US President George W. Bush said today he remained hopeful of convincing Iran to give up its nuclear ambitions through diplomatic means.
Mr Bush was speaking a day after Iran, responding to Western debate about the possibility of war over its nuclear plans, said it would use any means to defend itself and that a plan of retaliation was being drawn up if Israel struck first.
"I have consistently stated that I am hopeful we can convince the Iranian regime to give up any ambitions it has in developing a weapons program and do so peacefully," Mr Bush told a White House news conference.
He said he takes Iranian threats toward Israel "very seriously" and added, "Israel is our very firm and strong ally."
French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner created a stir last weekend when he raised the specre of war, though he later said the comments were meant as a warning against military action and not to incite it.
The United States and other Western powers suspect Iran is trying to develop nuclear weapons. Iran insists it wants nuclear technology strictly for electricity generation.
Mr Bush, who will attend the United Nations General Assembly in New York next week, said he would emphasize the push for economic sanctions against Iran in his talks with members of the UN Security Council.
France, Britain, Germany, the United States, Russia and China are due to meet tomorrow to discuss a possible third round of UN sanctions against Iran for atomic work that could be used to make nuclear weapons.
"We are working with allies and friends to send a consistent message to the Iranians that there is a better way forward for them than isolation," Mr Bush said. "I believe it's imperative that we continue to work in a multilateral fashion to send that message. And one place to do so is at the United Nations."
Mr Bush could face resistance to a push for a new sanctions. The UN has already adopted two sets of sanctions against Iran, though they were watered down at Russia's insistence.
Meanwhile, Mr Kouchner said today France wants the EU to pass its own sanctions against Iran, in parallel to those it is pushing for at the UN Security Council, because Iran refuses to suspend uranium enrichment. France is pushing for all European Union countries to advise their companies against bidding for contracts in Iran and to reduce their investments there.