United States on Thursday warned Iran that some nations may apply curbs on trade if negotiations over Iran's nuclear programme fail.
A senior Bush Administration official said the US is working closely with European allies, Russia, India and China to deter Iran's nuclear ambitions.
"In coordination with our allies and our friends around the world, the US seeks to isolate Iran. It seeks to promote a diplomatic solution to Iran's nuclear ambitions...to expose and oppose Iran's support of terrorism. And to advance the cause of democracy and human rights within Iran," said Under-Secretary for Political Affairs Nicholas Burns.
If diplomacy does not succeed, he said, "There is a growing diplomatic coalition to apply curbs, and other countries have trade and other weapons."
He, however, said the US would not try to organise trade and investment sanctions.
"It's up to the Europeans to decide. It's not up to the United States."
Burns said few in the international community have doubts on what the real objective of the Iranain nuclear programme was -- developing nuclear weapons capabilities.
"Why then will Teheran deny the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) access to its facilities, defy IAEA demands regarding its programme and pursue casting and machining technology specifically related to nuclear weapons manufacturing if its intentions were limited to civil nuclear energy production," Burns asked.
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