Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said yesterday that the US was in no position to launch military strike against the Islamic Republic, stressing that talks were the only choice to resolve the nuclear standoff.

 

"We do not see the US in a position to impose another crisis on its tax payers by starting another war in the region," Mottaki told reporters during a press conference with his Bahraini counterpart, in a response to US Vice President Dick Cheney's warnings over Tehran earlier yesterday.

 

"But the Islamic Republic of Iran has prepared for two scenarios. We prefer the second one which is based on dialogue and constructive interaction," Mottaki added.

 

During his trip to Australia, Cheney yesterday refused to rule out the possibility of taking military action against Iran, saying that "all options are still on the table" over Tehran's nuclear programs.

 

Cheney said Washington was still working with other countries to persuade Tehran to abandon its nuclear programs and prefers to achieve the goal peacefully.

 

"But all options are still on the table," Cheney said, adding that it is still being debated in the US how to move next to deal with Tehran over the nuclear issue.

 

In an interview with US media, carried out in Australia and released on Friday, Cheney said that the US will "do everything" it can to stop Iran's nuclear programs.

 

Mottaki also stressed that dialogue was the only choice to resolve the current deadlock, urging the US and its allies to return to the negotiation table.

 

"The only way to reach a solution for disputes is negotiations and talks. Therefore, we want the London meeting to make a brave decision and resume talks with Iran," Mottaki said.

 

The US, along with some other Western countries, has been accusing Iran of seeking to develop nuclear weapons under the cover of civilian nuclear programs. Tehran has rejected such accusations, saying that its nuclear programs are designed for peaceful use of nuclear energy.

 

The UN Security Council adopted Resolution 1737 on December 23, 2006, demanding Iran stop all enrichment-related and reprocessing activities including research and development, and work on all heavy water-related projects, in 60 days.

 

Iran refused to heed the Security Council's demand by the deadline that fell on February 21.

 

(Xinhua News Agency February 25, 2007)