[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 44, Number 11 (Monday, March 24, 2008)]
[Pages 405-407]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
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

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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. 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

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matters, such as announcing they want to destroy countries with a 
nuclear weapon. 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.