![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
. | ![]() |
. |
![]()
Washington (AFP) May 15, 2008 The United States is not trying to create incentives to bring Iran to the negotiating table but rather is seeking ways to intensify pressure to force it to change its ways, the Pentagon said Thursday. Pentagon press secretary Geoff Morrell indicated, however, that the Pentagon does not currently plan an increase in US military presence in the Gulf as a form of pressure on Iran. Morrell sought to clarify remarks Wednesday by Secretary of Defense Robert Gates that were interpreted here as a call for a combination of incentives and pressures to induce Iran to negotiate. Morrell said there was "absolutely no gap" on the issue between Gates and President George W. Bush, who said in Jerusalem Wednesday that negotiating with "radicals and terrorists" was "a foolish delusion." What Gates and the rest of the administration were focused on, the spokesman said, "is continuing to find ways to increase the pressure on the Iranian government to change their behavior." "The only incentive that would be offered to the Iranians would be a reduction, a diminishment of that pressure if they were to change their behavior, if they were to abandon their pursuit of a nuclear program and stop destabilizing the region in which they live," Morrell said. In his remarks to a foreign policy group, Gates indicated that the United States lacks leverage to fruitfully engage the Iranians in negotiations now. "We need to figure out a way to develop some leverage with the Iranians and then sit down and talk with them," he said, referring to general US relations with Tehran. "If there is going to be a discussion then they need something, too," he said. "We can't go to a discussion and be completely the 'demandeur' with them not feeling they do not need anything from us." But Morrell said Gates saw "no prospect" for government-to-government talks "until such time that the Iranians feel such pressure from the diplomatic, economic and military pressure we are putting them under that they want to change their ways." Community Email This Article Comment On This Article Share This Article With Planet Earth
Related Links Learn about nuclear weapons doctrine and defense at SpaceWar.com Learn about missile defense at SpaceWar.com All about missiles at SpaceWar.com Learn about the Superpowers of the 21st Century at SpaceWar.com
![]() ![]() President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Tuesday Iran is ready to talk to world powers over global problems but ruled out negotiations over Tehran's nuclear "rights". |
![]() |
|
The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2007 - SpaceDaily.AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA Portal Reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by SpaceDaily on any Web page published or hosted by SpaceDaily. Privacy Statement |