Bush pledges peaceful reaction to Iran

The United States will seek peaceful UN Security Council action to put pressure on Iran over its nuclear ambitions, President George W. Bush has said.

UN Security Council powers are preparing to meet to produce a joint strategy to persuade Iran to stop enriching uranium, which can be used for nuclear weapons.

Officials from the United States, China, Russia, Britain, France and Germany will meet in London on Wednesday, local time.

Speaking in Washington, Bush said the US wanted to resolve the issue without force.

"Obviously we'd like to solve this issue peacefully and diplomatically, and the more the Iranians refuse to negotiate in good faith the more countries are beginning to realize that we must continue to work together," he told reporters.

He cited Tehran's rejection of a proposal in which other countries would provide fuel so that Iran could generate civilian nuclear power, and then pick up the spent fuel.

"I'm not so sure these people really do want a solution. And therefore let us make sure that we're willing to be working together in the UN Security Council," Bush said. "We're on the cusp of going to the Security Council."

Russia and China have so far been reluctant to impose stronger measures, such as sanctions, on Iran if it fails to curb its nuclear activities, which Western powers believe are a cover for developing atomic weapons.

Tehran maintains it's nuclear programme is only for civilian power generation.

- REUTERS