Iran Disguising Weapons Programs as Energy Projects, Rice Says

(Calls for United States, Europe, Russia and IAEA to have unified
approach)

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Iran is attempting to hide its
nuclear weapons-related activities under cover of civilian nuclear
power,・and should live up to its obligations to have verification
inspection of its nuclear sites.

Speaking to the press February 4 en route to London, Rice said Iran is
attempting to use the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) as a "cover"
of seeking civilian nuclear power, in order to "disguise activities that
we believe could lead to a nuclear weapon.・

She said that Europe, the United States, Russia and the International
Atomic Energy Agency need unity of message and unity of purpose with
regard to Iran, and to let them [Iran] know in no uncertain terms that
they cannot enjoy the benefits of NPT membership without fully living up
to its obligations.・

Rice also criticized Iran for its support of terrorism and for trying to
deal with Iraq in ways that are not transparent.・

U.S. policy, she said, is to make very clear to the Iranians that those
behaviors are not acceptable and to work with others to try and deal with
them・through various fora and through a variety of partners.

The secretary said she hoped that those seeking peace in the Middle East
recognize that Iran is one of the strongest supporters of the
rejectionists in that process,・such as Hezbollah in Lebanon or
Palestinian rejectionist groups.

She said she would be telling European leaders that you can't have it
both ways.・

You can't say that you want peace between Israel and the Palestinians
and not do everything that you can to disable the Palestinian
rejectionists and Hezbollah,・she said.

When asked if the Bush administration was seeking a change of regime in
Tehran, Rice responded that the Iranian people, like others such as the
Palestinians, the Iraqis or Ukrainians, should have a chance to determine
their own future.・

Right now under this regime they have no opportunity to determine
their own future,・she said, adding that such a right is the basis of
human dignity.・

Turning to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Rice said she and other Bush
administration officials greatly welcome・Egypt's initiative to host a
summit between the leaders of both sides.

Along with the summit, Rice cited the new Palestinian leadership,
Israel's planned withdrawal from Gaza, and the upcoming London conference
on the Middle East as very big fundamental changes・taking place in the
region.

This is now a process that is moving and moving effectively, and as long
as it is moving and moving effectively, we should be deeply satisfied with
what is going on here,・she said.

Secretary Rice said the Bush administration is in discussions with
Palestinian and World Bank officials, as well as the U.S. Congress, as to
how the $350 million in Palestinian aid announced by President Bush in his
February 2 State of the Union address will be spent.

Rice encouraged others to contribute in various ways, saying it is time
for everybody to look deep inside and say, if we want the
Israeli-Palestinian peace to be achieved and to sustain momentum, what
more can we do in terms of assistance, in terms of dealing with terrorist
organizations, in terms of sending strong messages to Iran and Syria --
that they will not be allowed to frustrate the efforts of the Palestinians
and the Israelis.

Asked about North Korea, Rice repeated calls for the country to return to
Six-Party Talks and to make a strategic choice to give up their weapons
programs, to dismantle them verifiably and irreversibly.・

The North Koreans have no reason to believe that the United States
intends to attack North Korea, or invade North Korea,・Rice said, adding
that any instability on the peninsula would come from the North Koreans
continuing down the road that they're on.・

[T]here are other paths for the North Koreans,・she said. and those are
laid out for them, and it's time for them to get involved in that.・

Following is the transcript of Secretary Rice's remarks en route to
London: