In U.N. Speech, Bush Softens Tone on Iran

Speaking generally to people across the Middle East, Bush sought to combat what he described as "propaganda" being spread by extremists "claiming that the West is engaged in a war against Islam. This propaganda is false, and its purpose is to confuse you and justify acts of terror. We respect Islam, but we will protect our people from those who pervert Islam to sow death and destruction."

Bush's address drew polite applause from the hundreds of officials gathered in the cavernous General Assembly hall, though there was clearly unease with U.S. policies. In Annan's address, his last before the opening of a General Assembly session, he took a swipe at the Bush administration's counterterrorism strategy, saying that the "necessary and legitimate struggle" against terrorism has been used as a "pretext to abridge and abrogate fundamental human rights, thereby ceding more moral ground to the terrorists and helping them find recruits."

Outside of the speech, a key focus of U.S. activity at the U.N. session is the continuing two-track effort to bring Iran into negotiations over its nuclear activities while securing sanctions if it does not suspend enrichment of uranium. Iran says it is pursuing nuclear activities only to develop new sources of energy, while Bush said flatly Tuesday that Tehran is seeking a nuclear weapon.

U.S. diplomatic efforts were thrown into some disarray Monday when French President Jacques Chirac said in a radio interview that he did not like the idea of sanctions and that talks might begin before Iran halts uranium enrichment -- an apparent reversal of the original U.S.-European position.

But on Tuesday, emerging from a meeting at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, Bush and Chirac insisted that there is no daylight between the two countries on how to proceed.

Bush told reporters after meeting with Chirac that European powers are continuing to try to bring Iran to the negotiating table, and that if Iran agrees to suspend uranium enrichment, the United States will join those talks. "Time is of the essence," Bush said. "Should they continue to stall, we will then discuss the consequences."

At his news conference with Bush, Chirac said he sees "eye to eye" with Bush on how to deal with Iran. But a few hours later, at his own press conference, the French president seemed to muddy the waters again by describing a different timetable. He said that the United States, European leaders, Russia and China should agree quickly on an agenda for talks, and that as a "goodwill gesture" the drive for sanctions would then be put on hold, and Iranians would suspend enrichment.

One senior administration official, who was not authorized to speak publicly about the discussions, said the discrepancies are "differences in emphasis, not differences in substance. That's a big difference and could [prove] useful in pursuing a diplomatic solution."