BRIEFING WITH SCOTT MCCLELLAN,
WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY

THE WHITE HOUSE

November 18, 2004

Excerpts

. . .

QUESTION: Is the -- what's the White House reaction to the discovery, or the news that Iran is trying to outfit nuclear warheads on missiles?

MCCLELLAN: Well, I think Secretary Powell was talking about intelligence that we have seen; that's what he was referring to. I think our views are very clear about Iran. Iran needs to follow through on the recent agreement they came to with our European friends. They need to fully comply with the IAEA 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. That's our view.

QUESTION: Scott, there's nothing in...

MCCLELLAN: Obviously, the International Atomic Energy Agency looks at all the issues related to Iran and its nuclear programs. And we expect Iran to cooperate fully with the IAEA. They've spent quite a bit of time over the years hiding their program and their intentions.

QUESTION: What implications would it have for the Middle East for Iran to have nuclear tipped missiles?

MCCLELLAN: What implications would it have in the Middle East?

QUESTION: For the Middle East...

MCCLELLAN: Well, the international community is united in its resolve to make sure Iran does not develop a nuclear weapon. And that's why we are working for a peaceful, diplomatic solution to this matter. And, ultimately, our view is that Iran needs to stop all its enrichment related and reprocessing activities; there's no need for it. And that's the way to show -- give everybody confidence that they're not pursuing a nuclear weapon

QUESTION: Scott, there's nothing in the agreement with the Europeans that concerns missiles in any way. There's nothing in the IAEA's charter that permits them to even investigate missile activities. So is the United States making any particular demands on Iran, or any suggestions to the Europeans about how missile development should be included in these...

MCCLELLAN: Well, look, Iran has made commitments to the international community, and they need to follow through on those commitments.

QUESTION: They have nothing to do with missiles...

MCCLELLAN: What we're talking about is activities that could be related to a nuclear weapon program, and the International Atomic Energy Agency looks at those issues. If you're talking about developing warheads that could be put on delivery systems, like missiles and...

QUESTION: But that's not what the Secretary said, right? He said...

MCCLELLAN: Well, again, I mean, I can't get into discussing any of the intelligence that he's referring to, beyond what he said. But we are continuing to work through the international community, work with the international community to make sure that Iran does not develop a nuclear weapon.

QUESTION: ... report about the dissident group in Europe that said there is a secret installation where the Iranians are actually enriching right now. Have you seen that; can you confirm that?

MCCLELLAN: Seen the reports?

QUESTION: Yes.

MCCLELLAN: Yes. We're aware of those reports. I mean, that's been -- the report in the press over the last couple of days. And certainly, as you're aware, that is an organization that we include on our terrorist list. And so it's not an organization that we have any contacts with, but...

QUESTION: Do you have any...

MCCLELLAN: All the reports of that nature are things that the International Atomic Energy Agency should look at as part of their investigation into Iran's nuclear program. But, you know, no, we're not in a position to get into verifying the validity of that report.

QUESTION: Do you have a deal yet on intelligence reform?

. . .