*Bush 'dedicated' to stopping Iran over nukes*

 From correspondents in Washington

October 06, 2007 09:25am
Article from: Agence France-Presse

US President George W Bush said he is determined to confront Iran's
nuclear ambitions and warned that Tehran should not expect a more
complacent attitude from his successor.

In an interview yesterday with the Al-Arabiya satellite network, Mr Bush
said that he was determined to seek resolution of these issues through
diplomatic means and that he will try to impose new sanctions that will
force the Islamic state to renounce its uranium enrichment activities.

"The Iranian regime must understand that I'm dedicated to the
proposition that they should not continue their desire to enrich, as
will be people that follow me in office," President Bush said.

"There is universal concern about Iranian ambition here in America. This
is not a party issue, an issue between one party or the other," he said.

More tense relationships between Washington and Tehran have fuelled
concerns that President Bush may decide to use force against the country
before the end of his presidency.

But Mr Bush dismissed reports that he had already ordered to prepare a
military strike against Iran for January or February.

"I would call that empty propaganda," he said.

"And that kind of gossip is just what it is, it's gossip, it's baseless
gossip."

Iran denied charges that it had seeked nuclear weapons under cover of a
civilian atomic energy program and has drawn UN sanctions for refusing
to freeze its uranium enrichment, which can yield materials for a
nuclear bomb.