16/07/2009 US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton Wednesday gave Iran an ultimatum to accept the administration's offer for engagement and join the international community or to "continue down a path of further isolation." She urged Arab states to take immediate steps to improve their ties with Israel in order to bolster Mideast settlement hopes.
 
"We remain ready to engage with Iran, but the time for action is now," she said. "The opportunity will not remain open indefinitely." In a wide-ranging policy address to the Council on Foreign Relations, Clinton pledged that the U.S. will "not hesitate to defend our friends, our interests, and above all, our people vigorously and when necessary with the world's strongest military."
 
"Our willingness to talk is not a sign of weakness to be exploited," she said. "This is not an option we seek nor is it a threat; it is a promise to all Americans." Clinton said the U.S. administration was appalled by Iran's post-election crackdown on protesters. She said the Iranian regime would face new penalties and increasing isolation over its nuclear program and “support for extremists” unless it took up the U.S. overture soon.
 
Clinton did not set a deadline, but President Barack Obama said last week that the U.S. wants to see a positive response by the fall or it will press for additional bilateral and United Nations sanctions.
 
Clinton set Iran's leaders an unequivocal ultimatum: "... to join the international community as a responsible member or to continue down a path to further isolation."
 
"Neither the president nor I have any illusions that dialogue with the Islamic Republic will guarantee success of any kind, and the prospects have certainly shifted in the weeks since the election," Clinton said. "But we also understand the importance of trying to engage Iran," she said.
 
Clinton defended the administration's outreach to Iran and other past adversaries, such as Syria.
 
Clinton also called on Arab states to live up to their stated support of a Saudi proposal for a comprehensive “Arab-Israeli peace” by supporting the weak Palestinian Authority and taking steps to improve relations with Israel.
 
"Direct talks provide the best vehicle for presenting and explaining that choice," Clinton said. "That is why we offered Iran's leaders an unmistakable opportunity: Iran does not have a right to nuclear military capacity, and we're determined to prevent that. But it does have a right to civil nuclear power if it reestablishes the confidence of the international community that it will use its programs exclusively for peaceful purposes."
 
"Iran can become a constructive actor in the region if it stops threatening its neighbors and supporting terrorism. It can assume a responsible position in the international community if it fulfills its obligations on human rights. The choice is clear. We remain ready to engage with Iran, but the time for action is now. The opportunity will not remain open indefinitely," she said.
 
As for Syria, Clinton said the US views it as a critical player in the Middle East, and added that Washington intends to restore an ambassador to Damascus. However, she said, Syria will be judged by its actions, not its rhetoric.