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Bush Warns Of Possible Security Council Action On Iran

June 1, 2006 -- U.S. President George W. Bush today said the standoff over Iran's nuclear program may go to the UN Security Council if Iran refuses to halt uranium enrichment.

Bush said the United States will wait and see whether Iran reconsiders its refusal to give up uranium enrichment. However, he warned that "the best thing for the Iranians to understand is that if they choose not to suspend [uranium enrichment] in a verifiable [way], if they continue their obstinance, if they continue to say to the world, 'We really don't care what your opinion is,' then the world is going to act in concert."

Earlier in the day, Iranian Foreign Minister Manuchehr Mottaki had reiterated that Iran will not give up what he called its right to a civilian nuclear program.

The comments from the U.S. president and the Iranian foreign minister come against the backdrop of a major policy shift by Washington. U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on May 31 said the United States would join European governments in talks with Iran on its disputed nuclear program -- if it freezes its uranium enrichment activities.

The five permanent UN Security Council members, plus Germany, met in Vienna today to discuss Iran's nuclear ambitions.

(compiled from agency reports)

Copyright (c) 2006. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. www.rferl.org