June 19, 2003	Thursday	Rabi-us-Sani 18, 1424

WASHINGTON, June 18: US President George Bush said on Wednesday the international community must make clear to Iran that “we will not tolerate” construction of a nuclear weapon by Tehran.

Mr Bush spoke after the U.N.’s International Atomic Energy Agency said Tehran had “failed to report certain nuclear material and activities,” but was making amends.

“The international community must come together to make it very clear to Iran that we will not tolerate construction of a nuclear weapon,” Bush said. “Iran would be dangerous if they have a nuclear weapon.”

Iran insists its nuclear program is for peaceful civilian generation of electrical power but the United States believes Tehran wants to build a nuclear weapon. US officials question why Iran would need nuclear-generated power given its oil wealth.

Bush said he had brought up the issue at the Group of Eight summit earlier this month in France and found “universal agreement that we all must work together to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon.”

The Iranian government also accused the United States of “blatant interference” after Bush hailed six nights of pro-democracy student protests which he said showed Iranians wanted freedom.

“I appreciate those courageous souls who speak out for freedom in Iran. They need to know that America stands squarely by their side, and I would urge the Iranian administration to treat them with the utmost of respect,” Bush said.—Reuters