Thursday, March 9 2006 14:30 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Orleans (Louisiana): The White House has warned that Iran deepened its international isolation by threatening "harm and pain" against the U.S. amid mounting tensions and rhetoric over Tehran's nuclear programme.

"I think that provocative statements and actions only further isolate Iran from the rest of the world," White House spokesman Scott Mcclellan told sources yesterday (Mar 08 2006) as US President George W Bush traveled here.

Iran "would be better served by making a decision to work with the international community and abide by their safeguard obligations instead of continuing to engage in provocative statements and take defiant steps," he said.

The UN nuclear watchdog agency yesterday opened the way for Security council action against Iran over its nuclear programme, with Europe and the U.S. leading the drive for action.

Iranian security official Javad Vaidi, who led the Iranian delegation at international Atomic Energy Agency talks in Vienna, threatened reprisals against the U.S.

"The U.S. may have the power to cause harm and pain but it is also susceptible to harm and pain," he said. "So if the U.S. wishes to choose that path. Let the ball roll."

The Western partners say Iran should not be allowed to enrich uranium which can provide the fuel for civilian reactors but also, in highly enriched form, the material for atomic weapons.

"The international community is deeply concerned about the regime developing nuclear weapons under the cover of a civilian programme," said Mc Clellan.