Iranian Letter Lambastes Bush

U.N. Delays Resolution On Curbing Iran's Nuclear Program

(CBS/AP) 
Rice, who said she expected no quick action on sanctions, met privately Monday night with foreign ministers from the other permanent members of the council.

Ministers from the five permanent members said they had agreed not to discuss specifics of a text, instead focusing on overall strategy. German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said diplomats would need "another 10 days, 14 days" to get a resolution.

That was a clear sign that officials had not broken a stalemate with Russia and China, which oppose putting the resolution under Chapter 7 of the U.N. Charter, thereby making it legally binding and opening the possibility of sanctions and even military action.

"They have not yet reached full agreement, especially China and Russia have not yet accepted the possibility of a general reference to a Chapter 7 resolution," Steinmeier said. "But it's not something they have excluded at this point in time."

China urged flexibility in reaching a negotiated settlement, rejecting the "threat of force."

"The Iran nuclear dispute is at a crucial junction. We hope relevant sides can show flexibility, restraint and calmness in order to create favorable conditions for the resumption of talks," Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said Tuesday.

Political directors from the five countries met again Tuesday in New York, trying to bridge the gap over the best way to send a message to Iran that its pursuit of uranium enrichment must be suspended to allay international concerns that it is pursuing nuclear weapons.

Iran contends it has the right to process uranium as fuel in nuclear reactors to generate electricity.

In the letter, Ahmadinejad says that people around the world have lost faith in international institutions and questions whether the Bush administration has covered up some evidence surrounding the Sept. 11 attacks.

Liberalism and Western-style democracy "have not been able to help realize the ideals of humanity," according to the letter, which was obtained by The Associated Press late Monday from diplomats who declined to be identified because the text had not formally been made public.

"Today these two concepts have failed. Those with insight can already hear the sounds of the shattering and fall of the ideology and thoughts of the liberal democratic systems," it read.

Ahmadinejad also suggests that Mr. Bush should look inward, saying hatred is increasing worldwide of the United States, and history shows how "repressive and cruel governments do not survive."

"How much longer will the blood of the innocent men, women and children be spilled on the streets, and people's houses destroyed over their heads? Are you pleased with the current condition of the world? Do you think present policies can continue?" the letter read.

The letter was the first from an Iranian head of state to an American president in 27 years, CBS News correspondent Elizabeth Palmer reports, and could signal a demand that Ahmadinejad be treated as an equal negotiating partner in any bid to untangle the international dispute.

Diplomatic sources say that although Ahmadinejad doesn't always speak for the real power in Iran, that is, the religious authorities, he will be speaking on the nuclear issue with the backing of the supreme leader, Ayatolla Ali Khameini, adds Palmer (audio).