Green Energy
The cowboy keeps 'em guessing:
TEHRAN (Reuters) - President Bush refused on Tuesday to rule out nuclear strikes against Iran if diplomacy fails to curb the Islamic Republic's atomic ambitions.
Bush said in Washington he would discuss Iran's nuclear activities with China's President Hu Jintao this week and avoided ruling out nuclear retaliation if diplomatic efforts fail.
Asked if options included planning for a nuclear strike, Bush replied: "All options are on the table. We want to solve this issue diplomatically and we're working hard to do so."
The United States, which already enforces its own sweeping sanctions on Iran, wants the Security Council to be ready to take strong diplomatic action, including so-called targeted measures such as a freeze on assets and visa curbs.
Washington says it does not want to embargo Iran's oil and gas industries to avoid creating hardship for the Iranian people. Iran is the world's fourth-biggest oil exporter.
China, which sent an envoy to Iran on Friday to try to defuse the standoff, repeated a call for a negotiated solution.
"We hope all sides will maintain restraint and flexibility," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said in Beijing.
Russia restated its opposition to punitive action. "We are convinced that neither the sanctions route nor the use of force route will lead to a solution of this problem," Foreign Ministry spokesman Mikhail Kamynin said, Itar-Tass news agency reported.
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, speaking at an annual military parade, said the army was ready to defend the nation.
"It will cut off the hands of any aggressors and will make any aggressor regret it," Ahmadinejad declared.
In Kuwait, former Iranian President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani said he doubted the Americans would use force. "It is unlikely that they would enter into such a perilous situation from which they cannot come out."
Iran says it will not drop its right to enrich uranium for peaceful use but that it will work with the IAEA.
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Green Energy
Bush Won't Rule Out Nuclear Attack On Iran
The cowboy keeps 'em guessing:
TEHRAN (Reuters) - President Bush refused on Tuesday to rule out nuclear strikes against Iran if diplomacy fails to curb the Islamic Republic's atomic ambitions.
Bush said in Washington he would discuss Iran's nuclear activities with China's President Hu Jintao this week and avoided ruling out nuclear retaliation if diplomatic efforts fail.
Asked if options included planning for a nuclear strike, Bush replied: "All options are on the table. We want to solve this issue diplomatically and we're working hard to do so."
The United States, which already enforces its own sweeping sanctions on Iran, wants the Security Council to be ready to take strong diplomatic action, including so-called targeted measures such as a freeze on assets and visa curbs.
Washington says it does not want to embargo Iran's oil and gas industries to avoid creating hardship for the Iranian people. Iran is the world's fourth-biggest oil exporter.
China, which sent an envoy to Iran on Friday to try to defuse the standoff, repeated a call for a negotiated solution.
"We hope all sides will maintain restraint and flexibility," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said in Beijing.
Russia restated its opposition to punitive action. "We are convinced that neither the sanctions route nor the use of force route will lead to a solution of this problem," Foreign Ministry spokesman Mikhail Kamynin said, Itar-Tass news agency reported.
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, speaking at an annual military parade, said the army was ready to defend the nation.
"It will cut off the hands of any aggressors and will make any aggressor regret it," Ahmadinejad declared.
In Kuwait, former Iranian President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani said he doubted the Americans would use force. "It is unlikely that they would enter into such a perilous situation from which they cannot come out."
Iran says it will not drop its right to enrich uranium for peaceful use but that it will work with the IAEA.
- Tick Tock Tick Tock Tick Tock
Ynet News: Iranian official: We're month away from joining 'nuclear club' Iranian Atomic Energy deputy chief says no country would consider attacking Islamic Republic after it reaches nuclear capabilities Dudi Cohen Iranian Atomic Energy deputy...
- The Broken Clock Is Right: Ahmadinejad And I Agree
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad says the NIE Report is a "declaration of surrender" on the part of the United States. I'd say he's got that about right: TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iran's president said on Sunday the publication of a U.S. intelligence report...
- Annan Says Amadinejad Wants To Talk Some More
Is Kofi Annan so stupid he buys this crap, or is he working for the other side? TEHRAN, Iran - President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad wants negotiations on Iran's nuclear program but won't halt uranium enrichment ahead of talks, U.N. chief Kofi Annan...
- Iran Says Russia And China Will Not Back Sanctions
Why worry? TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iran's foreign minister was quoted on Tuesday as saying that Russia and China had officially informed Tehran they would not support sanctions or military action over the Islamic Republic's nuclear program. U.N. ambassadors...
- It's Time To Ignore The Un - Officially
It's time to ignore the UN - OFFICIALLY China repeats it in accord with Russia on Iran BEIJING (Reuters) - China said on Thursday, a day after Russian President Vladimir Putin left Beijing, that Beijing and...