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Bush Says Iran Must Do More Before U.S. Will Lift Sanctions
U.S. President George W. Bush said yesterday that the United States is pleased with recent signs of thawing relations with Iran but he said that sanctions against Tehran would be maintained until Iranian leaders abandon their nuclear weapons program and “listen to the voices of those who long for freedom” (see GSN, Dec. 31). Washington has temporarily lifted sanctions against Iran to allow aid to reach victims of last week’s disastrous earthquake. The sanctions, however, will be reinstated in 90 days, according to the New York Times (David Sanger, New York Times, Jan. 2). Iranian officials were pleased with the move. “Even if the lifting of the sanctions for 90 days is temporary, it’s still a positive step,” Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharazi said. He added that “the permanent lifting of sanctions by the United States will open a new chapter in mutual relations.” Former Iranian President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani said that Washington had sent “some positive signals.” Rafsanjani was asked if the recent developments foreshadow a thaw in relations between the two countries. “I am not sure but the signals point in that direction,” he said (Ali Akbar Dareini, Associated Press/Yahoo!News, Jan. 1).
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