Cheney Talks Tough On Iran

IHS TV analyst Tom Morrod / Stephen Shankland/CNET

Vice President Dick Cheney said in a speech that Iran will not be allowed to have a nuclear weapon and warned that the issue may soon go before the Security Council. Meanwhile, the White House said it also opposes allowing Iran to enrich uranium.

"The Iranian regime needs to know that if it stays on its present course, the international community is prepared to impose meaningful consequences," Cheney told the American Israel Public Affairs Committee. "We join other nations in sending that regime a clear message: we will not allow Iran to have a nuclear weapon."

He said the U.S. "is keeping all options on the table in addressing the irresponsible conduct of the regime." In the past the U.S. has said it has no intention of using military force for now, but has declined to completely rule it out.

The United States also told Iran on Tuesday that any enrichment of nuclear fuel on Iranian territory was unacceptable, as Russia appeared to close ranks with the Bush administration over Tehran's nuclear program.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice delivered the tough message but shied away from warning of immediate U.N. sanctions, after meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

At a joint State Department news conference, Lavrov said there was no compromise in sight with Iran. Russia has been negotiating with Iran and has proposed enriching fuel on Russian soil for Iran's energy need.

"Foreign Minister Lavrov was clear that Russia remains committed to non proliferation and any Russian compromise proposals are within that context," CBS News foreign affairs analyst Pamela Falk said.

The International Atomic Energy Agency already has referred the Iranian nuclear issue to the U.N. Security Council, a move spearheaded by the Bush administration.

"We will see what is necessary to do in the Security Council," Rice said. She said there was still time for Iran to change its ways but added: "The United States has been very clear: the enrichment and reprocessing on Iranian soil is not acceptable."

Lavrov denied that Russia has made a new proposal that would eventually permit Iran to enrich a limited amount of nuclear fuel on its own territory. United States officials, worried that the material could eventually be used for nuclear weapons, rejected such a plan on Monday.

"There is no compromise new Russian proposal," Lavrov said.

From the State Department, Rice and Lavrov were headed to the White House for a meeting with President George W. Bush. Earlier, White House spokesman Scott McClellan said the U.S. expects the U.N. Security Council to move forward to rebuke Tehran for its disputed nuclear program.

"The international community has spelled out what Iran must do. That means suspend all enrichment activity," McClellan said.

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