President Bush said Friday the United States does not intend to attack Iran to crush its suspected nuclear weapons project, and he expressed hopes that a European diplomatic initiative would persuade Tehran to abandon any such program.

In an interview with European journalists at the White House, Bush was asked about an opinion poll showing that 70 percent of Germans believe the United States is planning military action against Iran.

"I hear all these rumors about military attacks, and it's just not the truth," said Bush, who leaves Sunday for Europe to mend fences with allies. "We want diplomacy to work."

Bush said he supports European nations' efforts to persuade Iran to scrap its uranium enrichment program in exchange for technological, financial and political support. But he did not address U.S. reservations about Europe's approach.

Posted by: Jonathan Singer / 1:57 PM | Basie! Home