CRAWFORD, Texas (AFP) ââ¬â US President George W. Bush on Saturday told his Iranian counterpart Mahmoud Ahmadinejad that he must "stop exporting terror" on the eve of the Iranian leader’s first visit to Iraq.
Ahmadinejad hopes his historic visit to Iraq on Sunday will mark a major step in strengthening ties between Iran and its conflict-torn western neighbor.
But Bush, speaking at a press conference at his Texas ranch with visiting Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen, said although the Iranian leader was Iraq’s neighbor, "the message needs to be ‘quit sending in sophisticated equipment that’s killing our citizens.’
"Stop exporting terror," Bush said "and that the international community is serious about continuing to isolate Iran until they come clean about their nuclear weapons ambitions. That’s why there will be action in the United Nations here early next week."
The United States has accused Iran of supplying Iraq insurgents with bombs used to attack US soldiers.
Bush also vowed to maintain international pressure to force Iran to halt its disputed nuclear program, which, he charges, hides a bid to build an atomic bomb. Tehran insists its nuclear work is solely aimed at providing energy.
The UN Security Council is expected to adopt on Monday a third set of sanctions against Iran over its refusal to freeze uranium enrichment work.
