U. S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has said the United States is on a diplomatic path to resolve Iran's refusal to stop its nuclear enrichment program, while Vice President Dick Cheney said the U.S. has taken none of its options off the table.
Rice said she believes a diplomatic solution could succeed if the international community remains unified in confronting Iran.
In an earlier television interview Friday, Cheney said the U.S. would do everything it could to keep Iran from developing nuclear weapons.
The International Atomic Energy Agency reported Thursday that Iran had expanded its uranium enrichment activity, despite a U.N. Security Council order tostop enrichment by the 21st of February.
The report clears the way for additional U.N. sanctions against Iran.
The five permanent members of the Security Council plus Germany are to meet in London Monday to discuss the issue.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said the door for negotiations with Iran remains open. Russia's U.N. ambassador, Vitaly Churkin said his country would prefer not to impose new sanctions or Iran.
The United States and other major powers allege Iran is trying to build nuclear weapons, a charge Iran denies.
Some information for this report provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.
