Rumsfeld takes aim at Iran, Russia, China

SINGAPORE - U.S. Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld branded Iran as the world's leading terrorist nation yet hoped Tehran seriously would consider incentives from the West in exchange for suspending suspect nuclear activities.

Rumsfeld, attending an annual security conference, also took aim Saturday at Russia and China for allowing Iran's involvement in a group that he said has stated opposition to terrorism and extremists.

Iraq was on Rumsfeld's mind, too, as he expressed concern the war could alienate Muslims in Southeast Asia. Upcoming stops on his trip include Indonesia and Vietnam.

The U.S. and five other world powers decided last week to offer incentives to Iran if it gives up uranium enrichment. Under that condition, the Bush administration said it would join talks with Iran.

"The information has just been communicated to them, and it seems to me the appropriate thing now to do is to wait and see which path the Iranian government will take," Rumsfeld said on the sidelines of the security conference.

The Pentagon chief said he hoped Iran would "recognize the seriousness and substance" of the offer. He added that the U.S. agreed to the proposals because progress in talks involving Iran and Britain, Germany and France had "arrived at a point where it seemed not to be moving forward."

The United States and other Western nations suspect Iran's nuclear program is intended to produce weapons. Tehran insists it is for peaceful energy purposes.

Iran's president told U.N. chief Kofi Annan on Saturday that a breakthrough in negotiations over the nuclear program was possible and that he welcomed unconditional talks with all parties. Iran's foreign minister said officials were waiting to receive the proposals and would "make our views known after studying the package."

Despite the diplomatic efforts, Rumsfeld did not retreat from his assessment of Iran. In doing so, Russia and China came under criticism for allowing Iran's involvement in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

The group, which includes Russia, China and four Central Asian nations, was founded to build confidence among the member nations and grapple with militant Islamic groups.

Iran's president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, was invited to the annual summit in Shanghai this month. Iran is an observer to group and has applied for full membership.

Rumsfeld said he finds it "passing strange" to bring the "leading terrorist nation in the world into an organization that says it's against terror."

When Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov announced in mid-May that Ahmadinejad would attend the summit, he said, "We cannot isolate Iran or exert pressure on it. Far from resolving this issue of proliferation, it will make it more urgent."

On Iraq, Rumsfeld told military leaders at the conference that opposition to the U.S. presence in Iraq will not force the U.S. to leave the country prematurely. He said the world eventually would understand that American troops are not in Iraq to take over oil fields, as some critics have suggested.

"We don't intend to occupy that country for any period of time," Rumsfeld said in response to a question from the audience. "Our troops would like to go home and they will go home."

"And they will go home at a pace when we're able, along with our friends and allies with the coalition, of passing off responsibility to the Iraqi security forces, so they can pull up their socks and take responsibility for their own country."

On other topics, Rumsfeld:

_said he believes China will become more open about its military buildup. This issue dominated last year's military conference. He said other countries have a right to understand why China is expanding its military and there could be repercussions if China does not explain itself.

_defended Pakistan's efforts to fight terrorism, including growing problems with violent insurgents who travel across the border into Afghanistan.

_warned that although security cooperation among nations in Southeast Asia is expanding, it could be set back if China, Russia and North Korea do not become more open and less threatening.

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