White House Sees Signs of Progress from Talks With Iran

The White House said Sunday it sees signs of progress in confronting Iran's nuclear program while members of Congress endorsed authorizing tougher U.S. economic penalties against the Tehran government.

International inspectors are to visit Iran's newly disclosed uranium enrichment site on Oct. 25. That announcement Sunday capped a furious week of diplomacy, including Thursday's session in Geneva where Iran and six world powers resumed nuclear talks.

"The fact that Iran came to the table and seemingly showed some degree of cooperation, I think, is a good thing," said retired Gen. James Jones, President Obama's national security adviser, said on CNN's "State of the Union."

"But this is not going to be an open-ended process. We want to be satisfied. We, the world community, want to be satisfied within a short period of time," Jones added. "So it's not going to be extended discussions that we're going to have before we draw our conclusions to what their real intent is. But for now, I think things are moving in the right direction."

Suspicions about Iran's nuclear intentions have risen steadily along with fears -- and some evidence -- that Tehran wants to build an atomic bomb and is using what it calls a civilian nuclear energy program as cover. The Iranians are under three sets of U.N. penalties for refusing to stop enriching uranium, a key first step toward building a bomb.

Members of Congress are ready to authorize steps the U.S. can take against Iran, in addition to possible U.N. action.

Sen. Bob Casey, a Pennsylvania Democrat, said the U.S. "cannot allow talking and negotiation to replace strong action if we feel we have to take that step."

"We should not have to allow the talks to be an end in themselves," he said on "FOX News Sunday." "That's why I and others have supported legislation that I know my colleagues support to provide a broad range of sanctions."

Sen. Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina Republican, told FOX News he would like Congress to pass measures that would "empower the president and our country to be tough and to put some actions behind words. So let's have 'Iran Week' in the Senate and get something done."

Susan Rice, U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, said U.S. negotiations with Iran are intense but won't last forever.

"Our whole approach is predicated on an urgent need to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapons capacity," she said on NBC's "Meet the Press."

Rice said that in the best outcome, Iran would not have any nuclear weapons, no longer pose a threat to its neighbors or support terrorism, and treat its people with respect, allowing them to participate peacefully in a democratic process. "That's the Iran we hope to see."

Current penalties have failed to change Tehran's course and have been watered down through efforts by Russia and China. Those countries, along with the U.S., Britain and France, can block action in the U.N. Security Council.

Rice said the U.S. had three options: to push sanctions through the U.N.; work with European allies to punish Iran; or to take unilateral action in conjunction with the other possible courses of action.

Lawmakers are talking about trying to block gas and refined petroleum exports to Iran, possibly causing serious disruptions in the lives of ordinary Iranians. Other moves could affect Iran's financial institutions and impose new trade bans.

Iran is a major oil producer but imports gasoline and refined petroleum products.

Obama has said his administration, in conjunction with Congress, is crafting plans that could target Iran's energy, financial and telecommunications sectors.

The second-ranking Senate Republican, Arizona's Jon Kyl, told CNN's "State of the Union" that "putting sticks on the table is exactly the point." He said the Iranians "never respond to anything except pressure."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.