US tells Iran 'time running out'

The US government has sent a strong message to Iran, saying it is running out of time to engage in dialogue over its nuclear programme to avoid further isolation or even military action. Warning that Washington would only grant Iran a limited amount of time to respond to its offer to hold talks, Hillary Clinton, the US secretary of state, said: "The choice is clear: we remain ready to engage with Iran, but the time for action is now. The opportunity will not remain open indefinitely." In an address to the Council of Foreign Relations in Washington on Wednesday, Clinton said "Iran does not have a right to nuclear military capacity and we are determined to prevent that". But she added that Tehran "does have a right to civil nuclear power, if it re-establishes the confidence of the international community that it uses its programmes exclusively for peaceful purposes". "Iran can become a constructive actor in the region if it stops threatening its neighbors and supporting terrorism. It can assume a responsible position in the international community if it fulfils its obligations on human rights," she said.