KINGS POINT, New York, 20 June 2006 — President Bush said yesterday the United States will not waver in demanding that Tehran suspend all uranium enrichment-related activity before America would join international talks to resolve the nuclear standoff.
“Nuclear weapons in the hands of this regime would be a grave threat to people everywhere,” Bush said on the eve of a trip to Europe.
Bush said the United States, Britain, France, Germany, China and Russia have adopted a unified approach to resolve the impasse with Iran diplomatically. He said that Iran must “fully and verifiably suspend its uranium enrichment and reprocessing activities” before the United States will join in negotiations with Iran.
“Iran’s leaders have a clear choice: We hope they will accept our offer and voluntarily suspend these activities so we can work out an agreement that will bring Iran real benefits,” the president said. “If Iran’s leaders reject our offer, it will result in action before the Security Council, further isolation from the world and progressively stronger political and economic sanctions.”
Bush spoke at the commencement ceremonies of the US Merchant Marine Academy, 20 miles east of Manhattan.
