A senior US official on Monday said the situation over Iran's nuclear program was becoming increasingly worrying and an urgent diplomatic solution needs to be found.
The
US and Israel have not ruled out military action against Iran's nuclear
facilities if diplomacy fails to resolve a dispute over a program they
suspect is aimed at developing atomic weapons.
Iran
denies it is seeking nuclear weapons and says it would respond to any
strike by attacking Israel and US interests in the Gulf.
"Iran is
violating international obligations and norms. It is becoming a pariah
state," Robert Einhorn, the US State Department senior adviser for
non-proliferation and arms control, told a news conference in the South
Korean capital.
"The situation in Iran has become more and more
worrisome. The timeline for its nuclear program is beginning to get
shorter, so it is important we take these strong steps on an urgent
basis," he added.
"If we do not, pressures will grow for much stronger actions. The US
favors a diplomatic solution, but if we cannot achieve a diplomatic
solution soon, inevitably interests will grow in a different kind of
solution. That is why we need to act soon," Einhorn said.
Iran's nuclear ambitions, its claim to have shot down a US spy drone in its airspace on Sunday and last week's storming of the British embassy in Tehran by protesters has contributed to a sharp increase in tensions in the region.
He said enforcing sanctions would force Iran to negotiate seriously.
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