KUWAIT CITY, June 3 (Xinhua) -- A visiting U.S.
official saidhere Saturday that Washington has no thirst for the militaryoption
but wants to see success of the diplomatic avenue to theIran nuclear crisis.
U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs C.David Welch, who is currently on an official visit
to Kuwait, madethe remarks while talking with reporters at the U.S. embassy
here.
Welch explained that the international concern over
the Irannuclear issue is not about its right to have civilian nuclearfacilities,
but the potential that it may develop nuclear weapons.There would be no need for
sanctions against Iran if there was"a sincere path to negotiations", stressed
the U.S. official.
Meanwhile, Welch said the Iraqi people are facing
severesecurity, economic and political challenges and there were peoplewho were
"determined" to disturb the country's security, addingthat he was "confident
that friends of Iraq will follow throughwith pledges of aid."
The new Iraqi government was "slowly taking the
reigns ofauthority" and once it was ready, the presence of coalition forceswould
no longer be needed, he said.
On the Palestinian issue, Welch said even after the
election ofthe Hamas-led Palestinian government, the United States continuesto
be the strongest donor to the Palestinian people and it is nottrue that
Washington has cut off its assistance. Enditem
