Rice: Iran doesn't have much time
(AP)
Updated: 2006-06-02 20:40
Iran insists its nuclear work is peaceful and aimed at
developing a new energy source.
Iranian worshippers shout anti-U.S. slogans
during a Friday prayers ceremony in Tehran June 2, 2006.
[Reuters] |
Mottaki, Iran's foreign minister, welcomed the idea of direct talks but
rebuffed the U.S. condition that Tehran must suspend uranium enrichment before
talks can begin.
At the White House, President George W. Bush warned that the confrontation
would go to the Security Council should Iran continue to enrich uranium.
"If they continue their obstinance, if they continue to say to the world, `We
really don't care what your opinion is,' then the world is going to act in
concert," Bush said.
Bush said he got a "positive response" in a telephone conversation Tuesday
with Russian President Vladimir Putin, adding, "We expect Russia to participate
in the United Nations Security Council. We'll see whether or not they agree to
do that."
Bush also spoke about Iran on Thursday with Chinese President Hu Jintao. He
revealed little about that conversation, saying, "They understood our strategy."
The shift in U.S. tactics was meant to offer the Iranians a last chance to
avoid punishing sanctions and to let the United States assert that it was
willing to exhaust every opportunity to resolve the Iranian impasse without
force.
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