Time still left for diplomacy with Iran: US

US stepping up pressure to convince Iran to abide by international obligations & renounce their nuclear weapons ambitions

Days after tightening the noose of international sanctions against Tehran, the Obama Administration has said there is still time and space left for diplomacy with Iran over its nuclear programme.

"We regret that Iran has not yet made a strategic decision to address the international community's serious concerns regarding its nuclear programme and the ongoing P5-plus-1 talks. However, we continue to believe that there is time and space for diplomacy," said White House Press Secretary Jay Carney yesterday.

He noted that the opportunity remained for Iran to take advantage of this process by taking necessary steps to come into compliance with its international obligations.

"In the meantime, even as we continue P5-plus-1 talks, multilateral efforts to increase the pressure on Iran have not ceased at all," he held.

Carney, however, said the US continues to work with its partners around the world to increase the scale and scope on sanctions on Tehran, making it clear that such pressures will only grow until Iran changes course.

The US has taken a "two-track approach" for "isolation" of Iran and is stepping up pressure on it through sanctions and other means, Carney said, adding that these were efforts to "convince" Iran to abide by their international obligations and renounce their nuclear weapons ambitions.

"We work with the Israelis as well as all of our partners in that effort," Carney said.

The US, he said, has a robust, cooperative relationship with Israel on security matters and they share a great deal of information, especially about Iran.