Obama Revives Nuclear Drive on Iran and Russia

US President Barack Obama, in his State of the Union address Tuesday, renewed his vows to focus on nuclear weapons stockpile reductions with Russia, and also urged Iran to seize the moment for nuclear diplomacy.

Published

3 months ago

Categories

US

Topics

US Politics, United States, Nuclear Nonproliferation

People

Barack Obama

Places

Iran, United States of America, Russia, North Korea

Transcript

SHOTLIST: WASHINGTON, FEBRUARY 12, 2013, SOURCE: US POOL *NO RESALE for non-editorial purposes* - End of applause as State of the Union audience is seated - SOUNDBITE Barack Obama (man), president of the United States (English, 39 sec): "Likewise, the leaders of Iran must recognize that nows the time for a diplomatic solution, because a coalition stands united in demanding that they meet their obligations, and we will do what is necessary to prevent them from getting a nuclear weapon. At the same time, we'll engage Russia to seek further reductions in our nuclear arsenals, and continue leading the global effort to secure nuclear materials that could fall into the wrong hands -- because our ability to influence others depends on our willingness to lead and meet our obligations." - CU of outgoing Pentagon chief Leon Panetta - end of Obama's speech - Obama shakes Biden and Boehner's hands ------------------------------------------ AFP TEXT STORY: US-politics-Obama-Russia-nuclear-weapons Obama vows to work with Russia to reduce nuclear arsenals WASHINGTON, Feb 12, 2013 (AFP) - US President Barack Obama vowed in his annual State of the Union address Tuesday to work with the Kremlin to reduce both Russia and America's stockpiles of nuclear weapons. "We will engage Russia to seek further reductions in our nuclear arsenals and continue leading the global effort to secure nuclear materials that could fall into the wrong hands," Obama promised. Obama came to office four years ago promising to make nuclear arms reduction a centerpiece of his foreign and security policy, raising such hopes that the Norwegian Nobel Committee awarded him their 2009 peace prize. But his soaring rhetoric has not been matched by results, with Russia wary of engaging in dialogue, Iran refusing to rein in its nuclear enrichment drive and North Korea defying sanctions to carry out nuclear tests. Defense officials said Washington is now ready to push the strategic negotiations with Russia forward. Speaking anonymously, they said Obama would seek a new 30 percent cut in both arsenals to around 1,000 warheads each. A Pentagon spokeswoman told AFP the United States aims in the short-term to reduce its stockpile to the level agreed in the last round of Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty talks, but that more cuts were possible. "The department is committed to meeting the set New START levels for warheads by 2018," Lieutenant Colonel Monica Matoush said, referring to the level of 1,550 warheads agreed with Russia in the 2010 treaty. "However, as the president said recently in Seoul, he firmly believes we can ensure the security of the United States and our allies, maintain a strong deterrent against any threat, and still pursue further reductions in our nuclear arsenal." She said the United States would pursue further talks with Russia on reducing not only strategic nuclear warheads, but tactical weapons and warheads in reserve as well. According to a recent report in The New York Times, Obama's National Security Adviser Tom Donilon is planning to head to Moscow in March to examine the framework for possible new arms control talks.