Wednesday, January 4 2006 12:15 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Washington: The US has warned Iran against resuming atomic fuel research and development next week, saying if it does not abide by agreements, the international community will have to consider additional steps to restrain Tehran's nuclear ambitions.

"If Iran takes any further enrichment-related steps, the international community will have to consider additional measures to restrain Iran's nuclear ambitions," State Department Spokesman Sean McCormack told reporters.

He did not specify what actions the Bush administration will be taking.

His reaction came after the Vienna-based nuclear watchdog IAEA's said it had received a letter from Tehran saying it would resume nuclear fuel research next week and President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said that Iran would not 'step back' on its decision to resume nuclear fuel work.

"In terms of trying to draw a line around something being pure research with respect to enrichment activities, (that) is not something that we're going to buy, and I don't think the international community will either", McCormack said, adding "the Iranians have really done, sort of, a bob-and-weave on this issue".