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American Morning
Some U.S. Officials Calling For More Aggressive Stance Toward Iran
Aired May 27, 2003 - 08:09 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.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: And senior administration officials will meet today at the White House to discuss U.S. policy toward Iran after reports that Teheran may be harboring members of al Qaeda. Some U.S. officials are calling for a more aggressive stance against the country.
More now from our White House correspondent Suzanne Malveaux -- hello, Suzanne.
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Heidi.
Well, there's a debate that's taking place here at the White House, just how to handle what the Bush administration calls another member of the axis of evil. This time it is Iran. Later today at the White House there's going to be a meeting involving senior administration officials as well the deputy secretaries of defense and the State Department to talk about that issue.
The Bush administration essentially has two big problems when it comes to Iran. They allege that they are pursuing a secret nuclear weapons program that is in violation of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and also they allege that Iranian officials are hiding and harboring al Qaeda, senior al Qaeda members, some of them whop may even be responsible for that bombing attack recently in Saudi Arabia that killed some 25 people.
Now, what is at the heart of this debate? It is whether or not to ratchet up or ratchet down the pressure when it comes to Iran and whether or not they'll cooperate and respond. A number of options on the table, including whether or not to suspend diplomatic ties; to be friends, support, perhaps even supply opposition groups; also whether or not to lobby for inspections and even sanctions through the United Nations in dealing with that alleged nuclear weapons program; and, finally, whether or not to give Iran more time to cooperate, to identify and to hand over those al Qaeda leaders.
But, Heidi, I should let you know that it really depends on who you talk to. Some U.S. officials really downplaying the significance of this meeting, saying it's simply a principals meeting, that it happens all the time. Others saying that it's a lot more significant.
But essentially what's going to happen out of today, they're going to talk about it, they're going to discuss it and then ultimately they'll make a recommendation to the president -- Heidi.
COLLINS: Very good. Suzanne Malveaux live from the White House this morning.
Thanks so much.
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Toward Iran>
Aired May 27, 2003 - 08:09 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: And senior administration officials will meet today at the White House to discuss U.S. policy toward Iran after reports that Teheran may be harboring members of al Qaeda. Some U.S. officials are calling for a more aggressive stance against the country.
More now from our White House correspondent Suzanne Malveaux -- hello, Suzanne.
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Heidi.
Well, there's a debate that's taking place here at the White House, just how to handle what the Bush administration calls another member of the axis of evil. This time it is Iran. Later today at the White House there's going to be a meeting involving senior administration officials as well the deputy secretaries of defense and the State Department to talk about that issue.
The Bush administration essentially has two big problems when it comes to Iran. They allege that they are pursuing a secret nuclear weapons program that is in violation of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and also they allege that Iranian officials are hiding and harboring al Qaeda, senior al Qaeda members, some of them whop may even be responsible for that bombing attack recently in Saudi Arabia that killed some 25 people.
Now, what is at the heart of this debate? It is whether or not to ratchet up or ratchet down the pressure when it comes to Iran and whether or not they'll cooperate and respond. A number of options on the table, including whether or not to suspend diplomatic ties; to be friends, support, perhaps even supply opposition groups; also whether or not to lobby for inspections and even sanctions through the United Nations in dealing with that alleged nuclear weapons program; and, finally, whether or not to give Iran more time to cooperate, to identify and to hand over those al Qaeda leaders.
But, Heidi, I should let you know that it really depends on who you talk to. Some U.S. officials really downplaying the significance of this meeting, saying it's simply a principals meeting, that it happens all the time. Others saying that it's a lot more significant.
But essentially what's going to happen out of today, they're going to talk about it, they're going to discuss it and then ultimately they'll make a recommendation to the president -- Heidi.
COLLINS: Very good. Suzanne Malveaux live from the White House this morning.
Thanks so much.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Toward Iran>
