[NYTr] Bush determined to "confront Iran's nuclear ambitions"

[All the News That Doesn't Fit]

sent by Dave Muller (southnews)

Agence France-Presse - Oct 6, 2007


Bush determined to "confront Iran's nuclear ambitions"

AFP Correspondents in Washington

US President George W Bush said he is determined to confront Iran's 
nuclear ambitions and warned that Tehran should not expect a more 
complacent attitude from his successor.

In an interview yesterday with the Al-Arabiya satellite network, Mr
Bush said that he was determined to seek resolution of these issues
through diplomatic means and that he will try to impose new sanctions
that will force the Islamic state to renounce its uranium enrichment
activities.

"The Iranian regime must understand that I'm dedicated to the 
proposition that they should not continue their desire to enrich, as 
will be people that follow me in office," President Bush said.

"There is universal concern about Iranian ambition here in America.
This is not a party issue, an issue between one party or the other," he
said.

More tense relationships between Washington and Tehran have fuelled 
concerns that President Bush may decide to use force against the
country before the end of his presidency.

But Mr Bush dismissed reports that he had already ordered to prepare a 
military strike against Iran for January or February.

"I would call that empty propaganda," he said.

"And that kind of gossip is just what it is, it's gossip, it's baseless 
gossip."

Iran denied charges that it had seeked nuclear weapons under cover of a 
civilian atomic energy program and has drawn UN sanctions for refusing 
to freeze its uranium enrichment, which can yield materials for a 
nuclear bomb.