Bush won't compromise on Iran nuclear issue

Expatica:

US president George Bush said on Tuesday the United States would not compromise with Iran on the uranium enrichment issue, but said talks between the EU trio of Germany, France and the UK, and Iran appeared to be making "some progress". READ MORE

"Our policy is to prevent them from having the capacity to develop - enrich - uranium to the point where they are able to make a nuclear weapon," Bush told reporters at a news conference in the White House Rose Garden.

He said the US recently agreed to allow Iran to apply for membership in the World Trade Organisation "to facilitate the EU-3 discussions with Iran". But he cautioned that granting Iran permission to apply to the WTO was not the same as admission, which would still have to be considered.

France, Britain and Germany have been handling the negotiations with Washington's backing.

"The Iranians violated" the Non-Proliferation Treaty agreement, Bush said. "They're not to be trusted when it comes to highly-enriched uranium or highly enriching uranium".

Bush said it "appears we're making some progress" in the negotiations.

Iran has insisted it is a matter of national pride that it be allowed to develop a nuclear energy infrastructure. Last week, Iran's conservative Guardian Council approved a law that could force the government to resume uranium enrichment.

Talks between Iran and the EU, which ended earlier this month without a breakthrough, are scheduled to resume in July. Until then uranium enrichment would remain suspended as previously agreed with the EU trio, Iranian officials have said.