Iran's President 'Will Never Back Down' on Nuclear Ambitions
11 April 2006
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad says his country will never back down from pursuing its nuclear ambitions.
In a speech Monday, Mr. Ahmadinejad also promised what he calls "good news" on Iran's nuclear program in the next few days. He did not elaborate.
Meanwhile, President Bush says he wants to use diplomacy to prevent Iran from having the ability to develop nuclear weapons, although a military option has not been ruled out.
The president says American news media reports about supposed plans for U.S. airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites are "wild speculation." He says diplomacy is the best course, including discussions with Iran by several countries concerning the nuclear issue.
Mr. Ahmadinejad said the media reports are part of a U.S. campaign of "psychological warfare."
"The Washington Post" quoted current and former U.S. defense officials as saying a Pentagon study of military options is part of a coercive-diplomacy effort to get Iran to end its nuclear fuel program. The report published Sunday also says no U.S. attack appears likely in the short term.
In a separate report citing unnamed sources, "The New Yorker" magazine says the Bush administration has increased clandestine activities in Iran, as well as planning for possible air strikes on nuclear facilities.
Washington accuses Iran of using its nuclear program as a cover for efforts to develop an atomic bomb, a charge Tehran denies. Last month, the U.N. Security Council ordered Iran to stop uranium enrichment.
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