The Hindu : International : Iran not on agenda: Rice

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Saturday, Feb 05, 2005

International

International

Iran not on agenda: Rice

By Hasan Suroor

LONDON, FEB. 4. A military intervention in Iran to thwart its contentious nuclear programme was not currently on America's "agenda'' and Washington hoped to resolve the dispute through diplomatic means, said the U.S. Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, here today.

She did not appear to rule out the option underlining the fact that there were no military plans "at this point in time.''

Dr. Rice, who arrived here on Thursday at the start of a whistle-stop tour of Europe designed to mend fences after the recent divisions over Iraq, echoed Mr. Bush's warning that Iran must give up its nuclear ambitions.

She also attacked Iran's human rights record and, in a significant remark in the context of regime changes in Iraq and Afghanistan, said: "Iran is not immune to the changes that are going on in this region.'' Earlier she told journalists accompanying her that "unelected mullahs'' were not a good thing for the Iranian people or the region.

Describing her talks with Mr. Straw as "productive,'' Dr. Rice said Washington and London shared a common view on Iran's controversial nuclear programme.

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