Rice wants strong steps against Iran's nuclear development

The White House says it's time for action.
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Denouncing Iran's successful enrichment of uranium as unacceptable to the international community, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Wednesday the U.N. Security Council must consider "strong steps" to induce Tehran to change course.
Rice also telephoned Mohamed ElBaradei, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, to ask him to reinforce demands that Iran comply with its nonproliferation requirements when he holds talks in Tehran on Friday.
While Rice took a strong line, she did not call for an emergency meeting of the council. She did not elaborate on what measures the United States would support.
The European Union is considering travel restrictions on Iranian officials, but White House and State Department spokesmen said what the Security Council might be asked to do was under discussion.
Given a deadline
On March 29, the Security Council adopted a statement that gave Iran 30 days to clear up suspicion that it wants to become a nuclear power. The statement demanded Iran comply with IAEA demands that it suspend enrichment and allow unannounced IAEA inspections.
If Iran goes ahead with its enrichment program the United States and European allies are certain to press for a council resolution.
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, announcing Tuesday that his country had crossed the line into enrichment, said Iran's objectives were peaceful. Rice brushed aside suggestions Iran was far from the goal the United States and its allies suspect -- nuclear weaponry.
She said the world believes Iran has the capacity and the technology that lead to nuclear weapons. "The Security council will need to take into consideration this move by Iran," she said. "It will be time when it reconvenes on this case for strong steps to make certain that we maintain the credibility of the international community."
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