SHOW: NBC Nightly News 6:30 AM EST NBC November 19, 2004
The development of nuclear weapons in Iran most immediate foreign policy problem for President Bush
ANCHORS: TOM BROKAW
REPORTERS: ANDREA MITCHELL
TOM BROKAW, anchor:
Before President Bush went to war against Iraq, the administration raised the threat of Saddam Hussein and nuclear weapons. Well, it turns out Iraq didn't have any nuclear weapons or the capacity for producing them any time soon, but now there's more and more evidence that Iraq's neighbor is determined to develop nuclear weapons and the capacity to deliver them. Iran has been assuring the International Atomic Energy Agency it will comply with its restrictions. But before the deadline arrives, it appears Iran is determined to keep all of its options open. NBC's Andrea Mitchell tonight on all of this coming out just as President Bush is headed to South America for an economic summit with Asian allies.
ANDREA MITCHELL reporting:
As the president heads to summit talks, Iran's suspected nuclear program is his most immediate foreign policy problem. Diplomatic sources tell NBC News the International Atomic Energy Agency will report next week new evidence Iran is still producing a key ingredient for nuclear weapons fuel, only days before it is supposed to freeze its program. Secretary of State Powell, in Chile, says the world should not be surprised.
Secretary of State COLIN POWELL: I think that the Iranians still have much more to do to convince the international community that they are not moving in the direction of a nuclear weapon.
MITCHELL: Gathering intelligence on what Iran is up to has been difficult.
Mr. JOHN PIKE (Globalsecurity.org Nuclear Expert): The real question is whether Iran has hidden facilities that we simply don't know about.
MITCHELL: Despite questions about the intelligence, Powell is standing by his claim that Iran is trying to take another critical step, arming its missiles with nuclear warheads.
Protesters: (In unison) We want justice! We want peace!
MITCHELL: Iranian dissident groups who marched in Washington today also say Iran is hiding an illegal nuclear program. If Iran is getting closer to going nuclear, what are the president's options? Experts say they are not good. First, economic sanctions. Europe is suspicious of American claims because of its track record on Iraq's weapons of mass destruction.
Mr. JOSEPH CIRINCIONE (Carnegie Endowment Nuclear Weapons Expert): The rest of the world looks at this very cynically. They've heard these kind of claims before. They don't trust the United States.
MITCHELL: Is there a military option? Israel has secret contingency plans for a preemptive military strike. But if Iran has secret nuclear weapons facilities, they are dispersed around the country and buried so deep, even bunker buster bombs couldn't destroy them. And, of course, US forces already have their hands full.
Ms. ELLEN LAIPSON (Iran Expert): Given our exposure in Iraq, I think would be exceedingly difficult for the US military to do at this time.
MITCHELL: Officials say the president's best option is to finally persuade Russia's President Putin, whose country is Iran's chief nuclear supplier, that a nuclear Iran would be a threat to the entire world. The president and Putin meet tomorrow. Andrea Mitchell, NBC News, Washington.
© Copyright 2004, National Broadcasting Co. Inc.
