Bush not sure Iran wants solution to N-dispute

IranMania
May. 24, 2006

LONDON, May 24 (IranMania) - US President George W Bush expressed doubts that Iran wants a negotiated solution to the dispute over its nuclear programme, AFP said.

Iran's alleged efforts to acquire a nuclear weapon was one of the key topics at a White House summit between Bush and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.

The US leader renewed a vow to defend Israel against any attack by Iran, while Olmert said US efforts to take action against Iran at the United Nations Security Council were of "crucial importance".

"Our primary objective is to solve this problem diplomatically," Bush said when asked at a press conference about the "military option" in handling Iran.

Bush said that Iran's rejection of international offers to provide and collect uranium fuel, so that weapons cannot be developed, had raised his suspicions about Tehran's intentions.

"This very realistic and reasonable approach has been rejected by the Iranians. And so I say to our friends in our consortium: 'I'm not so sure these people really do want a solution'."

But Bush said the Iranian attitude made it more important for Washington and its European allies, Britain, France and Germany, to work together for action by the UN Security Council.

"We're on the cusp of going to the Security Council," he said.

"And the more the Iranians refuse to negotiate in good faith, more countries are beginning to realize that we must continue to work together."

The United States and the so-called EU-3 have led efforts for the Security Council to pass a resolution under the UN Charter that could include the threat of sanctions, and eventually allow the use of military action.

But Russia and China, who as permanent members of the council could veto any resolution, are opposed to any talk of sanctions.

Bush praised the European negotiators for their "willingness to stay tough on the goal" and indicated that efforts were being made to persuade Russia and China to support UN action.

Iran's hardline president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, has called for the eradication of Israel and expressed doubt about the existence of the Holocaust.

Bush renewed a vow to support Israel against any threat. "Israel is a close friend and ally of the United States, and in the event of any attack on Israel, the United States will come to Israel's aid," he said.

Olmert, who said before the summit that he believed Iran was only a few months away from making a bomb, reaffirmed his concern after the summit, calling the Islamic regime a "major threat".

Olmert called the US efforts at the United Nations of "crucial importance".

He said: "The international community cannot tolerate a situation where a regime with a radical ideology and a long tradition of irresponsible conduct becomes a nuclear weapons state.

"This is a moment of truth. It is still not too late to prevent it from happening."