Cheney warns on 'Iran ambition'
2007-02-24 13:11
Sydney - United States vice-president Dick Cheney said on Saturday that the US and its allies must not allow Iran to become a nuclear power and raised concerns about Tehran's actions and "inflammatory" rhetoric.
The comments from Cheney, known for his hawkish views, follow Tehran's refusal to heed a United Nations deadline to halt uranium enrichment and a vow by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to stand up to the rest of the world and not show weakness by acceding to US demands.
"They have made some fairly inflammatory statements," Cheney said of Iran at a joint news conference with Australian Prime Minister John Howard.
"They (Iran) appear to be pursuing the development of nuclear weapons."
Iran insists it is not trying to acquire nuclear weapons and that its enrichment activities are for peaceful purposes.
The two leaders touched on issues ranging from the Iraq war to China and Australian Guantanamo Bay inmate David Hicks.
Howard pressed his insistence on a speedy trial for Hicks.
'Nightmare scenario'
Howard also offered warnings on Iran, saying that a sudden withdrawal of US forces from Iraq would only bolster Iran's clout and influence in the Middle East.
"I can't think of a country whose influence and potential clout would be more enhanced in that part of the world than Iran would be," if the US and its allies were to be forced to exit Iraq, said Howard.
"That would be a nightmare scenario."
Cheney said he was concerned about Iran's "fairly aggressive" role in the Middle East, as well as its decision to ignore the UN deadline.
He said "all options are on the table" on Iran.
The Bush administration has long maintained that it is focused on diplomacy but tacitly acknowledges that a military option has not been ruled out.
Anti-war protesters scuffle with police
The administration's tough comments on Iran have been met with concern by some in the US congress and have even rattled financial markets.
Cheney said a peaceful resolution to the nuclear standoff with Iran was "still our preference".
The Weekend Australian newspaper reported on Saturday that Cheney had endorsed US Republican senator John McCain's view that the only thing worse than a military confrontation with Iran would be a nuclear-armed Iran.
Cheney, who stopped in Australia after a visit to Tokyo, had harsh words about China in a speech on Thursday, citing concerns about its rapid military build up.
Howard took a decidedly softer tone on China, saying Australia took a "realistic" view of Beijing's government.
Anti-Iraq war protesters scuffled with police during Cheney's visit.
The war has become a growing problem for Howard's conservative government, which has slumped in opinion polls ahead of elections due in the second half of this year.
- Reuters