    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2008, Book I)]
    [March 19, 2008]
    [Pages 402-404]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Interview With Parichehr Farzam of Radio
    Farda
    March 19, 2008

    Nowruz/Iran

        Ms. Farzam. Mr. President, thank you so much for your time in this
    interview with Radio Farda. On the beginning of Nowruz, the Persian New
    Year, what message do you wish to share with the people of Iran,
    especially with the Iranian women, as well as the young generation?
        The President. First, that the United States of America wishes
    everybody a happy New Year. Secondly, that the United States--people of
    the United States respects the great Iranian history and culture. We
    have great respect for the people. And we've got problems with the
    Government. We have problems with the Government because the Government
    has been threatening, has made decisions that--and statements that
    really have isolated the people of Iran.
        My message to the young in Iran is that someday your society will be
    free, and it will be a blessed time for you. My message to the women of
    Iran is that the women of America share your deep desire for children to
    be--to grow up in a hopeful society and to live in peace.

    Iran/Freedom Agenda

        Ms. Farzam. Speaking of women of Iran, Mr. President, the majority
    of population in Iran are women. And even in the Iranian culture they
    are considered the foundation on which men deeply rely. Is there any
    plan or could there be one to promote and engage the Iranian women in
    the U.S. to a unified and centralized movement for a free and democratic
    Iran?
        The President. Well, I think the people of Iran are going to have to
    come to the conclusion that a free country is in their interest. We, of
    course, support freedom movements all around the world. We're supporting
    a freedom movement on the Iranian border in Iraq. We are promoting and
    helping the Iraqis develop a free society. By the way, a free Iraq will
    help the Iranians see the blessings of a free society.
        There's no doubt in my mind that the women will be leading freedom
    movements in Iran and elsewhere. And the role of the United States is to
    provide, you know, moral support without--and other support without
    undermining their cause.

    Iraq/Iran

        Ms. Farzam. Mr. President, in this fifth anniversary of the Iraq
    war, what impact do you think a peaceful solution on the Iranian nuclear
    crisis and a normalization of our relations with Iran would have on the
    security and political situation in Iraq and more generally in the whole
    Middle East?
        The President. I think that success in Iraq will first of all depend
    upon the Iraqis' desire to reconcile their differences and to live in
    peace, and that's happening. It's hard work to overcome the--a
    dictatorship like Saddam Hussein's, but nevertheless, most Iraqis want
    to live in peace with their neighbor.
        Secondly, a peaceful Iraq will depend upon making it clear to the
    Iranians to stop exporting weapons from Iran into Iraq--that arm
    militias and arm criminal gangs--that cause there to be harm for the
    innocent people.
        Thirdly, it's very important for the neighborhood to understand that
    the United States is committed to peace and that we're not--that we
    won't be run out because of violence; that we believe that we're there
    for the right reason, which is to promote freedom and peace.
        The free--you know, there's a chance that the U.S. and Iran can
    reconcile their differences, but the Government is going to have to make
    some--make different choices. And one is to verifiably suspend

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    the enrichment of uranium, at which time there is a way forward. And the
    Iranian people have got to understand that the United States is going to
    be firm in our desire to prevent the nation from developing a nuclear
    weapon, but reasonable in our desire to see to it that you have civilian
    nuclear power without--you know, without enabling the Government to
    enrich.
        And the problem is, is that they have not told the truth in the
    past. And therefore, it's very difficult for the United States and the
    rest of the world--or much of the rest of the world--to trust the
    Iranian Government when it comes to telling the truth. And so I support
    the Russian proposal to provide Iran with enriched uranium to go into a
    civilian nuclear power plant.
        There's a way forward. In other words, I don't know what the Iranian
    people believe about the United States, but they must believe that we
    have proposed a way forward that will yield to peace. And it's their
    Government that is resisting these changes.

    Iran/Uranium Enrichment

        Ms. Farzam. Mr. President, as you and your allies launched a global
    initiative to combat nuclear terrorism, what do you think is your most
    important challenge to expose and stop the secretive ambition of Iran's
    Government to enrich uranium, while assuring its citizens that their
    happiness and prosperity and peace is a benefit within their reach?
        The President. Sure, absolutely. Well, one thing is, is to reiterate
    my belief that the Iranians should have a civilian nuclear power
    program. It's in their right to have it. The problem is the Government
    cannot be trusted to enrich uranium because, one, they've hidden
    programs in the past, and they may be hiding one now, who knows; and
    secondly, they've declared they want to have a nuclear weapon to destroy
    people--some in the Middle East. And that's unacceptable to the United
    States, and it's unacceptable to the world.
        But what is acceptable to me is to work with a nation like Russia to
    provide the fuel so that the plan can go forward, and which therefore
    makes it--you know, it shows that the Iranian Government doesn't need to
    learn to enrich.
        My only point to the Iranian people is we want you to be able to
    realize your sovereign rights. The Government has been duplicitous to
    the world. Very few people trust your Government. And if the Government
    changes its behavior, there's a better way forward for the Iranian
    people.

    Freedom in Iran

        Ms. Farzam. Thank you. Mr. President, world democracy is everyone's
    rightful way of life. In Iran, on the other hand, there is no respect
    for the basic rights of Iranian citizen; there is no rule of law; and
    there is no, certainly, the freedom of speech. Do you believe that the
    people of Iran stand a chance against this regime, to bring about the
    positive change in anytime soon with your support?
        The President. Well, I would like very much for the Iranian people
    to realize a society based upon rule of law and free speech and free
    worship of religion. There's nothing I'd like to see more than a society
    in which young girls can grow up to realize their dreams with a good
    education system.
        You know, this is a--this regime, however, is one that sometimes
    when people express themselves in an open way, there can be serious
    punishment. This is a regime that says they have elections, but they get
    to decide who's on the ballot, which is not a free and fair election. So
    this is a regime and a society that's got a long way to go. But the
    people of Iran can be rest assured the United States, whether I'm
    President or the next President, will strongly support their desires to
    live in a free society.
        Ms. Farzam. May I have, Mr. President, my last question?
        The President. Yes.

    [[Page 404]]

    Missile Defense System/Russia

        Ms. Farzam. Thank you. You said many times that the U.S. missile
    defense system in Czech and Poland is to defend America and its European
    allies from attack by rogue states such as Iran. But some--this argument
    is still between U.S. and Russia. Are you optimistic to solve the
    problem?
        The President. Well, it's interesting you ask that question. We
    intend to move forward with the--and the Czech Republic and Poland, for
    the good of NATO. Obviously, it'd be--make life easier if the Russians
    and the United States cooperated in such a missile defense. Condi
    Rice and Bob
    Gates--Secretary Gates, Secretary Rice were in Russia this past couple
    of days talking about the very subject, as to whether or not we can find
    grounds to cooperate. The missile systems, defense systems, would not be
    aimed at Russia; they'd be aimed at nations that would, you know, try to
    hold the free world hostage with a nuclear weapon.
        And so it's--I'm optimistic. I'm cautiously optimistic. I don't know
    whether we can find common ground. But we are trying to find common
    ground, and that's what's--that's the first step, is to make the
    attempt.
        Ms. Farzam. Thank you so much, Mr. President, for your time.
        The President. Yes, ma'am, thank you.

    Note: The interview was taped at 1:24 p.m. in the Map Room at the White
    House and was released by the Office of the Press Secretary on March 20.
    A tape was not available for verification of the content of this
    interview.