Meanwhile, the administration rejected a suggestion from Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad that both Iran and the U.S. agree to mutually close their nuclear facilities. Ahmadinejad said, “If they say that we should close down our fuel production facilities to resume talks, we say fine, but those who enter talks with us should also close down their nuclear fuel production facilities.” At the White House, Press Secretary Tony Snow dismissed the comments as a “false offer.”

White House Press Secretary Tony Snow: “The fact is that we are perfectly happy to help Iran acquire civilian nuclear power. We are not, however — and the international community has made it clear that Iran should not be in a position to develop or possess nuclear weapons. So that, kind of — that is a false offer, because the position of the international community is clear.”