Condoleezza Rice, October 16, 2006

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice says the quick U.N. response to North Korea's claim of a nuclear test should send a signal to Iran about its nuclear ambitions.

Rice's warning Monday echoes comments U.S. ambassador to the United Nations John Bolton made Sunday. Bolton said he hopes Iran understands it will face the same kind of isolation and sanctions imposed on North Korea if it continues to pursue nuclear weapons.

After North Korea announced a week ago that it had conducted a successful a nuclear test, Washington pushed a resolution through the U.N. Security Council in just days - an unusually fast response by the world body.

European Union leaders meet Tuesday to consider U.N. sanctions against Iran. The EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana has failed to persuade Iran to suspend nuclear enrichment during several meetings with Tehran's nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani.

Iran's president says his country will continue its nuclear program.

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad says demands for Iran to suspend its nuclear enrichment activities are illegal. Iran maintains its nuclear program is only for the peaceful production of electricity.

Western nations accuse Iran of seeking nuclear weapons.

Iran ignored an August 31 U.N. Security Council deadline to suspend uranium enrichment.

Secretary of State Rice says the venue for diplomatic action on Iran will once again be the Security Council.

Rice says work on a sanctions package has begun in various world capitals, and will continue this week in the Council.