Bolton has warned that the U.S. will attempt to "roll back" proliferation of chemical, biological and nuclear weapons in the world

WASHINGTON, June 5 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) - The United States is going to use force to eliminate chemical, biological and nuclear weapons and take away these deadly arsenals from rogue states, a senior U.S. government official warned Wednesday, June 4.

Though the administration of President George W. Bush favored peaceful and diplomatic solutions to the proliferation threat, it ruled out no options, including "preemptive military force where required," Under Secretary of State John Bolton told Congress.

Washington will not offer disarmament inducements to North Korea, will punish suppliers of dual-use materials and offer Iraqi scientists specializing in weapons of mass destruction (WMD) a chance to emigrate, presumably to the United States, he said according to Agence France-Presse (AFP) said.

"We aim ultimately not just to prevent the spread of WMD, but also to 'roll back' proliferation of such weapons from rogue states and terrorist groups that already possess them or are close to doing so."

"Moreover, the logic of adverse consequences must fall not only on the states aspiring to possess these weapons, but on the states supplying them as well," he warned without elaborating.

In its most recent report on proliferation, the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) named Iran, Iraq, North Korea, Libya, Syria, Sudan, India and Pakistan among countries with the most active weapons of mass destruction and missile programs.

The report did not mention Israel which possess a huge arsenal of weapons of mass destruction.

Bolton's warning followed Bush's announcement last week in Poland of a so-called Proliferation Security Initiative aimed at broadening international cooperation in interdicting shipments of WMD- and missile-related equipment and technologies.

With the framework of this broad campaign, the United States will offer Iraqi weapons scientists an opportunity to emigrate because of serious concern that rogue states or terrorist organizations will try to hire them, said the under secretary of state.

Keeping up pressure on Iran, he accused the Islamic republic of developing a uranium mine, uranium conversion and enrichment facilities and a heavy water production plant as part of its clandestine nuclear weapons program.

Bolton insisted that "there will be no inducements" on the part of the Bush administration to persuade North Korea to "completely, verifiably, and irreversibly" abandon its nuclear weapons program.

North Korea created an international crisis last year, when it admitted to a U.S. envoy that it had pursued a nuclear weapons drive in breach of a 1994 accord.

Since then, Pyongyang has announced its withdrawal from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, restarted a five-megawatt nuclear reactor at Yongbyang, and admitted to actually having atomic arms, while offering to scrap the program in exchange for a non-aggression treaty and economic aid.

But in an apparent broadening of U.S. preconditions for a rapprochement with Pyongyang, known as the "bold approach," Bolton made clear U.S. aid might be provided to the Stalinist state only after dramatic policy changes -- in addition to nuclear disarmament.

"Assistance would be provided to North Korea through the 'bold approach' if the North addresses concerns about its WMD and missile program and exports as well as other issues, including its conventional force disposition, narcotics trafficking, human rights, and its continued sponsorship of terrorism outside its borders," he pointed out.

Iran’s New Neighbor

Meanwhile, Tehran has been coming under mounting pressure from Washington, which claims that the Islamic government is seeking to develop nuclear weapons, harboring fugitive al-Qaeda members, same allegations that were made against Iraq before it was invaded and occupied by U.S.-led forces.

"The best solution for us is to reinforce the democracy pushed for by President Khatami, in order to strengthen the link between the people and the leadership," a vice-president and top advisor to reformist President Mohammad Khatami said.

"On the international scene, the last few years have seen major developments. For example, to our east and west we now have a new neighbor: the United States," Mohammad Ali Abtahi said in an interview.

Describing the United States as "a power that acts with no restrictions", he said Iran "has to use all means to avoid giving any pretexts to the Americans, even if they don't need pretexts when they have decided to do something."