Rice says U.S. isn't "hyping a threat" over Iran's nuclear aspirations

International Herald Tribune:

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice insisted Sunday that the United States was not overplaying the potential threat from Iran's nuclear activities.

"This isn't the United States hyping a threat. This is the United States trying to build a coalition of states, all of whom know that Iranian nuclear activities are unexplained and troubling," Rice said on CNN television's "Late Edition."

Her comments came as diplomats in Vienna, Austria, told The Associated Press that Iran was ready to consider suspending uranium enrichment for up to two months.

The diplomats, who spoke on condition of anonymity in exchange for disclosing confidential information, spoke shortly after talks between senior Iranian officials and the European Union focusing on Tehran's defiance of a U.N. Security Council resolution demanding suspension of enrichment activity, which can be used to make nuclear arms.

Rice said in the earlier interview that she was certain that, if Iran continued to defy the United Nations, there would be "sanctions that demonstrate to Iran that it can't continue on this course."

"The world is prepared to act," she said. READ MORE