Rice, Playing Down Rift, Urges EU to Get Tough on Iran

Reuters:

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said on Wednesday a diplomatic solution to Iran's nuclear program was "in our grasp" if Europe sent the same tough message as Washington, threatening U.N. sanctions.

Her comments came as Britain, France and Germany held a third round of talks with Iran in Geneva on a deal under which Tehran would be expected to give up uranium enrichment in return for economic benefits and security guarantees.

Iran denies U.S. charges that it seeks nuclear weapons. But President Mohammad Khatami said on Wednesday the Islamic Republic would never abandon its quest to master nuclear technology, including uranium enrichment.

"(The) Iranians need to hear that if they are unwilling to take the deal, really, that the Europeans are giving ... then the Security Council referral looms," she earlier told Fox News. "I don't know that anyone has said that as clearly as they should to the Iranians."