LOC21:53
18:53 GMT
WASHINGTON, Oct 1 (KUNA) -- The US Administration on Monday brushed off
press reports suggesting that President George W. Bush was thinking of a
military strike against Iran, saying the US policy was to find a "diplomatic"
solution to the Iranian issue.
"The President has said that he believes that there is a diplomatic
solution that we can use to solve the Iranian problem. And that's why we're
working with our allies to get there," White House Spokeswoman Dan Perino said
at a press briefing.
She was referring to an article out over the weekend by the New Yorker
magazine claiming that the President asked the Joint Chiefs to redraw plans to
attack Iran.
But Perino brushed off the report, saying "We are pursuing a diplomatic
solution in Iran," and keeping all options including military action on the
table should diplomacy failed to bring Iran into compliance over its suspected
nuclear activities.
"What we have said and what we are working towards is a diplomatic solution
in Iran. What the President has also said is that as a President, as a
Commander-in-Chief -- and any Commander-in-Chief -- would not take any option
off the table. But the option that we are pursuing right now is diplomacy,"
she said. (end)
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