FOX SPECIAL REPORT WITH BRIT HUME December 18, 2002
Iranian nuclear buildup
HUME: President Bush has decided national missile defense should become reality sooner rather than later, fearing the progress of his designated axis of evil countries toward having the capability to attack the U.S. But while the pursuit of Iraq and North Korea are well publicized, it's the third member of the group, Iran, that appears to be an increasing threat.
Fox News' Teri Schultz reports.
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TERI SCHULTZ, FOX NEWS CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): While President Bush considers waning war against Saddam Hussein and has imposed international isolation on Kim Jong Il for pursuing nuclear weapons, Mohammad Katami's Iran out ranks them both in developing and spreading nuclear technology. And Tehran seems to be getting a break from the Bush Administration's tough talk.
POWELL: We are concerned about Iranian proliferation efforts and efforts to acquire nuclear technology that might lead to a nuclear weapon.
SCHULTZ: But one analyst who tracks Iran's nuclear developments says that should change in 2003.
JOHN PIKE, GLOBALSECURITY.ORG: I think over the next year or so, Iran is going to get on the front burner because they're working on nuclear weapons and long-range missiles to deliver them.
SCHULTZ: Satellite images released last week show movement in two of Iran's nuclear facilities, Araq and Nantanz. Nantanz is suspected of being used to enrich uranium for nuclear weapons and now the U.S. believes Iran is trying to literally cover up some of the structures there.
RICHARD BOUCHER, STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN: I understand Iran has been caught constructing a secret underground site where it could produce fissile material.
SCHULTZ: The better-known Busher nuclear facility has long been a tense topic between the U.S. and Russia, which has been providing technology to the Iranians as well as supporting their claims that the reactor is just for electricity. Powell is likely to bring that up on Friday as he has countless times before in discussions with his Russian counterpart who will be in Washington for a meeting on the Middle East.
Powell has also been asking European allies to curtail their dealings with Iran. The E.U. opened trade talks this week with Tehran. But leaders assure Washington it's with the same goals in mind.
PER STIG MOELLER, E.U. PRESIDENT: We are not just trading with Iran. It is on a condition that there's progress of political and human rights.
SCHULTZ: And though months of student demonstrations against the hard-line Islamic government haven't made much progress on that front, John Pike says that is the way to go.
PIKE: If there is going to be regime change in Iran, that the best prospect from that is from the Iranian people themselves rather than the American military simply overthrowing the government the way that we're talking about with Iraq.
SCHULTZ (on camera): In an effort to capitalize on the pro democracy spirit in the street, the U.S. today began radio broadcasts into Iran, hoping a hip mixture of pop music and pro-Western news will help change the prevailing attitude in that country and eventually perhaps the regime so actively seeking nuclear weapons.
In Washington, Teri Schultz, Fox News.
Copyright 2002 Fox News Network
