Iran on destructive path: Condoleezza Rice

Concern over the programme in the US and Europe escalated recently when Tehran decided to resume enrichment.

Iran's nuclear policy has put it on a "destructive path" and is having a negative, destabilising impact on the Middle East, said US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

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In an interview with Arab journalists on Friday, ahead of an upcoming trip to the Middle East, Rice said Iran was "clearly not in a very good position right now" with regard to its nuclear programme.

Concern over the programme in the US and Europe escalated recently when Tehran decided to remove seals on several nuclear installations and resume enrichment activities.

"I will be carrying the message that I and my (European) colleagues are carrying all over the world, which is that everyone should tell the Iranians that there is no way out, except to accept a civil nuclear path that does not have enrichment and reprocessing in Iran," she said.

"We are going to need the support of all member states to convince the Iranians that they are on a destructive path," she said. "This isn't just about the US. This is about incredible isolation."

Rice travels to Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the UAE next week, a trip that is expected to be dominated by discussion of the surprise election victory of Hamas in the Palestinian territories and the dispute over Iran's nuclear programme.