Rice: Iran Should Stop 'Playing Games'

April 30, 2006 — -- Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is lashing out at Iran's latest attempt to thwart possible action in the United Nations to halt their nuclear ambitions.

"I think they're playing games," said Rice, appearing on ABC News' "This Week with George Stephanopoulos." "Every time we get close to a Security Council decision, there's some effort to say, 'Oh no, we really were interested in that proposal that we rejected.' "

Rice was referring to Iran's hints that it may re-consider a Russian proposal that would provide the nation with nuclear fuel produced in Russia.

"The path by which they [Iran] could get civil nuclear energy is very clear," Rice added, repeatedly expressing doubts that the government of Iran was simply stalling action by the United Nations Security Council that could halt their atomic program entirely. Rice further asserted, "But if they're not playing games, they should come clean, stop the enrichment."

Rice also brushed back a statement by her predecessor, retired Gen. Colin Powell, who said he told officials he feared the United States was going into Iraq with too few troops.

"The president listened to the advice of his advisors and, ultimately, he listened to the advice of his commanders," Rice said. She added that troop levels were determined with a post-Saddam Hussein scenario in mind.

Rice resisted setting a specific timetable for the total withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq.

"We will take this a step at a time," she said. "The president has made it very clear that he will listen to his commanders."

She said Iraq wants and will take responsibility for their own security at the earliest possible point.

As thousands rally against genocide in Washington, San Francisco and other cities across the nation, Stephanopoulos pressed Rice on the administration's policy in Darfur. The war-torn region is home to what has been called the first genocide of the 21st century, but that has drawn scant action from the international community.