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February 8, 2010
Source: Los Angeles Times, D.C. Now

The United States and the European Union on Monday condemned human rights abuses in Iran in the wake of the Islamic Republic’s announcement that it would expand its nuclear materials enrichment effort.

In a joint statement, the White House and the EU also said they were worried about the potential for an additional government crackdown as Iran approaches Feb. 11, the anniversary of the founding of the Islamic Republic.

“The United States and the European Union condemn the continuing human rights violations in Iran since the June 12 election,” the joint statement said, castigating “large scale detentions and mass trials and the threatened execution of protesters.”

“We are particularly concerned by the potential for further violence and repression during the coming days, especially around the anniversary of the Islamic Republic’s founding on 11 February. We call on the government of Iran to live up to its international human rights obligations, to end its abuses against its own people, to hold accountable those who have committed the abuses and to release those who are exercising their rights,” the statement said.

President Obama and European leaders have condemned human rights abuses in Iran before, but the current call comes at an especially sensitive time, hence it is designed to serve as another warning to Iran about its nuclear ambitions.

Iran says it will soon start producing higher-grade nuclear fuel and that it wants to add 10 uranium enrichment plants over the next year, moves the United States and its allies oppose. Iran insists its nuclear program is for research and peaceful purposes, while the United States and its allies fear Iran is trying to develop nuclear weapons.

The United States had set an informal deadline on the end of last year for Iran to cease its nuclear development. The United States is currently weighing tougher sanctions against Iran, but it is unclear how much support that move has with some permanent members of the United Nations Security Council.

– Michael Muskal