WASHINGTON,
March 2006
–
The international community agrees that Iran
cannot have nuclear capabilities that could lead
to the development of a nuclear weapon, and the
U.S. is working with other countries to make
sure that doesn't happen, Secretary of State
Condoleezza Rice said on Sunday morning talk
shows today.
"Everybody takes very seriously Iran's
intransigence and Iran's unwillingness to do
what the international community has determined
it should do," Rice said on NBC's
"Meet the Press." "Iran cannot be
allowed to develop a nuclear weapon; that is the
view of the international community, not just
the U.S."
The U.S. and its partners are doing
everything they can to send a strong signal to
Iran that if it wishes to be part of the
international community, it must give up its
nuclear ambitions, Rice said. If the
international community stays united, Iran will
not be able to stand the kind of isolation that
North Korea has faced, she said.
"The Iranians are defying the world's
will, and the international community needs to
speak, and speak with one voice," Rice said
on "Fox News Sunday."
The U.S. has had some tactical differences
with Russia about the best way to stop Iran's
defiant actions, but they are working to develop
the best approach, Rice said. The International
Atomic Energy Agency must continue to work with
Iran, because it has technical expertise, but
the U. N. Security Council can lend weight to
the proceedings, she said.
"We really do have a chance to solve
this diplomatically," she told "Meet
the Press." "But I would be the first
to say that we can't afford to waste time."
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