Bush to Iran: Abandon nuclear weapon aims

By Tabassum Zakaria and Noah Barkin

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President George W. Bush demanded on
Wednesday that Iran give up nuclear weapons ambitions “for the
sake of world peace,” as he and German Chancellor Angela Merkel
emphasized diplomacy in dealing with Tehran.

Bush and Merkel, during an hour of Oval Office talks, said
it was important for the international community to stay united
in the drive to stop Iran from developing a nuclear weapon.

“The Iranians must understand that we won’t fold, that our
partnership is strong, that for the sake of world peace, they
should abandon their nuclear weapons ambitions,” Bush said.

Merkel, who came to Washington intent on mapping out a
strategy for confronting Iran that will not splinter the West
as Iraq did three years ago, said she and Bush saw good chances
for bringing about a diplomatic solution to Tehran’s nuclear
ambitions.

Iran says it wants a nuclear program for power generation,
not weapons.

“We are in total agreement saying that under no
circumstances must Iran be allowed to come into possession of
nuclear weapons,” said Merkel.

Facing opposition from China and Russia to the possibility
of imposing U.N. Security Council sanctions on Iran, Merkel
said it was crucial that “we try to draw as many partners as
possible into the fold to clearly show to the Iranians that
this is unacceptable.”

Bush said it was a “good starting point” that Russia agreed
on the ultimate goal that Iran not have a nuclear weapon.

“We will come to a common agreement on how to proceed
because this is a common effort,” he said.

Their meeting came as Britain and France, backed by the
United States, introduced a U.N. Security Council resolution
demanding Iran suspend uranium enrichment that the West
suspects is part of a secret nuclear weapons program.

SANCTIONS

The text, which is bound to be modified, does not call for
sanctions but is tougher than expected. It threatens to
consider “further measures as may be necessary,” a veiled
warning of sanctions that the West wants if Iran does defy
council demands.

Bush, who announced he would visit Germany in mid-July
before a Group of Eight summit in St. Petersburg, Russia, would
not discuss the type of sanctions that the allies could take
against Iran, saying, “That’s the kind of question that allies
discuss in private.”

Merkel did not answer directly when asked whether she
wanted Bush’s administration to hold direct talks with Iran,
which some Bush critics see as important toward resolving the
crisis.

She said the EU-3 countries, which are European Union
members Britain, Germany and France, had played a crucial role
working with the United States. “Right from the start, we have
been in on this together. And we shall continue to be so,” she
said.

Merkel, whose visit in January opened a new warmer chapter
in ties following her predecessor Gerhard Schroeder’s damaging
clash with the White House over Iraq, joined Bush in the White
House residence for a private dinner and more talks.

On Thursday, she will travel to New York to meet leaders of
U.S. industry and finance, before returning to Washington to
speak at the 100th anniversary gala of the American Jewish
Committee (AJC).

Originally intended as a feel-good follow-up to her
successful first trip, the visit has now been overshadowed by
the mounting crisis over Iran’s nuclear program — a showdown
analysts say could re-open newly healed transatlantic wounds.

(Additional reporting by Steve Holland)