Iran has shown no sign of abandoning what US officials conclude is an active nuclear weapons program and has sought to divide the international community by threatening to resume uranium processing, a top US diplomat said today.
Nicholas Burns, undersecretary of state for political affairs, told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee the US had clear commitments from its allies to deny Iran's nuclear ambitions and seek consequences if Tehran violated a November 2004 agreement to suspend nuclear activities.
"We see no sign that Iran has made the necessary strategic decision to abandon its nuclear ambitions," Mr Burns told the committee.
"Our message to Tehran today is: adhere to the Paris Agreement, maintain suspension of all nuclear-related activities and negotiate in good faith the eventual cessation and dismantling of all sensitive nuclear fuel cycle activities."
Mr Burns also underscored a recent shift in US policy toward Iran signaled in March when Washington announced that it would support negotiations by France, Germany and Britain - the EU3 - by not opposing Iran's application to join the World Trade Organisation and considering the export of spare parts for commercial passenger aircraft.
"The EU3 deserves our appreciation," he said. But Mr Burns was adamant that US allies had given President George W. Bush a clear commitment to deny Iran nuclear weapons and recognise the need for consequences if Tehran failed to adhere to its international commitments.
Iran insists its nuclear programme is for peaceful power generation. Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, the man thought most likely to be Iran's next president, said today he wanted to repair relations with the United States but Washington had to take the first steps to end 25 years of enmity.
But Burns dismissed the likely value of direct engagement with Tehran and said Iran has rebuffed the US a number of times.
"We have not been, over the past 25 years, against communication. But the Iranian government has pretty consistently refused to have any interest in wanting to have a responsible discourse," Mr Burns said.