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Bush warns Iran of possible UN Security Council action US President George W. Bush warned Thursday that he would seek UN Security Council action against Iran if Tehran refuses to freeze sensitive nuclear work, a condition for talks with Washington. "We'll see whether or not that is the firm decision of their government," Bush replied when asked about Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki's comments refusing to suspend uranium enrichment. "And if that's what they decide to do, the next step, of course, will be for our coalition partners to go to the United Nations Security Council. And the choice is up to the Iranians," the US president said. Bush also downplayed resistance from Russia and China to his approach, but stopped far short of saying they were on board with an approach that may call for a UN Security Council resolution or even sanctions against Iran. He said he had laid out the US approach to Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday and received "a positive response." "He said he understands our strategy and he agrees we want to solve this issue diplomatically," said Bush. "We expect Russia to participate in the United Nations Security Council." The US president, who spoke to Chinese President Hu Jintao on Thursday, said that "the most positive thing about all the conversations I had is there's uniform agreement that the Iranians should not have a nuclear weapon." "And we'll discuss tactics and strategies to make sure that the international community speaks with one clear voice if the Iranians choose not to verifiably suspend," he said. On Wednesday, a senior US administration official had expressed confidence that Russia and China would consider sanctions if Iran refused to halt uranium enrichment. In Vienna, top diplomats from the United States, Europe, Russia, China and Germany announced that they had agreed on a carrot-and-stick approach to resolving the crisis. It is thought to include a range of trade, security and technology incentives, including helping Iran build light water reactors for its civilian nuclear energy program. According to an early draft text, possible sanctions could include an arms embargo on Iran -- something Russia, a key arms supplier to Iran, and China, a major consumer of Iranian oil, resist. Washington accuses Tehran of using its nuclear program as cover for an atomic weapons development effort. Iran denies the charges. Iran's refusal to halt enrichment, in line with UN Security Council and International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) demands, leaves the country exposed to possible sanctions. In what has been regarded as a major policy shift, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice announced Wednesday that Washington was ready to enter the European-led negotiations if Tehran suspended uranium enrichment -- which can be extended to making the fissile core of a nuclear weapon. Rice described the offer as a "kind of moment of truth for Iran." But Iran insists its activities are strictly peaceful and therefore enshrined as a "right" under the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. "We support dialogue in a fair and unbiased atmosphere, but we will not talk about our undeniable and legitimate rights, because this is the right of our people according to international laws and treaties," Mottaki told reporters. "There is no obstacle to negotiate with the United States on an equal footing, with respect and without preconditions, since what is important for us is to secure our nuclear rights," his spokesman Hamid Reza Asefi added. Asked whether such comments were Iran's final word, White House spokeswoman Dana Perino told reporters: "We certainly hope not." ---------------------------------------------------
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