WASHINGTON, April 7 (UPI) -- U.S. officials are looking for international help, including from Britain and France, to pressure Iran to abandon its nuclear program.
With hopes dimming for tough U.N. action, U.S. officials and allies are talking about banding together to exert economic and diplomatic pressure in an effort to get Iran's rulers to halt uranium enrichment activities and cooperate with international inspectors, The Los Angeles Times reported Friday.
U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations John Bolton told reporters in Washington that it would be prudent to look at other options.
At the same time, Iranian politicians are saying a high-level delegation is prepared for wide-ranging talks with the United States in Baghdad next week, a report in Friday's Financial Times said.
A spokesman for national security adviser Stephen Hadley, however, dismissed the report saying no talks are scheduled.
The Bush administration and its European allies remain publicly committed to working through international channels, including the U.N. Security Council.
