Bush warns Iran to suspend nuclear program

KINGS POINT, N.Y. — On the day before he was to depart for a meeting with European allies in Vienna, Austria, President Bush issued a stiff warning to Iran on Monday, saying it should suspend its uranium enrichment program now or face "progressively stronger" economic sanctions and further political isolation.

Bush reiterated the United States' offer to join multinational talks with Iran, but only if it immediately ceases uranium production. If Iran rejects that offer, he said, "It will result in action before the Security Council, further isolation from the world and progressively stronger political and economic sanctions."

Still, he mixed his stern oratory with words of inducement. Speaking at a commencement ceremony at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy here, he promised Iran that compliance would result in huge benefits for its economy and its people. He indicated that the United States is open to allowing Iran to develop civilian nuclear capabilities, though under the proper "safeguards," keeping the administration's recent agreement on the possibility of future enrichment by Iran if it can provide sufficient proof that its program is peaceful.

White House aides said the address was in part meant to serve as a table-setter for discussions about the nuclear standoff with Iran that are expected to come up as part of a broader agenda this week at the U.S.-European Union summit meeting.

"It's in some way teeing up what is going to be a topic of conversation, one of many, at the European Union consultations this week," Tony Snow, the White House press secretary, told reporters on the way here aboard Air Force One.

The talks about talks with Iran remained in a delicate place. The prospect of a deal hinges on Iran's wiliness to drop what it says is its sovereign right to develop nuclear power sources and on how the West will ultimately be willing to define the word "suspend." Some of the negotiating partners have indicated a willingness to allow Iran to keep its centrifuges — which enrich uranium into a form that can fuel reactors or atom bombs — idle but online during talks.

The United States has indicated no willingness to soften its stand that the centrifuges must be completely shut down for any talks to begin.

Officials indicated that their strategy this week will concentrate more on building a unified front with Europe in pressuring Iran to suspend its program than it will on making any breakthrough with Iran.