Statements by U.S. Officials
The US Representative to UN International Atomic Agency, Ambassador Greg Schulte Kanal 24 Interview
Ankara, Turkey
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Ambassador Schulte: I’m glad to be here in Turkey. And it’s a pleasure to be on Channel 24.
Kanal 24: You’re the permanent delegate for nuclear nonproliferation in Vienna and have the Turkey and Iran nuclear arms (inaudible) this subject. What is the situation now, latest situation?
Ambassador Schulte: First I should say, I’m pleased to be in Turkey because I’m here for consultations with your government as a close ally of the United States, as part of our strategic dialogue on issues of common concern to our countries. And one of those issues is Iran. And I have to say I’m very pleased during my discussions today that it’s been clear to me --
Kanal 24: Of course, we’ve got to be… Please go ahead.
Ambassador Schulte: But it’s been very clear to me from my discussions today that the U.S. and Turkey see the situation there in a very common fashion and that we’re pursuing a common diplomatic approach to dealing with the issue of Iran and its nuclear ambitions.
Kanal 24: Is it possible to persuade or to come to terms with Iran?
Ambassador Schulte: Our goal, quite frankly, is to engage Iran. Secretary Rice has made very clear that she is prepared to sit down at the negotiating table with her Iranian counterpart, together with our friends with from Europe and Russia and China, and talk about Iran’s interest in civil nuclear energy. All the Iranian leadership needs to do is they need to show good faith by suspending their uranium enrichment activities. These are activities they do not need for civil nuclear power, but are necessary if they want to build a bomb. So we’re ready to negotiate, we just need them to make the decision to come to the negotiating table.
Kanal 24: But Tehran insists and says that their efforts are for peace. Do you have any concrete data for Iran’s works that were reviewed?
Ambassador Schulte: Iran’s authorities say that their efforts are peaceful. But, quite frankly, after four years of very --
Kanal 24: Do you believe that, first of all?
Ambassador Schulte: No. After four years of very intensive investigation, I mean the IEA still cannot certify the peaceful nature of Iran’s nuclear program. And, of course, they’re moving ahead to master the technology to enrich uranium. They say they want to do that for nuclear power plants, but they don’t have any nuclear power plants. There’s one under construction at Bushir and Russia has already provided the fuel. So, why do they insist on violating resolutions of the Security Council and move ahead to develop the capability to enrich uranium? We believe, and it’s our assessment and the assessment of many other countries, that they want the wherewithal to build nuclear weapons. And on top of that, we have, and the IAEA has, very disturbing indications that recently Iran has been engaged in the efforts to figure out how to design a nuclear weapon, how to integrate it onto a Shahab III missile system.
Kanal 24: So Mr. Schulte, you had high level contacts and talks with Ankara today. What did you ask from Ankara against Iran or any other issues, what kind of call….operation you’re waiting from Ankara or elsewhere?
Ambassador Schulte: I wasn’t actually here to ask Ankara of anything. I was here to consult with your authorities because I know that your country shares our concern about Iran, about Iran’s activities. I also know that you’re a neighbor of Iran. And in many ways this puts you in a special situation, but it also gives you a special opportunity to perhaps understand what’s going on in that country. And I think that I was pleased to here as a common assessment of the risks posed by Iran’s nuclear activities, and a common objective which is to solve this diplomatically by convincing the Iranian leadership that they need to change course. And the approach that our two governments are taking together with the rest of the international community is twofold. First, to offer negotiations on the basis of a very attractive offer, that was made two years ago by the U.S., Europe, Russia and China. But the same time to make it clear that if they don’t take this offer, if they continue to enrich uranium, if they continue to fail to cooperate full with the IAEA that they will find themselves under increasing sanction and increasing isolation. Again, I was very pleased to see how closely our governments are aligned in pursuing that strategy.
Kanal 24: President Bush and Condeeleza Rice continuosly reminding that military alternatives are on the table. If the diplomatic means comes to a deadlock, how these diplomatic ways can come to end or this possibility is so high for you?
Ambassador Schulte: Well, my job in Vienna isn’t to speculate on military options, my job in Vienna is to help the President, Secretary Rice accomplish what their goal is, and their goal is to try to resolve this diplomatically. Fortunately, we have a little bit of time to do this, I mean, we think the soonest that Iran could produce enough nuclear material that could be used in a bomb is sometimes between 2010 and 2015. So that gives us a little time for diplomacy, but it’s going to have to be tough, sustained diplomacy, reinforced with teeth, not military teeth, but sanctions, financial measures, to convince the Iranian leadership to change course.
Kanal 24: Thank you for your answers.
Ambassador Schulte: Thank you very much for letting me participate in your show.