Monday, February 13 2006 10:58 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Washington: United States has warned Iran against pulling out of the Non Proliferation Treaty reminding Tehran of the 'robust' international coalition, including India, against the country in referring its controversial nuclear programme to the UN Security Council.

"If they do so, would only deepen their own isolation. The really remarkable thing over the last several months is that there is really now a tremendous coalition of countries that are saying exactly the same thing to Iran.," Rice told the ABC News in an interview telecast yesterday (Feb 12,2006).

"All members of the Permanent five China, the United States, Russia, Great Britain and France joined in that consensus. Countries like India are in that consensus," she said.

She said the US 'remains dedicated' to a diplomatic approach to the vexed issue.

"People shouldn't want the President of the United States to take options off the table. But there is a diplomatic solution to this. Now that we are in the Security Council, there are many steps that the Security Council can take, authority that the Security Council has, to help enforce IAEA requirements on Iran", she said.

Rice said the Iranians should know that "They are isolated on this issue and return to a state in which they go back and seal the activities that they have begun, get back into good graces with the IAEA and get back into negotiations with those who are prepared to offer them a course for civil nuclear power".

"Our view is that if there is a robust international response to Iran in the Security Council.To say to the Iranians, yes, you can have peaceful nuclear power but you cannot have technologies that might lead to a nuclear weapon. If we have that kind of robust response, that kind of unity, I think we can prevent Iran from having a nuclear weapon," Rice added.