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Thursday, Oct. 28, 2004

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  With Iran now moving in that direction, Powell said "there was a lot of speculation and horror stories and other stories about what this might lead to in the way of crisis, and part of that speculation is that the Israelis might do something or not do something."

"I have no information on that," Powell said on CNBC. "And I think the whole world, to include Israel, is trying to find a diplomatic and peaceful solution to this problem."

Powell said Iran had a program that could produce nuclear weapons, but he did not think it could be done overnight or in the next several months.

"It's going to take them time," he said.

In talks Wednesday in Vienna, Iran's delegates insisted in a meeting with British, French and German officials on the right to enrich uranium, which is a key ingredient to making nuclear weapons.

And in Iran, supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei ruled out any long-term suspension of the program.

Powell said it was time to take the issue to the U.N. Security Council, which could impose economic pressure on Iran. "It is not in the interests of the region or the world for Iran to be moving in this direction," he said.

The State Department spokesman, Richard Boucher, said at the daily media briefing that taking Iran before the U.N. Security Council remains the U.S. position even with the talks in Vienna.

"At this point, we have not seen anything different," he said. "But in terms of Iranian commitments or behavior, we will have to see how the meeting went."

The Europeans were believed to be offering Iran fuel and trade if it halted its nuclear programs.

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