The world's nuclear watchdog reported on Friday that Iran has flouted a UN Security Council call to suspend uranium enrichment, prompting Western powers to urge tougher UN action to curb Tehran's atomic programme.
US President George W. Bush said he wanted peaceful persuasion to prevail. His Iranian counterpart vowed earlier to spurn any UN resolution to curb Tehran's nuclear work.
"It's very important for the Iranians to understand there is a common desire by a lot of nations in this world to convince them, peacefully convince them, that they ought to give up their weapons ambitions," Bush said, adding that he would keep consulting US allies on the issue. Britain said it would ask the UNSC to increase pressure on Iran after the report by Mohamed ElBaradei, chief of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
The council could eventually impose sanctions on Iran, which has vowed to go on purifying uranium, whatever the consequences.
The IAEA also said Iran had pressed ahead with enrichment during a 30-day grace period and had not answered questions exploring whether its nuclear programme is purely civilian.
However, it noted that Iran promised in a letter received by the IAEA on Wednesday to provide a timetable within three weeks on answering such questions. But the letter made this, as well as continued access for inspectors to declared nuclear sites, conditional on Iran's nuclear dossier staying with the IAEA.
{{/usCountry}}However, it noted that Iran promised in a letter received by the IAEA on Wednesday to provide a timetable within three weeks on answering such questions. But the letter made this, as well as continued access for inspectors to declared nuclear sites, conditional on Iran's nuclear dossier staying with the IAEA.
{{/usCountry}}Earlier in the day, with Iran trying to mobilise support against any sanctions imposed by the UNSC, Ahmadinejad also spoke to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.