Iran becoming a pariah state, U.S. official says

PanARMENIAN.Net - A senior U.S. official on Monday, December 5, said the situation over Iran's nuclear program is becoming increasingly worrying and an urgent diplomatic solution needs to be found, Reuters reports.

The United States and Israel have not ruled out military action against Iran's nuclear facilities if diplomacy fails to resolve a dispute over a program they suspect is aimed at developing atomic weapons.

Iran denies it is seeking nuclear weapons and says it would respond to any strike by attacking Israel and U.S. interests in the Gulf.

"Iran is violating international obligations and norms. It is becoming a pariah state," Robert Einhorn, the State Department senior adviser for non-proliferation and arms control, told a news conference in the South Korean capital.

"The situation in Iran has become more and more worrisome. The timeline for its nuclear program is beginning to get shorter, so it is important we take these strong steps on an urgent basis. If we do not, pressures will grow for much stronger actions. The U.S. favors a diplomatic solution pressure, but if we cannot achieve a diplomatic solution soon, inevitably interests will grow in a different kind of solution. That is why we need to act soon."