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Disarmament DocumentationBack to Disarmament Documentation 'The President does not take options off the table', White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer, June 19, 2003'Transcript: White House Press Briefing, June 19, 2003', Washington File, usinfo.state.gov, June 19. White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer briefed reporters on Air Force One June 19 as they accompanied President Bush on a day trip to Minnesota... Q: Do you have any reaction to the IAEA's report on Iran's nuclear efforts? And, secondly, in his comments yesterday what kind of new line was the President trying to draw, in terms of Iran's seeming clandestine efforts to achieve a nuclear weapon? MR. FLEISCHER: Well, the President welcomes the international community's report about Iranian attempts to develop nuclear weaponry. The report stated that Iran had -- there are a number of past failures by Iran to report material, facilities and activities as required by safeguard applications. The report noted that the enrichment plan that Iran is under IAEA safeguards, and the board encouraged Iran not to introduce nuclear material at the pilot enrichment plant, as a confidence building measure. And then the board called on Iran to take two specific concrete steps. One is to permit the IAEA to take environmental samples at locations inside Iran. And they also call on Iran to ratify an additional protocol making certain that Iran is acting in a way that provides assurances to the international community of the peaceful nature of Iran's nuclear activities. The board is concerned, the international community is concerned and the President is concerned. The President welcomes this report. It's international reinforcement of the President's message yesterday that the world, broadly speaking, joins together in fighting proliferation and making certain that Iran does not develop nuclear weapons. Q: Iran rejected those, quickly rejected those requests, though, today, according to the reports just before we left. What next? MR. FLEISCHER: Well, I've seen mixed commentary on what Iran's reaction has been. Iran did not support the board. All nations of the IAEA supported this; Iran did not. But then Iran has issued statements welcoming this. So I think it remains to be seen what Iran's reaction will be. But if Iran is not pursuing nuclear weapons, why wouldn't they cooperate fully and completely with the IAEA? Q: Ari, is there a military option on the table for dealing with Iran? MR. FLEISCHER: The President wanted to see what the IAEA reported. Clearly, the United States and the international community share the same concerns about Iran. The President's hope is that the future of Iran will be decided by the Iranian people. There is a tremendous young population in Iran that is yearning for a better way of life and a more tolerant way of life. That's where the President is focused. Q: Will there be more efforts to go to the U.N., to bring this before the Security Council? MR. FLEISCHER: The IAEA just made its report. I think the world will be very interested in Iranian reaction -- and Iranian reaction will be telling. If the Iranians are pursuing peaceful nuclear energy, as they claim they are, then they have every reason to comply with the IAEA's request, particularly the two specific requests to take the environmental sample and to sign the additional protocol. So I think the international community will watch Iran's next move. Q: So is the President still undecided on whether he believes Iran is, in fact, already committed to acquiring a weapon? Or does he -- I mean, does he think that Iran has actually made that decision? MR. FLEISCHER: The President is concerned about Iranian efforts that indicate they want to acquire nuclear weaponry. And as the President said, we -- which is an expression representing the international community -- will not tolerate Iranian development of nuclear weaponry, which is exactly what the IAEA report is all about. The world's protocols for fighting against proliferation are important and that's why Iran needs to comply. Otherwise, the world will conclude that Iran may be producing nuclear weapons. Q: Does the U.S. have any sort of leverage going forward? If so, what? MR. FLEISCHER: I think already the European Union has taken a look at this report and they will make their judgments about ongoing trade with Iran. But proliferation remains a vital issue around the world -- unless the international community is content to let various nations acquire nuclear weapons. The President is not. The international community is not. And this is why the report by the IAEA today is significant. Q: Ari, what kind of support can you give the protesters in Iran, other than just verbal support? MR. FLEISCHER: I think history has shown, and there are many recent examples of it in eastern Europe and in the former Soviet Union, that when the President of the United States speaks out with moral clarity and urges governments to engage in openness and tolerance, and to welcome dissent and democracy, it has a profound impact. And it's a message that is well received by people who yearn for freedom. That's not to make light of it, that's an important action that American Presidents have taken in the past, and that this President has taken today. Q: Is there a concern that there could be a backlash against these people, when you come out in support of them? MR. FLEISCHER: The choice is be silent in the face of brave people who seek tolerance, who seek freedom, or speak out as the President takes the side of those who seek freedom and opportunity. Q: -- the President made clear that he's not taking any options off the table. Does he reserve that same right to not take any options off the table with dealing with nuclear proliferation in whatever country it might be? MR. FLEISCHER: I think it's a fair statement that this President, as a matter of overall policy around the globe, does not take options off the table. Q: Does that apply to Iran, as well? Are you saying that the military option is not off the table? MR. FLEISCHER: I re-state what I said, that as a broad matter of policy that applies around the globe, the President does not take options off the table... © 2003 The Acronym Institute. |