President Bush says sanctions are a "real possibility" against Iran for its controversial nuclear program.

Interviewed Friday on the CBS television network, Mr. Bush said a free world can not allow Iran to have a nuclear weapon. Mr. Bush said he is open to all possible options for dealing with Iran, including military intervention. But he said that would be the last option.

In Tehran, the chief of Iran's Revolutionary Guards, General Yahya Rahim Safavi, said Saturday his country would use ballistic missiles to defend itself if attacked.

On Friday, the U.S. Senate voted unanimously to condemn Iran's nuclear program, and to support referring Tehran to the United Nations Security Council for allegedly violating the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

The International Atomic Energy Agency meets February 2 in Vienna to discuss the Iran nuclear standoff.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP and AP.