US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has said that the Islamic country is as much a problem for the Palestinian territories as it is for other parts of the world.
WASHINGTON: Accusing Iran of being a supporter of extremism, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has said that the Islamic country is as much a problem for the Palestinian territories as it is for other parts of the world.
"I think there's no doubt that Iran is a problem in the Palestinian territories just like they're a problem everywhere else. They're supporting extremism," Rice said.
But the international community is now asking Iran to account for its "destabilising" activities, she said.
"The Iranians are seeing an international community that is more and more united against their behaviour, united against their extremism. We have the UN Security Council resolution on Saturday which said to Iran: The world is determined that you will not acquire the technologies for a nuclear weapon" Rice said.
"We are seeing that the Iranians are having people pulling back from investment, from dealing with them internationally. And in a place like Iraq where they're a neighbour and we need to have them as a stable neighbour, they're being called to account more and more for their destabilizing behaviour" she said.
The Secretary of State maintained that the objective of the Bush administration is to force a change in the behaviour of the regime in Tehran and there is strong international support for them.
"We want to change this regime's behaviour and we have a strong international coalition that is beginning to push in that direction. I don't believe the Iranians want to have the kind of isolation or endure the kind of isolation that the international community can bring to bear.
"Iran is a country that is accustomed to trade with the international community, accustomed to traveling in the international community," Rice said.
"I think we can bring the Iranians -- the more reasonable people in Iran to accept the very good offer that is on the table for a civil nuclear programme without access to the fuel cycle and for integration into the international system," she said.
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