Special Report: Iran Nuclear Crisis

U.S. President George W. Bush holds a news conference in the Brady press briefing room at the White House in Washington Dec. 4, 2007.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    WASHINGTON, Dec. 5 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President George W. Bush said on Wednesday Iran's nuclear issue must be addressed although a new intelligence report indicated Tehran has halted its nuclear weapons program four years ago.

    Speaking to reporters in Omaha, Nebraska, Bush said that he was confident that Britain, France, Germany, and Russia saw Iran's nuclear program as "a problem" requiring pressure on Tehran.

    "These countries understand that the Iranian nuclear issue is a problem, and continues to be a problem, that must be addressed by the international community," he said.

    Urging Iran to explain more about its "nuclear intentions and past actions," Bush said "The Iranians have a strategic choice to make."

    "They can come clean with the international community about the scope of their nuclear activities and fully accept the longstanding offer to suspend their (uranium) enrichment program and come to the table and negotiate.

    "Or they can continue on a path of isolation that is not in the best interest of the Iranian people. The choice is up to the Iranian regime."

    U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and U.S. national security adviser Stephen Hadley had reached out to Britain, France, Germany and Russia over Iran's problems, Bush said.

    The latest National Intelligence Estimate (NIE), the formal consensus of all 16 U.S. spy agencies, said on Monday Iran halted its nuclear weapons program in 2003, a stark reversal of previous intelligence assessments that Iran was actively moving toward a bomb.

    Bush insisted on Tuesday that Iran remain a danger and military options are still on the table one day after a U.S. intelligence report said Tehran has halted its nuclear weapons program since 2003.

    "Iran was dangerous, Iran is dangerous and Iran will be dangerous if they have the knowledge necessary to make a nuclear weapon." he said.

    Washington accuses Iran of trying to develop nuclear weapons under the cover of a civilian nuclear program. Iran, which always denies U.S. charges, insists that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes only.

    The U.N. Security Council has issued two sanction resolutions against Iran's nuclear program since last December, but both of them failed to persuade the Islamic Republic to give up uranium enrichment work.

    Russia and China are opposed to impose a third round of U.N. Security Council sanctions against Iran, advocating to continue diplomatic solution to Iran's nuclear issue.

Israel's Peres calls for continued efforts against Iran over nukes

    JERUSALEM, Dec. 5 (Xinhua) -- Israeli President Shimon Peres on Wednesday urged the international community not to cease its efforts against Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and the Iranian nuclear program, local newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth said.

    During a meeting with visiting former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, Peres said that intelligence reports sometimes turn out to be inaccurate, and regarding the Iranian issue, the international community must eschew compromise and focus on a few clear warning signs.

    Peres also warned that whenever Iran develops a successful civilian nuclear energy program, the transition to obtaining nuclear weapons will be quick and easy. Full story

Ahmadinejad calls U.S. intelligence report a "victory" for Iran's nuke program

    TEHRAN, Dec. 5 (Xinhua) -- Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Wednesday that the recently-released U.S. intelligence report was a "great victory" for Tehran's nuclear program, the state television reported.

    "Over our nuclear program, this is a great victory for the Iranian people against the great powers," Ahmadinejad was quoted as telling thousands of people in the Western Ilam province.  Full story 

Bush insists Iran's nuclear program remains dangerous

    WASHINGTON, Dec. 4 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President George W. Bush insisted Tuesday that Iran remained a danger and military options were still on the table one day after a U.S. intelligence report said Tehran halted its nuclear weapons program in 2003.

    "The best diplomacy, effective diplomacy, is one in which all options are on the table," Bush said at a White House news conference.

    "Iran was dangerous, Iran is dangerous and Iran will be dangerous if they have the knowledge necessary to make a nuclear weapon."   Full story