Rice: Bush Open To European Idea Of Iran Incentives

Dow Jones Newswires, AP:

U.S. President George W. Bush is considering joining European leaders in offering economic incentives to Iran in exchange for abandoning its nuclear fuel program, but he has no timetable for a decision, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Monday.

The Bush administration has opposed any rewards for Tehran's cooperation. During the president's tour last week, European leaders urged him to join them in offering incentives such as possible membership at some time for Iran in the World Trade Organization.

Their argument was that a united front would be more effective than a continuing U.S.-Europe split over how to persuade Iran to rein in its nuclear ambitions.

"The president is considering what he heard in Europe and looking at what he thinks might be necessary to support European diplomacy, but he hasn't made any decisions," Rice said.

"He's really reviewing and looking back on the conversations," the secretary said en route to London for meetings with Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas and representatives of European and Arab countries.

"There isn't a timeline. The president is considering what he heard; I assume I'm going to have further discussions while I'm here," she added. ...

The idea of incentives - offering a carrot to Tehran now as well as pledging to use a stick later if necessary - had been flatly rejected by the administration ahead of the European trip. ...

As his trip progressed, Bush seemed to exhibit more flexibility on incentives.

"We are considering, the president is considering, what options he might have to support the European efforts to get the Iranians to live up to their international obligations and to not seek a nuclear weapon under cover of a civilian nuclear program," Rice said. ...