Departing US Iran Envoy Says Nuclear Issue Will Not Be Resolved By Time Bush Leaves Office

MotherJones reports Departing US Iran Envoy Says Nuclear Issue Will Not Be Resolved By Time Bush Leaves Office.

"Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs Nick Burns, who is due to leave the State Department after twenty-six years of service at the end of the month, spoke to the Council on Foreign Relations in Washington tonight.

But all were looking to Washington's top Iran envoy for a signal about what the Bush administration plans to do on the Iran nuclear issue over the next ten months; and for signs that Burns' imminent departure might be related to some bureaucratic battle - or simple exhaustion or frustration - at trying to lead the administration's effort to cobble and keep together an international coalition to pressure Iran diplomatically and with economic sanctions and other means to change its behavior on its nuclear program.

He said that he did not think the Iran nuclear issue would be resolved by the end of the Bush administration and would still be outstanding when a new administration takes office. 'I don't think conflict with Iran is inevitable,' Burns said. 'There is plenty of space for diplomacy.' 'I think the issue plays out well beyond 2009,' Burns said."