|
Bush OK with nuke fuel for Iran
17/12/2007 21:32 - (SA)
Fredericksburg - US President George W Bush said on Monday he supported Russia sending enriched uranium to Iran for civilian power use because it meant that Tehran did not need to pursue its own enrichment capabilities.
"If the Russians are willing to do that, which I support, then the Iranians do not need to learn how to enrich," Bush said. "If the Iranians accept that uranium for a civilian
nuclear power plant, then there's no need for them to learn how
to enrich."
Russia has delivered the first shipment of nuclear fuel to
Iran's Bushehr atomic power station, which Moscow and
Washington say should convince Tehran to shut down its disputed
uranium enrichment programme.
Bush said Iran was a danger so long as it pursued a nuclear
program that could lead to the development of weapons. Tehran
insists its programme is for peaceful energy purposes only. Intelligence assessment
Despite a US intelligence assessment that Tehran had
halted its nuclear weapons programme in late 2003, Bush said: "I
think Iran's a danger to peace. My attitude hasn't changed
toward Iran. "If somebody had a weapons programme what's to say
they couldn't start it up tomorrow?"
The United States is seeking another round of UN
sanctions against Iran. "They owe an explanation to the world,"
Bush said.
"That (intelligence) report says to me, when you read it
carefully, Iran was a threat, Iran is a threat to peace, and
Iran will be a threat to peace if we don't stop their
enrichment facilities," Bush said.
- Reuters
|
News
