FactWatch: Iran
From the speech:
"Our message to the people of Iran is clear: We have no quarrel with you, we respect your traditions and your history, and we look forward to the day when you have your freedom. Our message to the leaders of Iran is also clear: Verifiably suspend your nuclear enrichment, so negotiations can begin. And to rejoin the community of nations, come clean about your nuclear intentions and past actions, stop your oppression at home and cease your support for terror abroad. But above all, know this: America will confront those who threaten our troops, we will stand by our allies and we will defend our vital interests in the Persian Gulf."
Analysis:
President Bush, who in a previous State of the Union address labeled Iran as part of an axis of evil, has adopted the language of United Nations Security Council resolutions, saying negotiations can begin once Iran verifiably suspends nuclear enrichment. The Bush administration is in the midst of difficult diplomatic negotiations on another sanctions resolution at the U.N., hoping to build up pressure on Iran. However, news that the U.S. intelligence community believes that Iran suspended a nuclear weapons program back in 2003 has made the sanctions debate more complicated, according to diplomats.
- Michele Kelemen
9:53 PM ET | 01-28-2008 | permalink
