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CNN Live Today
Iran Concerns
Aired October 28, 2003 - 10:27 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: The escalating violence in Iraq is not the only concern in Washington. Officials are tracking developments in neighboring Iran. On Capitol Hill this hour, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee is holding a hearing on the Islamic state. At issue, Iran's nuclear ambitions and the whereabouts of wanted al Qaeda terrorists.
CNN national security correspondent David Ensor joins us now from Washington with more.
David, exactly how concerned is the administration? And what is the Senate Foreign Relations Committee going to do about it?
DAVID ENSOR, CNN NATL. SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Well, it's going to be very interesting today, Carol. This could be a significant hearing. The nation's No. 2 diplomat. That will be the Secretary of State Richard Armitage, will likely flesh out the administration's position on these two major positions relating to Iran. First, does the U.S. believe Iran really is holding on to and maybe helping some senior al Qaeda leaders, like the group's military commander, Sayfal Idal (ph), and also possibly Saad bin Laden (ph), Osama bin Laden's son.
And, second, what does Washington think of the deal announced last week between Iran and three European foreign ministers concerning nuclear matters, under which Iran is supposed to sign an international agreement opening it up to inspections anywhere in the country, looking for illegal weapons work nuclear weapons work. And in exchange, the Europeans say they will help Iran's peaceful nuclear power program.
Now on the question of al Qaeda, Armitage's boss, Secretary of State Powell, had this to say yesterday.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
COLIN POWELL, SECY. OF STATE: We have indicated to Iran that we thought that anybody they have in custody should be returned to places of origin, whatever justice might be appropriate, or turned over to us, if they choose to do that.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ENSOR: On the issue of Iran's nuclear programs, the question is, does the administration plan to let the Europeans take the lead, or will it trust that Iran can be convinced to give up what U.S. officials say are obvious nuclear weapons ambitions. Some conservatives in this town believe it may yet be necessary to strike militarily against Iranian facilities where nuclear weapons work is being done, or is suspected. No one in the administration has even hinted at such a move, but there is real concern about the possibility that Iran could go nuclear. And we may learn more in this hearing, Carol, about what options the administration believes that it may have.
LIN: That's going to be interesting. Thank you very much.
David Ensor, reporting live there.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired October 28, 2003 - 10:27 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: The escalating violence in Iraq is not the only concern in Washington. Officials are tracking developments in neighboring Iran. On Capitol Hill this hour, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee is holding a hearing on the Islamic state. At issue, Iran's nuclear ambitions and the whereabouts of wanted al Qaeda terrorists.
CNN national security correspondent David Ensor joins us now from Washington with more.
David, exactly how concerned is the administration? And what is the Senate Foreign Relations Committee going to do about it?
DAVID ENSOR, CNN NATL. SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Well, it's going to be very interesting today, Carol. This could be a significant hearing. The nation's No. 2 diplomat. That will be the Secretary of State Richard Armitage, will likely flesh out the administration's position on these two major positions relating to Iran. First, does the U.S. believe Iran really is holding on to and maybe helping some senior al Qaeda leaders, like the group's military commander, Sayfal Idal (ph), and also possibly Saad bin Laden (ph), Osama bin Laden's son.
And, second, what does Washington think of the deal announced last week between Iran and three European foreign ministers concerning nuclear matters, under which Iran is supposed to sign an international agreement opening it up to inspections anywhere in the country, looking for illegal weapons work nuclear weapons work. And in exchange, the Europeans say they will help Iran's peaceful nuclear power program.
Now on the question of al Qaeda, Armitage's boss, Secretary of State Powell, had this to say yesterday.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
COLIN POWELL, SECY. OF STATE: We have indicated to Iran that we thought that anybody they have in custody should be returned to places of origin, whatever justice might be appropriate, or turned over to us, if they choose to do that.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ENSOR: On the issue of Iran's nuclear programs, the question is, does the administration plan to let the Europeans take the lead, or will it trust that Iran can be convinced to give up what U.S. officials say are obvious nuclear weapons ambitions. Some conservatives in this town believe it may yet be necessary to strike militarily against Iranian facilities where nuclear weapons work is being done, or is suspected. No one in the administration has even hinted at such a move, but there is real concern about the possibility that Iran could go nuclear. And we may learn more in this hearing, Carol, about what options the administration believes that it may have.
LIN: That's going to be interesting. Thank you very much.
David Ensor, reporting live there.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
