Bush Presses European Allies on Iran

By Mark Impomeni
Jun 11th 2008 8:45AM

Filed Under:ePresident Bush, Breaking News, Iran, Foreign Policy

On his last scheduled swing through Europe, President Bush has Iran and its nuclear weapons program high on his agenda. Following the president's first stop on his trip, the U.S.-European Union Summit in Slovenia, the two sides issued a joint declaration that the allies are, "ready to supplement sanctions with additional measures," if the Islamic Republic does not halt its uranium enrichment programs. Yesterday, in Germany, the president sought to shore up support for a new round of sanctions on Iran. German Chancellor Angela Merkel has reduced her country's trade with Iran, but is viewed as being lukewarm to additional sanctions.

The president is rushing to find a resolution to the Iranian nuclear standoff before his term expires in January. But the pace of negotiations with Iran and European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana has been painstakingly slow. Solana is preparing to offer another incentives package to Iran in exchange for its abandonment of its nuclear activities. Incentives packages have not thus far convinced Iran to change its ways, and the Bush Administration is looking to get the Europeans to agree to "turn up the pressure," in the words of National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley, in the likely event that the Iranians reject the offer.

Iran, North Korea, and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict remain sticky foreign policy problems for the Bush Administration as it heads into its final six months in office. Those countries and disputes represent international problem spots that have vexed many previous U.S. Administrations. However, the president and his national security team would very much like to leave the nation with some sense of direction on all three. But it is reliant on partners in Europe and elsewhere that have a much different view of the situations in each, and much longer time frames for getting a resolution. The Bush Administration may have to be satisfied to have given its best effort and hope that the next Administration chooses to pick up the ball and advance it further.

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