US defense secretary affirms Bush's intention to use diplomacy with Iran
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US Defense Secretary Robert Gates met Saturday with this Gulf nation's supreme leader, Sultan Qaboos bin Said, marking the second high-level Bush administration visit in as many months to a longtime ally that has friendly relations with Iran.
Gates made no public remarks in this tightly controlled state, but an aide told reporters accompanying the Pentagon chief that he reaffirmed US President George W. Bush's policy of pursuing diplomatic efforts to resolve the international community's conflict with Iran over its nuclear program. (AP)
