Date:20/09/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/09/20/stories/2006092003921600.htm

International

Bush threatens Iran sanctions

Begin negotiations, Tehran urged

UNITED NATIONS: United States President George W. Bush, on Tuesday pressed Iran once more to immediately begin negotiations on its nuclear programme.

Just before going to the United Nations to address the General Assembly, Mr. Bush warned that any delay on the part of Tehran would bring consequences.

Iran's pursuit of a nuclear programme was at the top of the agenda when Mr. Bush talked with French President Jacques Chirac on the sidelines of the three-day U.N. General Assembly meeting.

Consequences

The French leader is balking at the U.S. drive to sanction Iran for defying Security Council demands that it freeze uranium enrichment.

``Should they continue to stall,'' Mr. Bush said of Iranian leaders, ``we will then discuss the consequences of their stalling.'' Mr. Bush said those consequences would include the possibility of sanctions.

Mr. Chirac proposed on Monday that the international community compromise by suspending the threat of sanctions if Tehran agrees to halt its uranium enrichment program and return to negotiations. The U.S. and other countries fear Iran is trying to build nuclear weapons, while Tehran insists its uranium enrichment programme is to make fuel for nuclear power plants.

Mr. Bush said Iran must first suspend uranium enrichment ``in which case the U.S. will come to the table.'' But he also stressed that he and Mr. Chirac ``share the same objective and we're going to continue to strategise together.''

``Time is of the essence,'' the President said. ``Now is the time for the Iranians to come to the table.'' Both Mr. Bush and Mr. Chirac stressed they are working together, and the French President said twice that they see ``eye to eye.''

The French leader also said the European Union would not negotiate with Iran until it suspends uranium enrichment. ``We cannot have negotiations if we do not have on one hand prior suspension''.

Besides Mr. Chirac, Mr. Bush also was meeting Iraqi President Jalal Talabani, U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan and General Assembly President Sheikha Haya Rashed Al Khalifa. - Agencies.