Clinton: Iran, Korea stance shows benefits

WASHINGTON, Feb. 7 (UPI) -- The U.S. policy of engaging Iran and North Korea has paid benefits, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says.

In an interview broadcast Sunday on CNN's "State of the Union," Clinton defended President Barack Obama's efforts to reach out to the two nations, saying the moves have succeeded in encouraging the rest of the world to act together to prevent their nuclear ambitions.

Asked if Iran had responded to Obama's inaugural address offer to "extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist," Clinton answered, "No. But the fact is, because we engaged, the rest of the world has really begun to see Iran the way we see it."

Clinton told CNN that much of the world, including Russia, didn't share U.S. opinions that Iran's uranium enrichment activities posed a major threat to world stability, but asserted that has since changed.

"Yes, we reached out on engagement to Iran, but we always had the second track which is that we would have to try to get the world community to take stronger measures if they didn't respond on the engagement front," she told CNN.