Pelosi: New Iran NIE Suggests There is Time for a New Policy Toward Iran

Washington, D.C. -- Speaker Nancy Pelosi issued the following statement today on the Bush Administration's release of a National Intelligence Estimate (NIE) on Iran's nuclear program:

'While harboring no illusions about the intentions of some Iranian leaders, the new Iran NIE suggests there is time for a new policy toward Iran that deters Iran from restarting its nuclear program while also improving relations overall.

'The NIE also illustrates the effectiveness of international monitoring and targeted sanctions to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.  These tools, and efforts such as the Nunn-Lugar program to secure loose nuclear materials that Congress expanded this year through the passage of the 9/11 Commission recommendations legislation, can be employed successfully to deter the production or acquisition of the components needed for nuclear weapons.'