Tuesday, June 28 2005 10:01 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Washington: US President George W Bush said yesterday (Jun 27, 2005) that Iranian elections had not changed his view that it would be "unacceptable" for Tehran to obtain a nuclear weapon or the ability to make one.

"The development of a nuclear weapon is unacceptable, and a process which would enable Iran to develop a nuclear weapon is unacceptable," Bush said as he met with German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder.

The president said his administration would continue to support Britain, France and Germany in their diplomatic push to ensure that Tehran does not get atomic weapons.

Asked whether Iran's election had been free and fair, Bush replied, "It's never free and fair when a group of people, unelected people, gets to decide who's on the ballot."

Bush - who in 2002 labelled Iran part of an "axis of evil" with North Korea and Saddam Hussein's Iraq - was referring to the tough vetting process that sidelined more than 1,000 candidates, including all of the women hopefuls.