Iran faces "tangible and painful consequences" if it continues its nuclear activities and the United States will use "all tools at our disposal" to stop this threat, a senior US official said today, ahead of a crucial international meeting on Iran.
US Ambassador to the United Nations John Bolton, speaking at a convention of Jewish-Americans, said it is too soon for the UN Security Council to impose sanctions on Iran but other countries are talking about doing so and Washington is "beefing up defensive measures to cope with the Iranian nuclear threat."
Earlier Iran warned that it will resume large scale uranium enrichment if it is referred to the UN Security Council.
"If Iran's nuclear dossier is referred to the UN Security Council, (large scale) uranium enrichment will be resumed," Mr Larijani told a packed news conference.
"If they (the US and its allies) want to use force, we will pursue our own path," he said.
The International Atomic Energy Agency will meet in Vienna tomorrow to discuss Iran's nuclear programme.