The Secretary of State issued the following statement today. I do not post every single statement she releases, but this one involves an initiative in which we all know she was heavily invested. I am posting this for another reason as well. She had a closed schedule today that ended early. Often people believe that indicates that she is not working past the time posted on the schedule. So I am putting this up as a reminder that she herself tells us this is a 24/7/365 job. It is! She is doing it exceptionally well. We LOVE to see her get away, relax, have some time to herself, but that blackberry or droid or whatever new tech-toy she has, is never far away, and though she's a champ at it (and I can challenge her to the title, but prefer to concede it to my hero), she is not playing Tetris on it.
Passage of Iran Sanctions Legislation
Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of StateWashington, DCJune 25, 2010I join President Obama in welcoming Congressional passage of legislation to strengthen sanctions against Iran. We support the broad aims of HR 2194, the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act of 2010 -- constraining Iran’s nuclear program, changing the calculus of Iran’s leaders, and demonstrating that Iran’s policies decrease its standing, and further isolate it in the international community. We are committed to fully implementing this legislation in a manner that advances our multilateral dual-track strategy of engagement and pressure. These new measures, along with action by the European Union and Australia, build on United Nations Security Council Resolution 1929 and underscore the resolve of the international community to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons and to hold it accountable for its international obligations. The United States will work with our partners to maximize the impact of these efforts and to continue pursuing a diplomatic resolution to the international community’s concerns regarding Iran’s nuclear program.
In addition to increasing pressure on Iran’s illicit nuclear activities, this legislation also addressed the Iranian government’s continued violation of the fundamental rights of its citizens. A year after the Iranian people took to the streets to protest an election, the leadership continues to violate its most fundamental duties of government, denying its people the right to speak freely, to assemble without fear, and to the equal administration of justice. We support the Congress’ efforts to call attention to these violations, and the United States will continue to hold Iran accountable for its obligations to respect the rights of its own people.
