    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2008, Book I)]
    [March 19, 2008]
    [Pages 399-402]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Interview With Setareh Derakhshesh of
    VOA Persian News Network
    March 19, 2008

        Ms. Derakhshesh. Mr. President, let me thank you first on behalf of
    the Voice of America, on behalf of the Persian News Network for giving
    us your time. We really appreciate that, sir.
        The President. Thank you.

    Iran

        Ms. Derakhshesh. As you know, Mr. President, this is the eve of
    Nowruz, the Iranian New Year. What is your message to the Iranian people
    as they face tough economic circumstances and infringement on their
    freedoms?
        The President. Well, first, Nowruz a tan Mubarak. Secondly, that the
    people of the United States respects the people of Iran, that we respect
    the traditions of Iran, the great history of Iran. We have differences
    with the Government, but we honor the people. And we want the people to
    live in a free society. We believe freedom is a right for all people and
    that the freer the world is, the more peaceful the world is. And so my
    message is: Please don't be discouraged by, you know, the slogans that
    say America doesn't like you, because we do, and we respect you.
        Ms. Derakhshesh. What do you say to the regime, sir? What would you
    say to the regime?
        The President. I'd say to the regime that they've made decisions
    that have made it very difficult for the people of Iran. In other words,
    the Iranian leaders, in their desire to, you know, enrich uranium, in
    spite of the fact that the international community has asked them not
    to, has isolated a great country. And that if--there's a way forward. I
    mean, the Iranian leaders know there's a way forward. And that is,
    verifiably suspend your enrichment, and you can have new relationships
    with people in the U.N. Security Council, for example.
        And it's just sad that the leadership is in many ways very stubborn
    because the Iraqi--the Iranian people are not realizing their true
    rights. And they're confusing people in Iraq, as well, about their
    desires.

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    And you know, it's a tough period if--in history for the Iranian people,
    but it doesn't have to be that way.

    Iran/Uranium Enrichment/Russia

        Ms. Derakhshesh. On the nuclear issue, sir, is there a solution to
    the problem that would both satisfy the United States concern and, at
    the same time, allow Iran to proceed with nonmilitary nuclear energy
    research?
        The President. Well, part of the problem is that it's very hard for
    people to trust the Iranian Government because they haven't told the
    full truth, and that's why the people of Iran have got to understand
    there's great suspicions right now, not only in the United States but
    around the world. But there is a better way forward. And I thought, for
    example, the Russians proposed an interesting way, that says--and I have
    said publicly, and the Iranian people need to know that I believe Iran
    has the right to have civilian nuclear power. I believe in civilian
    nuclear power. Iran is a sovereign country, and they should have it.
        The problem is, we just don't trust the Government because they
    haven't been forthcoming about their enrichment of fuels to go into the
    reactor. And therefore, Russia's offer to provide fuel on a contractual
    basis and provide fuel on a consistent basis would help solve the
    problem. And that is, the Iranians wouldn't need to enrich; they would
    have fuel for their reactor; and the people would have cheaper
    electricity. And I support that idea.
        Ms. Derakhshesh. Sir, would you allow enrichment inside Iran if
    there are guarantees and international supervision?
        The President. I would have to be convinced that any secret
    programs, you know, would be disclosed. In other words, I--you know,
    once you--once a nation hasn't told the truth, it requires a lot of work
    to convince people that they'll be telling the truth in the future. And
    my problem is, is that the Iranian Government has not been forthcoming,
    has not fully disclosed their programs like the IAEA asked them to. So
    there's a lot of distrust right now.
        And the better way forward is for there to be a contractual, solid
    obligation to provide fuel for a nuclear reactor, and then the Iranians
    can have their civilian nuclear power.

