US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Friday that Iran has
turned to be "increasingly dangerous," and refused to rule out
military solution to Iran's nuclear disputes.
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Speaking of Iran, Rice told CNBC that "this (Iran) is a very
dangerous state with very dangerous policies and we need the help
and support and intensify efforts of the international community to
deal with Iran."
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In the interview, Rice said US President George W. Bush still
supports "diplomatic solutions to the Iranian problem."
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But Rice also declined to rule out an American military strike
against Iran for its refusal to give up nuclear program which, the
United States alleged, is to develop a nuclear weapon.
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"The president's never going to take his options off the table and
frankly no one should want the American president to take his
options off the table," she said.
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Iran, branded by the United States as one of the "state sponsors of
terrorism," has been under UN sanctions for its refusal to suspend
uranium enrichment, which produces nuclear reactor fuel but can
also be used as material for an atom bomb.
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Iran rejects US allegations, and insists its nuclear program is
solely aimed at generating power to meet its energy needs.
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The United States has severed diplomatic ties with Iran since 1980,
five months after Iranian students occupied the American embassy in
Teheran. Fifty-two Americans were held hostage for 444 days.
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?(Xinhua News Agency July 7, 2007)
