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CNN Sunday Morning
Is White House Considering Action to Destabilize Iranian Government?
Aired May 25, 2003 - 10:04 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.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: There is a published report today that the Bush White House is considering action that could destabilize the government of Iran, a nation denounced by President Bush of being a member of the axis of evil.
The latest revelation to stoke Washington anger is reported intelligence information suggesting that al Qaeda operatives in Iran may have played a role in the May 12 suicide bombings in Saudi Arabia.
CNN Pentagon correspondent Chris Plante is at his post with more on that report -- Chris.
CHRIS PLANTE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Fredricka.
That's right; there is this report and there are indications this morning that the Bush administration is interested in taking a harder line toward the government of Iran.
As you mentioned, and in a conversation I had recently with a senior defense official, these indications come in large part from communications intercepts, both from before the May 12 bombing attacks in Riyadh and after the attacks. These intercepts coming from inside of Iran.
It appears clear, according to defense officials, certainly, that al Qaeda operatives are operating freely inside of Iran and being provided safe harbor, that these operatives may or may not have upon been, but there are indications that they may have been behind these attacks in Riyadh which killed 34 people.
And Secretary Rumsfeld, I am told by a senior official, has held the view for some time that the regime in Iran was unstable enough. It's sort of a two-pronged regime with an ayatollah, Ayatollah Khamenei in charge of the state. Yet an elected president, Mr. Khatami on the civilian side, less hard-line side of the government. There are suggestions that Secretary Rumsfeld and others may feel that this regime may, with some pushing, be toppled as a result of popular uprising inside the country.
Secretary Rumsfeld also suggested earlier this week that there was concern not only about their al Qaeda links, but also about their ongoing nuclear program.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) DONALD RUMSFELD, SECRETARY OF DEFENSE: Of course, they have senior al Qaeda in Iran. That's a fact. Iran is one of the countries that is, in our view, assessed as developing a nuclear capability and that's unfortunate.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PLANTE: So the "Washington Post" is reporting this morning that there are members of the Bush administration that are interested in putting together something of an orchestrated program to apply pressure to the Iranian regime in an effort to destabilize, that is the word used, perhaps in the hope that over the long term, that a popular uprising in this very youthful nation that is currently led by, for the most part, elderly Islamic clerics, may topple in the face of popular descent -- Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: All right. Chris Plante, thank you very 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
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Aired May 25, 2003 - 10:04 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: There is a published report today that the Bush White House is considering action that could destabilize the government of Iran, a nation denounced by President Bush of being a member of the axis of evil.
The latest revelation to stoke Washington anger is reported intelligence information suggesting that al Qaeda operatives in Iran may have played a role in the May 12 suicide bombings in Saudi Arabia.
CNN Pentagon correspondent Chris Plante is at his post with more on that report -- Chris.
CHRIS PLANTE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Fredricka.
That's right; there is this report and there are indications this morning that the Bush administration is interested in taking a harder line toward the government of Iran.
As you mentioned, and in a conversation I had recently with a senior defense official, these indications come in large part from communications intercepts, both from before the May 12 bombing attacks in Riyadh and after the attacks. These intercepts coming from inside of Iran.
It appears clear, according to defense officials, certainly, that al Qaeda operatives are operating freely inside of Iran and being provided safe harbor, that these operatives may or may not have upon been, but there are indications that they may have been behind these attacks in Riyadh which killed 34 people.
And Secretary Rumsfeld, I am told by a senior official, has held the view for some time that the regime in Iran was unstable enough. It's sort of a two-pronged regime with an ayatollah, Ayatollah Khamenei in charge of the state. Yet an elected president, Mr. Khatami on the civilian side, less hard-line side of the government. There are suggestions that Secretary Rumsfeld and others may feel that this regime may, with some pushing, be toppled as a result of popular uprising inside the country.
Secretary Rumsfeld also suggested earlier this week that there was concern not only about their al Qaeda links, but also about their ongoing nuclear program.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) DONALD RUMSFELD, SECRETARY OF DEFENSE: Of course, they have senior al Qaeda in Iran. That's a fact. Iran is one of the countries that is, in our view, assessed as developing a nuclear capability and that's unfortunate.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PLANTE: So the "Washington Post" is reporting this morning that there are members of the Bush administration that are interested in putting together something of an orchestrated program to apply pressure to the Iranian regime in an effort to destabilize, that is the word used, perhaps in the hope that over the long term, that a popular uprising in this very youthful nation that is currently led by, for the most part, elderly Islamic clerics, may topple in the face of popular descent -- Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: All right. Chris Plante, thank you very 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
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