[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 44, Number 11 (Monday, March 24, 2008)]
[Pages 407-410]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
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

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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/Spread of Freedom

    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 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 powerplant.
    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

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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.

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.

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