Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE=3/9/2005

TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT

TITLE=BUSH/EUROPE/IRAN

NUMBER=5-56609

BYLINE=ANDRE DE NESNERA

DATELINE=WASHINGTON

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

/// EDS: THIS IS THE SECOND IN A FOUR-PART SERIES ON EUROPE-U.S. RELATIONS. ///

HEADLINE: US, Europe Still Grapple Over Iranian Nuclear Weapons Issue

INTRO: President Bush recently concluded a trip to Europe aimed at improving relations between the two sides strained over differences on the Iraq war. While the trip helped mend fences, some contentious issues still remain. In this report from Washington, VOA Senior Correspondent André de Nesnera looks at one of those issues: how to deal with Iran's nuclear ambitions.

TEXT: For the past several years, three European governments, Britain, France and Germany, have been very active in talks with Iran aimed at halting Tehran's uranium enrichment program, which could be used to build nuclear weapons. The United States believes Iran is seeking to develop nuclear arms, but Tehran says its program is aimed at producing fuel for peaceful purposes, such as nuclear power generation.

Last November, Iran agreed to stop enriching uranium temporarily while it is engaged in talks with the three European governments, which hope to turn that freeze into a permanent reality. The Europeans also want Tehran to open its nuclear program to full international inspection. In return, Iran will be offered economic and trade incentives and nuclear fuel supplies for peaceful ventures.

During President Bush's recent trip to Europe, how to deal with Iran was a major topic of discussion. The two sides agreed that Iran should not be allowed to produce nuclear weapons. Following his talks with German chancellor Gerhard Schroeder (Feb. 23rd), President Bush praised the European effort.

/// BUSH ACT ///

"We have just started the diplomatic efforts and I want to thank our friends for taking the lead and I will, we will work with them to convince the mullahs that they need to give up their nuclear ambitions."

/// END ACT ///

While complimenting Europe's diplomatic effort, the United States has steadfastly refused to take part in the talks, as requested by the Europeans. But U.S. officials have said the Bush administration is looking at incentives that may be proposed to Tehran in exchange for dismantling its uranium enrichment program.

At the same time, there have been reports that the United States might be contemplating other measures, such as military action against Iran.

During his trip to Europe, President Bush did not totally rule that option out.

/// 2nd BUSH ACT ///

"This notion that the United States is getting ready to attack Iran is simply ridiculous. Having said that, all options are on the table."

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Experts on both sides of the Atlantic say Europe and the United States have not agreed on how much pressure to put on Iran to force it to abandon any plans to produce nuclear weapons.

Timothy Garton Ash is a European expert at (St. John's College) Oxford University.

/// GARTON ASH ACT ///

"Nobody, neither in Europe nor in Washington, knows exactly how to stop that regime developing a nuclear potential and we don't yet have an agreed common approach between Europe and the United States. What is actually needed is for the Europeans to wield a bigger stick, but also for the Americans to offer a larger carrot. The administration has privately made it very clear that Iran is not Iraq and they are not seriously thinking about the military option in the way they were on Iraq. But he (Bush) can't take it off the table. I think there is still a difference in approach and I think it could be an issue over which the relationship sours once again."

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For his part, Radek Sikorski, a former Polish deputy foreign minister and an expert on Europe with the American Enterprise Institute, says the Bush administration is still fine-tuning its Iran policy.

/// SIKORSKI ACT ///

"It's very convenient for the United States to have Europe do the talking now, because I don't think the U.S. has decided what its policy on Iran should be. I mean, none of us want the mullahs to have the bomb, but they are determined to do so and it is going to be very difficult to stop them. I don't think the U.S. particularly wants to intervene militarily, because that would probably pre-empt the emergence of a truly democratic Iran which would be the best way of tackling the problem."

/// END ACT ///

Experts say if the Bush administration opts for military action against Iran, it will have to take into account the views of the U.S. Congress.

Dominique Moisi is an expert on transatlantic relations with the French Institute of International Relations (in Paris).

/// MOISI ACT ///

"I don't think there is appetite in Congress for a new military adventure in Iran which would be much more complicated than the surprise attack by the Israelis on the Osirak nuclear reactor in Iraq in 1981 or the invasion of Iraq two years ago."

/// END ACT ///

Meanwhile, discussions between Britain, France and Germany on the one hand and Iran on the other continue, without direct U.S. participation.

Bernhardt May, senior U.S. expert with the German Council on Foreign Relations (in Berlin), says the United States has to face a far more difficult issue.

/// MAY ACT ///

"Sometime in the future, the question should be solved of normalizing relations between the United States and Iran. But I cannot see it right now, but hopefully in the next couple of years, because that, again, would be the real solution."

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Barring that eventuality, experts say Europe and the United States must agree on a united approach to deal with Iran. Otherwise, they say, it will only play into Tehran's hands.

(Signed)

NEB/ADEN/JP/RH