    Iran/U.S. Foreign Policy

        Ms. Derakhshesh. At a time when Iranians are going through very
    difficult economic circumstances--there's high employment, high
    unemployment; there are high prices; there are unfilled promises--the
    United Nations Security Council just passed a new set of sanctions
    against the regime. Is the United States concerned, sir, that the regime
    might exploit these circumstances to whip up anti-American sentiments,
    and also to use those and misuse them?
        The President. Sure. No, I appreciate that. Of course we are. We're
    always concerned about the individual. You know, I'm concerned about the
    mom trying to raise her child in a hopeful environment. And I'm
    concerned about a child wanting to gain the knowledge so that he or she
    can realize her God-given talents. And of course, we're worried about
    the human condition.
        And any time a government is failing to meet the needs of the
    people--or a lot of times, not any time--but a lot of times governments
    have failed to meet the needs of their people, particularly in
    relatively nontransparent, nonfree societies, they always look for
    somebody to blame. And I'm not surprised that, you know, the leaders
    would blame the United States for the problems they, themselves, have
    created.
        And so yes, I mean, it enters my mind. On the other hand, the people
    of Iran must understand that the conditions exist in large part because
    of either mismanagement by the Government or isolation because of the
    Government's decisions on foreign policy matters, such as announcing
    they want to destroy countries with a nuclear weapon.

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    I mean, it is irresponsible remarks like that which cause great
    credibility loss with the Iranian Government and the actions of which
    will--are affecting the country.

    Progress in Iraq/Iran

        Ms. Derakhshesh. Mr. President, if I may, I want to ask you about
    Iraq also. Today is the fifth anniversary of the start of the Iraq war,
    and you had a speech on the war on terror. Are you satisfied with the
    political situation in Iraq in view of the improving security situation?
    And also, has Iran played a role in this?
        The President. I am pleased, but not satisfied. I am pleased because
    there's a modern Constitution in Iraq. I am pleased because people have
    voted in Iraq. I am pleased because there's, you know--they're heading
    toward Provincial elections in Iraq. I'm pleased to see democracy
    moving. I'm not satisfied because there's more work to be done.
        One of the problems we do have in Iraq is the--there's been some
    negative Iranian influence, such as the exportation from Iran of certain
    weapons that have been used by extremists to murder and to kill people.
    And it's been particularly unhelpful.
        Now, look, I understand Iraq and Iran are going to have relations.
    After all, they've got a long border. But from my perspective, Iran has
    not been helpful in terms of helping this young democracy survive. I
    would think it would be in Iran's interests to have a peaceful neighbor.
    They had been at war at one time with Iraq. I would believe that a
    peaceful Iraq would be in the long-term interests of the Iranian people.
    And yet it's hard to have a peaceful Iraq if there are elements inside
    the country that are trying to use violence and murder to continue to
    stir up sectarian doubts and raise concerns which will cause more
    violence.

    Iran-U.S. Relations/Iraq

        Ms. Derakhshesh. There have been recent contacts between the United
    States and Iran over Iraq. Some dissidents inside Iran think that these
    might expand to other areas----
        The President. Yes.
        Ms. Derakhshesh. ----and they feel that this will undercut their
    position and that would strengthen the regime's hand. What are your
    thoughts on that, sir?
        The President. My thought is, is that the reformers inside Iran are
    brave people. They've got no better friend than George W. Bush, and I
    ask for God's blessings on them, on their very important work. And
    secondly, that I would do nothing to undermine their efforts. And
    thirdly, that the talks between Iran--between the U.S. and Iran about
    Iraq are solely about Iraq, and that the message to the Iranians is:
    Stop importing your weapons, your sophisticated IEDs, and--or there will
    be consequences inside of Iraq. And when we find people transporting
    weapons that are aimed to harm innocent people or to arm militias that
    are aiming to harm innocent people, then they will be brought to
    justice--that there's a better way to deal inside of Iraq than the
    Iranians are now dealing. And so this message is nothing more than
    limited to Iraq.
        Ms. Derakhshesh. Mr. President, thank you very much. And thanks for
    allowing me to do the interview, sir.
        The President. Thank you; yes, ma'am.

    Note: The interview was taped at 1:11 p.m. in the Map Room at the White
    House and was released by the Office of the Press Secretary on March 20.

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