Updated November 09, 2009
Illinois Rep. Kirk Calls on Obama to Cut Gasoline Deliveries to Iran
FOXNews.com
Rep. Mark Kirk, R-Ill., called Monday for an international coalition to block gasoline deliveries to Iran because of its rejection of a U.N. plan to curb its enriched uranium stockpile.
A Republican congressman is calling on President Obama to cut off gasoline deliveries to Iran because of the Islamic Republic's rejection of a U.N. plan to curb its stockpile of enriched uranium.
"It is time for the Obama administration to recognize that negotiations with Iran in the absence of effective sanctions have failed," Illinois Rep. Mark Kirk said in a press release Monday.
"For diplomacy to succeed, Iran must come to the bargaining table in economic pain. To avoid military action and stop the emergence of a nuclear-armed Iran, President Obama should work to cut off Iran's gasoline supply in the next 90 days," he said.
A U.N.-brokered plan in October required Tehran to send 1.2 tons (1,100 kilograms) -- around 70 percent of its stockpile -- of low-enriched uranium to Russia by the end of the year for further enrichment, a move that would ease international concerns that the material could be processed for a bomb.
According to the U.N. plan, after further enrichment in Russia, France would convert the uranium into fuel rods that would be returned to Iran for use in a reactor in Tehran that produces medical isotopes. Fuel rods cannot be further enriched into weapons-grade material.
Iran told the International Atomic Energy Agency -- the nuclear watchdog group for the United Nations -- that it would not accept a compromise offered by the U.S. and its allies to transport its low-enriched uranium to Russia.
"Since the disclosure of Iran's covert uranium enrichment facility, we learned the regime tested a nuclear warhead design, rejected the West's nuclear compromise, sent a ship loaded with weapons to terrorists in Lebanon and charged American citizens with espionage," Kirk told FoxNews.com. What is it going to take for the administration to call for new sanctions?"
Kirk, who is co-chairman of the bipartisan House Iran Working Group, which educates Congress on all issues related to Iran, also blasted the country for reportedly testing a nuclear warhead design and for charging three U.S. hikers who entered the country illegally with espionage.
"As Congress moves forward with the Iran Refined Petroleum Sanctions Act, the President should convene a meeting with key European, Gulf and Asian allies to discuss the immediate suspension of gasoline deliveries to Iran," Kirk said in his statement.
Five European companies -- the Swiss firm Vitol, the Swiss and Dutch firm Trafigura, the French firm Total,British Petroleum, and the Indian firm Reliance -- supply almost all of Iran's imported gasoline.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Latest Politics Videos
-
-
Bumpy Road Ahead?
-
Nov 25, 2009
A look inside U.S. economic indicators
-
-
-
Money Management
-
Nov 25, 2009
Use remaining stimulus for jobs bill?
-
-
-
Keep Spending?
-
Nov 25, 2009
Pelosi: Jobs more important than deficit
-
-
-
Presidential Pardon
-
Nov 25, 2009
Obama lets Courage the turkey live
-
-
-
Pomp and Protocol
-
Nov 25, 2009
Obamas hold first state dinner
-
-
-
Unusual Suspects
-
Nov 25, 2009
Democrats against spending
-
Real Clear Politics Poll
| Job Approval | Approve | Disapprove | Spread |
| Obama | 49.9% | 44.6% | +5.3% |
| Congress | 27.0% | 64.3% | -37.3% |
| Direction of Country | Right Direction | Wrong Track | Spread |
| RCP Average | 37.7% | 57.2% | -19.5% |
Most Active In Politics
Most Read
Most Commented
-
House Passes Health Care Bill
November 08, 2009 1,132 comments
-
Health Care Bill Moves Toward Senate Debate
November 22, 2009 979 comments
-
Comment Box: Send Us Your Findings on Health Care Reform
November 19, 2009 963 comments
-
AP Turns Heads for Devoting 11 Reporters to Palin Book 'Fact Check'
November 18, 2009 857 comments
-
Lawmakers Propose 'War Surtax' to Pay for Troop Increase in Afghanistan
November 23, 2009 813 comments
-
Dobbs Reaches Out to Latinos
November 25, 2009
-
Afghan Decision Set for Tuesday
November 25, 2009
-
U.S. Mulls New Panel to Tackle Deficit
November 25, 2009
-
U.S. to Pitch Emissions Cuts in Copenhagen
November 25, 2009
-
Obama, Singh Pledge Cooperation
November 25, 2009
-
Without maths we’re lost in a dark labyrinth
November 25, 2009
-
Violence: let’s separate the men from the boys
November 25, 2009
-
Restoring calm to Wordsworth’s waters
November 25, 2009
-
The truth shouldn’t need oaths
November 25, 2009
-
The ghost of Robin Cook haunts Chilcot’s feast
November 25, 2009



recommend

Subscribe to Comments






