Bush About-Face: U.S. to Talk to Iran

PlusBush About-Face: U.S. to Talk to IranBush About-Face: U.S. to Talk to IranThe Associated PressIn a Bush administration about-face, a top U.S. diplomat will take part in talks with Iran this weekend on the disputed Iranian nuclear program. (July 16)[Notes:pool: bush cutaway]From a president who hates changing course ... [Notes:aptn File footage Ahmadinejad]... comes an about-face on nuclear talks with Iran. [Notes:aptn File Iranian nuclear program]A top U.S. diplomat is now set to join talks in Geneva aimed at getting Iran to freeze its nuclear program. [Notes:apt Burns file footage, Pool, perino walkout shot]But the involvement of Undersecretary of State William Burns is, according to the White Houes, a "one-time event" to show solidarity with U.S. allies. PERINO SOT: (Approx 3:00 from start) "We believe it's a smart step to underscore the seriousness -- that we want to solve this issue diplomatically." (:07) FONT: Dana Perino, White House Press Secretary [Notes:aptn More file nuclear program] And officials insist Burns is NOT there to negotiate -- just DISCUSS how Iran might halt its nuclear work. PERINO SOT: (Approx 5:40 from start) The fundamental, underlying principle is that there will not be any negotiation unless Iran suspends its enrichment of uranium. (:07) ((YOU MAY WISH TO SHORTEN THIS TO 'THERE WILL NOT BE..' - YOUR CALL)) [Notes:aptn More file footage nuclear program]America and the Europeans fear Iran's secretly at work on a bomb -- and have offered incentives IF Tehran halts the effort. [Notes:aptn Khamenei speaking today]But Iran's top religious leader says his country has "red lines" it won't cross -- and they include the right to generate power, which HE says is the nuclear program's only goal. [Notes:aptn Crowd chanting from today]And speaking on a Shiite holy day, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei ALSO warned any ATTACK on Iran would earn a "crushing response". [Notes:pool bush] Whatever the prospect for the talks, the ALLIES clearly wanted a bigger U.S. role. ANALYST SOT: (152522) "They all say, the only thing the Iranians are afraid of is the United States. The only one they really want things from is the United states and without the U.S. engaged we can't make any of this work." FONT: Jon Alterman, Mideast expert, Center for Strategic and International Studies [Notes:aptn Iranian missile test footage]News of the talks comes a week after Iran conducted a flurry of missile tests ... [Notes:aptn Israeli military file footage]... to bolster its ability to target an Israel the Iranian president threatens to wipe off the map. [Notes:Standup close]Officials here insist a nuclear-armed Iran remains unacceptable, and no option is off the table. What they will NOT say is whether the Geneva talks represent a new flowering of diplomacy, or a final gesture before diplomacy ends. MS, The Associated Press, the White House