UPDATE: OBAMA SAYS IRAN HAS 14 DAYS TO LET NUCLEAR INSPECTORS IN

The President, speaking just a few minutes ago, calls today‘s historic nuclear talks with Iran “constructive,” but says it’s just a beginning. The next steps, Obama says, are up to Tehran.

Speaking in the Diplomatic Reception, the President said Iran has just 14 days to allow inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) into its uranium-enrichment facility near Qum. He added Iran must follow up by being more transparent. The entire international community, Mr. Obama claimed, “is united” on this matter.

But during today’s talks in Geneva between Iran and the so-called P5+1 (the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council and Germany), Iran gave no indication that it is willing to back down on its nuclear program.

At the talks, which included the highest-level bilateral discussions between the U.S. and Iran in years, Tehran also agreed to an additional meeting later this month.

Asked whether the additional talks are merely an attempt by Tehran to stall the West, presidential press secretary Robert Gibbs said: “The Iranians need to understand that we mean business.” If talks do not yield fruitful results soon – and by soon, the White House means Dec. 31 – then tougher sanctions will be on the table, Gibbs said.

What kind of sanctions is Obama considering? The President is said to be weighing the cutoff of gasoline supplies to Iran, the thought being that this would further weaken the wobbly Iranian economy. Why does Iran – the world’s 4th biggest oil producer – have to import gasoline in the first place? Because existing sanctions have choked its refineries of spare parts needed to process enough crude to meet its needs – it is estimated that Tehran imports about 25% of its gas.

These sanctions have, in fact, appeared to have an impact. The CIA has reported that fuel shortages forced the regime to ration fuel in July 2007 and impose a stiff fuel tax in October of last year. Both moves, intelligence analysts say, “were met with stiff resistance and violent protests.”

– TRNS Staff