Iran to face sanctions if it rejects offer

President George W. Bush said yesterday Iran faces the prospect of UN Security Council action and progressively stronger sanctions if it rejects an offer aimed at containing its nuclear programme.

"If Iran's leaders want peace and prosperity and a more hopeful future for their people, they should accept our offer, abandon any ambitions to obtain nuclear weapons, and come into compliance with their international obligations," Bush said.

He spoke in a commencement speech to the graduating class of the US Merchant Marine a day before heading to Vienna to attend a US-European Union summit. A US-backed package of incentives was offered to Iran early this month, and Mr Bush said the United States would join European talks with Iran if it agreed to verifiably suspend its nuclear enrichment programme.

So far Tehran has refused to stop the enrichment while saying the incentives offer was a positive step.

"Iran's leaders have a clear choice: We hope they will accept our offer and voluntarily suspend these activities so we can work out an agreement that will bring Iran real benefits," Mr Bush said.

"If Iran's leaders reject our offer, it will result in action before the Security Council, further isolation from the world and progressively stronger political and economic sanctions," he added.