Briefing Skipper: Iran, Honduras, India, Hyderabad

Posted By Josh Rogin Saturday, November 21, 2009 - 2:36 AM Share

In which we scour the transcript of the State Department's daily presser so you don't have to. Here are the highlights of Friday's press briefing by Deputy Department Spokesman Robert Wood.

Following today's meeting of the P5+1 countries on Iran, not a lot of good news to report. "Iran has not engaged in an intensified dialogue and in particular has refused to have a new meeting, before the end of October, to discuss nuclear issue," Wood said, "Iran has not responded positively to the IAEA-proposed agreement for the provision of nuclear fuel for its Tehran research reactor." The P5+1 countries will meet again "soon" to discuss what to do next, Wood said.
Wood said no decision had been made on when to move to the "pressure track" and what the sanctions might be, but he said the P5+1 countries have "been of one mind" on the issue and the "window is not going to be open forever." "We're not at that point yet. But we will certainly let you know if and when we reach that point."
The State Department welcomed the decision by Honduran de factor regime leader Roberto Micheletti to temporarily step down until the Honduran elections are over. "This will allow some breathing space for the process in Honduras to go forward. And so the announcement will also allow for the people of Honduras to focus on the elections."
Wood wouldn't say that the Obama administration will announce support for India's permanent membership on the UN Security Council when Prime Minister Manmohan Singh comes to Washington next week (which isn't likely). "We'll just have to see how that goes."
No direct comment on the alleged killing of Afghan civilians in a raid on the village of Hyderabad. "We certainly recognize that it's important to make sure that the civilian population is protected," said Wood, "But at the same time, we've got to make sure... that we counter this violent extremism as best we can, because that's a major cancer in Afghan society."