The Bush administration is in discussion with finance ministers around the world about isolating Iran.
The discussions center on ways to press Iran to end its suspected nuclear weapons program.
“We are working with allies and friends to send a consistent message to the Iranians that there is a better way forward for them than isolation, financial isolation and/or economic sanctions,” President Bush said Thursday in a press conference. “We’re also talking to different finance ministers about how we can send a message to the Iranian government that the free world is not going to tolerate the development of know-how in how to build a weapon, or at least gain the ability to make a weapon.”
He linked such discussions to Israel’s security.
“The reason why is, is because it’s very important for us to take the threats coming out of the mouth of the president of Iran very seriously,” Bush said, adding that Mahmoud Ahmedinejad constantly talks about using force on Israel, “and Israel is our very firm and strong ally.”
Bush said an appropriate venue for such discussions is the United Nations. World leaders will be attending next week’s opening of the U.N. General Assembly.
