Originally published on the CGS blog on June 4, 2009.
President Obama this morning gave a historic speech in Cairo where he outlined his vision for coexistence between the United States and the Muslim world, emphasizing their common history and future.
The President addressed the issue of nuclear weapons and Iran’s nuclear ambitions directly. He said, “No single nation should pick and choose which nation holds nuclear weapons. And that’s why I strongly reaffirmed America’s commitment to seek a world in which no nations hold nuclear weapons. And any nation — including Iran — should have the right to access peaceful nuclear power if it complies with its responsibilities under the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.”
Obama stated the willingness of the United States to discuss the issue bilaterally with Iran, and reaffirmed the country’s support for nuclear power for a peaceful end. He noted that it may be difficult for the two countries to overcome years of mistrust but it was necessary in order to move forward and strengthen relations between the two countries.
