30 July 2003

Bush Says Development of Nuclear Weapons Not in Iran's Interest

Urges Iran to turn over Al Qaeda detainees

President Bush, in a July 30 press conference in the White House Rose Garden, said that Iran's development of nuclear weapons is "not in their interests," and that concerted international effort is needed to dissuade Iran from its nuclear weapons program.

In response to a reporter's question about "a march to war in Iran," Bush warned that "all options remain on the table," but that he believed a peaceful solution was possible.

"I believe that the best way to deal with the Iranians at this point in time is to convince others to join us in a clear declaration that the development of nuclear weapons is not in their interests," Bush said.

"We're making progress there. I really believe that we can solve this peacefully, but this is an issue that's going to require a concerted effort by nations around the world to work with the United States, particularly in Europe, to speak clearly to the Iranian administration," he said.

Bush also said that he believes a free Iraq will have an affect upon the lives of Iranians. "The people of Iran are interested in freedom, and we stand by their side. We stand on the side of those who are desperate for freedom in Iran," Bush said. "We understand their frustrations in living in a society that is totalitarian in nature."

Bush noted that Iran has admitted to holding Al Qaeda members, and urged Iran to respond to the requests of neighboring countries to turn the Al Qaeda members over to them. "It would be very helpful for the Iranians to make that decision," Bush said.

Following is an excerpt from President Bush's July 30 press conference in the White House Rose Garden:

(begin excerpt)

Q: I wanted to ask you about Iran, one of your other countries in the axis of evil. One of the things we learned from that march to war is that when you start warning countries, they better pay attention. Are we now in the early stages of a march to war in Iran? Or are they more like in the category of North Korea?

THE PRESIDENT: No, I -- look, Hutch, I remember right after Iraq the first thing that happened out of -- out of some writers' pens was that, oh, no, they're getting ready to attack either Syria or Iran. You know, the march to war is just a campaign that's just going to march everywhere.

I -- all options remain on the table. I believe that the best way to deal with the Iranians at this point in time is to convince others to join us in a clear declaration that the development of a nuclear weapon is not in their interests. I believe a free Iraq will affect the lives of Iranians. I want to thank the Diaspora here in the United States, particularly in L.A. -- which reminds me, my last question is going to Ed. And -- so you can prepare for it, Ed. We've got a lot of our fellow citizens who are in e-mail contact, phone contact with people who live throughout Iran. And I want to thank them for that.

Interestingly enough, there's a TV station that I think has been -- people have read about that is broadcast out of L.A. by one of our citizens. He's -- he or she has footed the bill. It's widely watched. The people of Iran are interested in freedom, and we stand by their side. We stand on the side of those who are desperate for freedom in Iran. We understand their frustrations in living in a society that is totalitarian in nature. And now is the time for the world to come together, Ron, to send a clear message.

And so I spent time with Prime Minister Berlusconi on the ranch, and I talked to him about the need for the EU to send a very clear message, along with the United States. As you know -- some of you have been on the trips with me to Russia, and you remember me talking with my friend Vladimir Putin about the need to be mindful of the Iranians' desire to have nuclear weapons. We're making progress there. I really believe that we can solve this peacefully, but this is an issue that's going to require a concerted effort by nations around the world to work with the United States, particularly in Europe, to speak clearly to the Iranian administration.

The other thing that's interesting about Iran is that they do have Al Qaeda. They've admitted they got Al Qaeda. Now, that's positive, that the Al Qaeda is not talking to anybody. I mean, I would rather them be held somewhere other than moving around, plotting and planning. And I would just hope the Iranians would listen to the request of countries in their neighborhood to turn them over. In other words, some of the countries of origin for these Al Qaeda operatives have asked for those Al Qaeda detainees to be sent back to the country of origin. It would be very helpful for the Iranians to make that decision.

(The Washington File is a product of the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)