Bush told an audience in Florida that the first option and the most important option in dealing with Tehrans nuclear threat was diplomacy.
The Iranians should not have a nuclear weapon or the capacity to make a nuclear weapon, he said, adding that Tehran would become isolated if it continued to defy the demands of the international community. It’s very important for the Iranians to know they will be isolated in the world.
Obviously, part of making the diplomacy work is what will be the consequences if the Iranians decide maybe not to listen to the rational demands of the world.
Ultimately, of course, I would hope that an American President is able to say to the Iranian people, you’re free, and we look forward to having good relations with you. Liberty has got an amazing way of changing the world.
Freedom has the capacity to change enemies into friends. And so in the long run, the best way to deal with problems such as the Iranian problem is to encourage people to be free. And the fundamental question is, do people want to be free? And the cornerstone of my foreign policy is my strong belief that freedom is universal. People desire to be free, he said.
