Israel and we have a rock solid commitment to the security of Israel and to the security of its citizens."