“The IAEA statement is an important statement. It reminds the nations of the world that there is an ongoing diplomatic effort to convince the Iranians to give up their nuclear weapons ambitions. It should remind the Iranians that the world is united and concerned about their desire to have not only a nuclear weapon, but the capacity to make a nuclear weapon or the knowledge to make a nuclear weapon, all of which we’re working hard to convince them not to try to achieve”, Bush told reporters in Washington, DC.
Bush said that he would consult with Washington’s allies on the issue, adding that he had already spoken to German Chancellor Angela Merkel this morning.
“I think the diplomatic options are just beginning. … The first thing that has to happen diplomatically for anything to be effective is that we all agree on the goal. And we’ve agreed on the goal, and that is the Iranians should not have a nuclear weapon, the capacity to make a nuclear weapon, or the knowledge as to how to make a nuclear weapon. And now that we’ve got the goal in mind, we’re working on the tactics”, he said.
He said that ElBaradei’s report on Iran was a reminder that Tehran’s “intransigence” was not acceptable.
