Rice highlights fear of nuclear Iran to enlist Arabs

By Saul Hudson

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice
on Thursday highlighted U.S. fears that Iran is destabilizing
the Middle East in a new diplomatic strategy to enlist Arab
neighbors to help curb Tehran’s nuclear ambitions.

Rice, who will visit the region next week, said she will
lobby for pressure against Iran by emphasizing concern likely
to resonate with its neighbors — its support for militant
groups that she said are undermining governments in the area.

She told lawmakers the U.S. strategy against Iran’s
suspected nuclear weapons programs was to “remind the world
that this has to be understood in the context of broader
Iranian policies.”

“We will not be able to address the Iranian nuclear program
and problem in a vacuum,” she said. “It is Iran’s regional
policies that really are concerning, as we watch them, with
their sidekick Syria, destabilizing places like Lebanon and the
Palestinian territories and, indeed, even in southern Iraq.”

Iran says its nuclear programs are peaceful and denies it
funds terrorist organizations in the region.

For two years, Rice has gradually won more support from
Europe, Russia and China for the U.S. campaign to curb Iran’s
nuclear programs.

Now she wants to widen the international front pressuring
Iran to Arab countries and will start with her trip to Egypt,
Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

“Our diplomacy has been focused on the EU-3 countries
(Britain, France and Germany), on Russia, China, India,” a
senior administration official involved in crafting the new
strategy said.

“What the secretary would like to do is broaden that
international discussion and discuss with the Arab countries,
who obviously have a lot of concerns about Iran, not just the
nuclear issue but the terrorism issue,” said the official, who
asked not to be named because he went beyond Rice’s explanation
of her trip.

Arab powers have expressed concern about Iran’s nuclear
ambitions. But it is unclear how much explicit support they can
give to a U.S. campaign against Iran when many in the region
are angry at what they see as anti-Muslim American policies.

The United States concluded a years-long campaign last
month to have Iran reported to the United Nations Security
Council for possible sanctions.

But Rice acknowledged forging support at the security
council for further international moves against Iran would be
difficult and said Washington might have to rely only on those
countries willing to support its hard line for sanctions.

“I do not underestimate the challenge that we have in
getting robust action should Iran continue to defy the
international community,” she said.

“If we cannot get everyone to agree, there may be some
measures that like-minded states can take that will still have
a significant effect on the Iranian economy,” she added.