MAINZ, Feb 23: US President George Bush said on Wednesday that European diplomatic efforts to rein in Iran's nuclear programme were only just beginning and that comparisons with Iraq were wrong.
"Iran is not Iraq. We just started the diplomatic efforts and I want to thank our friends for taking the lead. We will work with them to convince the mullahs that they need to give up their nuclear ambitions," Mt Bush said at a news conference.
Bush repeated on Wednesday his verbal support to efforts by Britain, France and Germany to negotiate a deal under which Iran would abandon uranium enrichment that could be used to make a bomb in return for trade benefits and security guarantees.
"You know yesterday I was asked about a U.S. decision and I said all options are on the table. That's part of our position. But I also reminded people that diplomacy is just beginning."
Bush said on Tuesday the idea that he was preparing to bomb Iran was "ridiculous" but also added that "all options are on the table", a clear reference to possible military action. The U.S. president stopped short of saying that Washington would join Europe's dialogue with Tehran.
"Let me just make this very clear. The party that has caused these discussions to occur in the first place is the Iranians. And the reason we are having these discussions is because they were caught enriching uranium after they had signed a treaty saying they wouldn't enrich uranium," Bush said.
"They are the party that needs to be held to account, not any of us," he added. Bush has repeatedly said the U.S. launched its war on Iraq only after then leader Saddam Hussein had failed to comply with a series of U.N. resolutions over a number of years.
Mindful of past divisions in the lead-up to the Iraq war, Bush said after talks with German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder it was vital for Iran to hear the world speak with one voice.
Bush said Washington had discussed negotiating tactics with Britain, France and Germany to push forward the "universal demand" that Iran abandon any hope of making nuclear weapons.
"I might add I believe there's another demand that makes sense as well and that is that the Iranian government listen to the hopes and aspirations of the Iranian people," Bush said, repeating his call to spread democracy throughout the Middle East.
Iranian President Mohammad Khatami responded on Wednesday, warning Bush that the United States would pay a heavier price than Iran if it threatened the Islamic state's independence.
"I believe that if he (Bush) has any sense he should know they can't (overturn Iran's independence), and if they can, the price they will pay is far heavier than we would," he told a news conference after a weekly cabinet meeting. Iran has insisted it will never abandon its right to nuclear technology including uranium enrichment, but denies it is seeking atomic weapons.
Pressure on SYRIA: President George Bush said Syria must withdraw its troops and "secret services" from Lebanon, and he would await the response from Damascus before seeking any new UN sanctions.
Asked whether he had convinced European leaders to seek sanctions against Syria, Mr Bush said Damascus must withdraw its troops and "secret services" from Lebanon and not try to influence upcoming parliamentary elections there.
"We will see how they respond before there's any further discussions about going back to the United Nations," the US president said during the press conference with German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, who backed Mr Bush's statement.
United Nations resolution 1559, sponsored by the United States and France, calls for all foreign forces to be pulled out of Lebanon and for militias such as Hezbollah to be dissolved.
Syria maintains 14,000 troops in the country, but has been facing growing pressure to pull out of Lebanon following the assassination of former prime minister Rafik Hariri on Feb 14. Mr Bush and his French counterpart Jacques Chirac made a joint call after talks on Monday for Syrian soldiers to pull out of Lebanon.
The United States has been hardening its tone with Syria on several fronts in recent months and last week recalled its ambassador to Damascus for urgent consultations as a strong signal of its displeasure.
The Americans are seeking a full and transparent investigation of the bomb attack that killed Mr Hariri and 17 other people in Beirut. Washington blames the Syrians indirectly, if not directly. -Reuters/AFP
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