US News

ISOLATE IRAN – BUSH & ISRAEL WANT SANCTIONS

WASHINGTON – President Bush and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert called yesterday for the worldwide isolation of Iran until it “gives up its nuclear ambitions.”

“It’s very important for the world to unite to say to the Iranians, ‘If you choose to continue to move forward, you will be isolated,’ ” the president said after meeting with Olmert for an hour.

“One source of isolation would be economic,” Bush said. “There has to be a consequence for their intransigence.”

Accusing Iran of “fanaticism and extremism,” Olmert voiced support for American-led efforts to have the United Nations force Iran to stop uranium enrichment.

“We must do everything in our power to make sure the Iranians do not cross the technological threshold that would allow them to develop nuclear weapons,” he said.

Olmert added that he and Bush had “complete understanding over their objectives” on Tehran.

Iran says it is only trying to develop the know-how to produce nuclear energy, but the United States and Israel insist Tehran is working on nuclear weapons.

U.N. diplomats have been bogged down for weeks on a resolution that would impose sanctions on Iran for refusing to halt uranium enrichment.

Bush said Iran’s nuclear program poses a threat beyond Israel and the Middle East.

“Iran’s nuclear ambitions are not in the world’s interest. If Iran had nuclear weapons, it would be terribly destabilizing and obviously threatening to a strong ally,” he said.

“If they continue to move forward with the program, there has to be a consequence,” Bush added. “And a good place to start is working together to isolate the country. And my hope is, is that there are rational people inside the government that recognize isolation is not in their country’s interest.”

Before meeting with Bush, Olmert insisted Israel is not looking for a confrontation with Iran.

“I am not looking for wars,” he said on NBC’s “Today” show. “I’m looking for the outcome.”

But he emphasized, “We will not tolerate the possession of nuclear weapons by Iran. This is not an issue of Israel only. This is a moral issue of the whole world.”

Turning to the conflict with the Palestinians, Olmert said he was prepared to have “serious dialogue” with moderate Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

But he reiterated that the Palestinian government – headed by the militant group Hamas – must first accept international demands to renounce violence and recognize Israel.

Hamas, which took power after elections last January, has refused.

On Sunday, the Palestinian foreign minister, Mahmoud Zahar, accepted an Arab proposal for an international peace conference with Israel.

The White House reacted positively to what it called “some activity on the Hamas side.”

But Olmert was not so enthusiastic.

Speaking generally of international peace conferences, the Israeli leader said there was no place for them “because the only way is direct negotiations.”

On another matter, Olmert said his government in principle is willing to negotiate with Syria. But Syria’s sponsorship of Hamas and its activities in Lebanon bar Israel from talking to Damascus right now, he said.

Bush, who also did not rule out U.S. talks with Syria, said Syria has to “get out of Lebanon.”

With Post Wire Services

Mideast menu

IRAN

* President Bush and Prime Minister Ehud Olmert demand that Iran abandon its nuclear ambitions. Bush raises the possibility of worldwide isolation for Iran.

PALESTINIANS

* Olmert says he is willing to make concessions to strengthen Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

PEACE TALKS

* Olmert is cool to the idea of a world peace conference that includes Hamas, saying it must first recognize Israel.

SYRIA

* Olmert says his government, “in principle,” is willing to negotiate with Syria, but not while it supports Hamas.