Bush sticks to his tough policy on Iran

Washington, Dec 5: The US will continue its tough policy on Iran despite a new intelligence assessment that Tehran has halted its secret nuclear weapons program.

During a White House press conference yesterday, President George W Bush said there was no change in the Iran policy and the world must continue to keep the pressure on Tehran.

The US intelligence assessment, made public here on Monday, stated that Iran stopped its nuclear weapons program in 2003, and had not resumed work on it as of mid-2007.

Mr Bush, however, asserted, ''Iran was dangerous. Iran is dangerous. And Iran will be dangerous if they have the knowledge necessary to make a nuclear weapon and the international community must be vigilant about its intentions.'' He said the intelligence report also showed that Iran continued to develop the capability to enrich Uranium, circumventing the nuclear non-proliferation treaty (NPT) and this know-how ultimately could be transferred to a new clandestine weapons program.

''They (Iran) had the program, they halted the program. And the reason why it is a warning signal is they can restart it,'' Mr Bush said, adding the ability to enrich uranium could be passed on to a hidden program in future.

Iran's suspension of its nuclear program showed that Tehran did respond to international pressure. ''This pressure is more important now that ever,'' he said.

UNI