Ariel Sharon: Stay With the Road Map

Do you worry about Iran getting a nuclear weapon?

Iran is making every effort to possess a nuclear weapon. The program is a major threat to Israel but also to stability in the region and the world. It seems that the steps taken by the IAEA [International Atomic Energy Agency] and the Europeans are insufficient to stop Iran's nuclear program. The only real solution is a major international effort to exert economic and diplomatic pressure, and to bring the issue to the U.N. Security Council, where sanctions can be imposed.

How big is Iran's role in instigating and financing terrorism on the West Bank and in Gaza?

Iran's major effort is on keeping up a terror campaign against Israel and sabotaging any effort to achieve a political settlement. Iran is directly involved in terrorism from Lebanon via its proxy Hezbollah. It offers financial and operational support to Hamas and Islamic Jihad as well as elements of Fatah . . . Iran continues to increase its involvement in terror attacks inside Israel, particularly through a small but radical minority of Israeli Arabs which Iran supports and directs.

It is said Iran will get a bomb within a year.

As a result of monitoring, it will take longer, but the Iranians are working and they may achieve it. This is a very dangerous development, not only for Israel . . . But the world is quiet.

Reportedly, you gave Secretary of State [Colin] Powell secret information about Iran's nuclear program.

We had a very good meeting with Secretary Powell. It's a very friendly administration. Maybe we've never had such a friendly administration.

You don't feel pressure on Israel from the U.S. [to make progress on the peace process]?

No, we don't feel any pressure. I and my government are committed to peace. We have accepted the [Bush administration's] road map and stand by it in all its phases. Currently, I am determined to advance our disengagement plan. It means that by the end of 2005 there will be no Israeli settlements in Gaza and four settlements in northern Samaria [northern West Bank] will be relocated.

Do you think there will be a lot of resistance from the settlers?

There might be. We will make every effort that it be done quietly. You have to understand, people have lived in Gaza for over 30 years. After so many years, it is not an easy thing to leave their homes. But I believe it is important that it should be done to pave the way for a political settlement and, with God's help, peace.

Abu Mazen said he couldn't take over Gaza tomorrow because he doesn't have a security service he could control.

In Gaza, the Palestinian Authority has 30,000 armed people -- so they have enough forces. The problem is these forces are not taking even the smallest step to stop terror.