*EPF403 11/18/2004
White House Report, November 18: Iran, Russia, Death of Margaret Hassan
(Iran needs to give world confidence it is not pursuing nuclear weapons) (380)

IRAN MUST "FOLLOW THROUGH" ON NEW NUCLEAR AGREEMENT

White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan said there is "no need" for Iran to conduct uranium enrichment and reprocessing activities; he said halting such activities will "give everybody confidence that they're not pursuing a nuclear weapon."

Speaking November 18 aboard Air Force One en route to Little Rock, Arkansas, McClellan said the international community is "united in its resolve to make sure Iran does not develop a nuclear weapon."

The Bush administration has been very clear about what Iran needs to do, he said.

"Iran needs to follow through on the recent agreement they came to with our European friends. They need to fully comply with the IAEA [International Atomic Energy Agency] and their inspections. They need to suspend their enrichment-related and reprocessing activities. And they need to ratify and adhere to the additional protocol, as well," McClellan said.

The press secretary also said that although the United States could not verify information from a designated terrorist organization that Iran has a secret uranium enrichment installation, the IAEA should look into the report as part of its investigation into Iran's nuclear activities.

BUSH TO MEET RUSSIAN PRESIDENT PUTIN IN CHILE

McClellan confirmed that President Bush will have a luncheon bilateral meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Santiago, Chile, November 20 while Bush is in the country to attend the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) leaders' meeting.

President Bush is holding several bilateral meetings with foreign leaders to discuss areas of mutual cooperation and concern while he is in Chile November 19-21.

STATEMENT ISSUED CONDEMNING HASSAN KILLING

McClellan issued a statement November 17 expressing sympathy to the family and friends of aid worker Margaret Hassan who was killed in Iraq, saying her death is "a great loss to the Iraqi people and the world."

"We strongly condemn the abduction and murder of this prominent humanitarian," McClellan said.

The statement praised Hassan for her 25 years of tireless and compassionate work with poor and disadvantaged Iraqis, particularly children. It added that she "was not involved in the political process or military activity in Iraq."

(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)

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