Rice wants "serious answer" from Iran

By Sue Pleming

ABU DHABI (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice warned Iran on Monday that it faced more sanctions if it defied a two-week deadline to agree to curb its nuclear program.

Rice said Iran was stalling and must give a "serious answer" within the deadline set by six world powers, which offered trade and technical incentives if Tehran halts its uranium enrichment. The West fears Iran wants to build a nuclear bomb.

"We are in the strongest possible position to demonstrate that if Iran does not act then it is time to go back to that (sanctions) track," Rice told reporters before arriving in Abu Dhabi en route to Asia.

It was her first comment on the subject since Washington broke from usual policy and joined nuclear talks with Iran in Geneva on Saturday.

In Jerusalem, Prime Minister Gordon Brown warned Iran of growing isolation if it rejected the offer from the major powers.

"Iran has a clear choice to make: suspend its nuclear program and accept our offer of negotiations or face growing isolation and the collective response not just of one nation but of all nations around the world," Brown said.

He said Britain would continue, with its European partners and the United States, "in our determination to prevent an Iranian nuclear weapons program."

France's foreign ministry also said the "Iranian regime must choose between the path of cooperation and the prospect of growing isolation," adding that if Tehran pursues its enrichment activities "it will have to face new sanctions."