When asked about the fourth round of negotiations to be held next week in Baghdad he commented, "We've been disappointed that the Iranian government has not diminished and stopped altogether its support, through material and arms, for the Shia militants in Iraq and especially the explosive technologies that have been very destructive to human life, including those of American soldiers and Iraqi soldiers."
Regarding Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's stance toward Israel, Ambassador Burns commented that "It's extraordinary that in this day and age in the year 2008 that the president of an important country in the Middle East, President Ahmadinejad, would resort to such irresponsible and vicious public statements about another country." He added that of the 192 member countries of the United Nations, Iran is the only country that does not recognize Israel's right to exist.
On the topic of Iran's nuclear ambitions, Ambassador Burns addressed the ongoing difficulty in bringing Iran to the negotiating table saying, "It is the Iranian government that has rejected the possibility of negotiations," adding that "the U.S. wants to achieve a diplomatic solution to the problems caused by Iran."
The ambassador concluded the interview by saying the U.S. hopes "Iran can find its way to peace and find its way to democracy and a democratic government." The entire interview will be available later today on PNN's website at www.VOANews.com/Persian.
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For more information, please call the Office of Public Affairs at (202) 203-4959, or e-mail publicaffairs@voa.gov.
