The House of Representatives has called on the
United States and the rest of the international community to stop Iran's
nuclear weapons programs by any means.
The nonbinding House resolution, passed 376-3, was said to have endorsed
the Bush administration's doctrine of preventive war in the case of Iran's
nuclear weapons. The resolution called on the United States and other
members of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty to "use all appropriate
means to deter, dissuade and prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons."
The House resolution called on Europe, Japan and Russia to sever
commercial and energy ties with Iran, Middle East Newsline reported.
House members said the resolution was meant to pave the way for a more
aggressive U.S. stance toward Iran's secret development of nuclear weapons.
They said this could include additional sanctions on nuclear suppliers to
Iran as well as military options.
Rep. Dennis Kucinich, an Ohio Democrat, said similar wording was used by
the Bush administration to justify its decision to launch war against the
Iraqi regime of Saddam Hussein. Kucinich voted against the resolution.
The resolution passed on May 6 referred to Iran's long-secret Natanz
uranium enrichment facility. The House said Natanz could produce enough
highly enriched uranium for between 25 to 40 nuclear weapons a year.
"It has engaged in a systematic campaign of deception and manipulation
to hide its true intentions and keep its large scale nuclear efforts a
secret," Rep. Dan Burton, an Indiana Republican, said.
The resolution said Iran was
continuing "deceptions and falsehoods" in concealing its nuclear weapons
program.
"It is abundantly clear that Iran remains committed to a nuclear weapons
program," the resolution said.