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Rice: U.S. not preparing for war against Iran

By ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published June 2, 2007

MADRID - The United States is not preparing for war against Iran, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Friday, taking a swipe at a U.N. official who says he's worried about "crazies" who want to start bombing.

"The president has made clear that we are on a diplomatic course, " she said in regard to U.S. opposition to Iran's nuclear ambitions.

Rice, in Spain at the close of a European visit, was asked about the comments by the chief of the U.N. nuclear watchdog agency. Mohamed ElBaradei was quoted by the BBC as warning against the views of "new crazies who say, 'Let's go and bomb Iran.' "

Rice was clearly annoyed by ElBaradei's remarks, which were part of an interview the International Atomic Energy Agency head gave for a documentary.

Rice also insisted that Vice President Dick Cheney backs the diplomatic course. Cheney is frequently the administration's most hawkish voice on Iran

Cheney has not publicly advocated an assault on Iran, but - while standing on the deck of an aircraft carrier in the Persian Gulf - he warned Tehran last month that Washington would prevent the Islamic republic from dominating the Middle East.

The United States does not rule out military action but says there is no plan to attack Tehran.

[Last modified June 2, 2007, 02:15:06]