Bush: 'All options on the table' with Iran (AP) Updated: 2006-04-19 10:50
President Bush said Tuesday that "all options are on the table" to prevent
Iran from developing atomic weapons, but said he will continue to focus on the
international diplomatic option to persuade Tehran to drop its nuclear
ambitions.
President Bush again
brushed aside an intensifying clamor, Tuesday, April 18, 2006, among
retired military commanders for Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld's
resignation. Bush made the comments in the Rose Garden at the White House
after he announced his Trade Representative Rob Portman as his choice to
be the new White House budget director. [AP] |
"We want to solve this issue diplomatically and we're working hard to do so,"
Bush told reporters in the Rose Garden.
Bush also said there should be a unified effort involving countries "who
recognize the danger of Iran having a nuclear weapon," and he noted that U.S.
officials are working closely nations such as Great Britain, France and Germany
on the issue."
"We will continue to work diplomatically," he said.
As Bush spoke, diplomats from six countries converged in Moscow to map out
the next step toward solving the Iranian nuclear standoff. The United States and
Britain say that if Iran does not comply with the U.N. Security Council's April
28 deadline to stop uranium enrichment, they will seek a resolution that would
make the demand compulsory but Russia and China remain wary of sanctions.
Bush said he intends to call on Chinese President Hu Jintao to step up
pressure on Iran when the two leaders meet Thursday at the White House.
Iran has so far refused to give up uranium enrichment, which the United
States and some of its allies suspect is meant to produce weapons. Tehran
insists its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes.
Bush was asked if his administration was planning for the possibility of a
nuclear strike against Iranian nuclear facilities.
"All options are on the table," he said.
But, the president added: "We'll continue to work diplomatically to get this
problem solved."
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