According to the White House's national security report released on Thursday, Iran represents the biggest challenge for the United States at this time.
Iran's choice to move ahead with nuclear research despite international opposition and its support for insurgents in Iraq make it a pivotal nation in U.S. diplomacy.
The report explained, 'We may face no greater challenge from a single country than from Iran. For almost 20 years, the Iranian regime hid many of its key nuclear efforts from the international community. Yet the regime continues to claim that it does not seek to develop nuclear weapons. The Iranian regime's true intentions are clearly revealed by the regime's refusal to negotiate in good faith; its refusal to come into compliance with its international obligations by providing the [International Atomic Energy Agency] access to nuclear sites and resolving troubling questions; and the aggressive statements of its President calling for Israel to 'be wiped off the face of the earth.'
'The United States has joined with our EU partners and Russia to pressure Iran to meet its international obligations and provide objective guarantees that its nuclear program is only for peaceful purposes.'
The report concluded with a stern warning to Tehran, saying, 'This diplomatic effort must succeed if confrontation is to be avoided.'
Bush also reaffirmed his policy of pre-emptive strikes against terrorists and enemy nations, something the United States has never done before the Bush administration invaded Iraq in 2003.
'If necessary, however, under long-standing principles of self defense, we do not rule out the use of force before attacks occur -- even if uncertainty remains as to the time and place of the enemy's attack,' the report said.
Bush also had critical words for North Korea, the third member of his so-called 'axis of evil.'
'The North Korean regime needs to change these policies, open up its political system and afford freedom to its people,' Bush said. 'In the interim, we will continue to take all necessary measures to protect our national and economic security against the adverse effects of their bad conduct.'
While the Bush administration chose to invade Iraq which did not have weapons of mass destruction, North Korea developed nuclear weapons and Iran has advanced in its nuclear research which it claims is only for peaceful purposes.
Bush continues to insist that his goal is to spread democracy throughout the world.
