Rice sees Iran as "increasingly dangerous"





WASHINGTON, July 6 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Friday that Iran has turned to be "increasingly dangerous," and refused to rule out military solution to Iran's nuclear disputes.



Speaking of Iran, Rice told CNBC that "this (Iran) is a very dangerous state with very dangerous policies and we need the help and support and intensify efforts of the international community to deal with Iran."



In the interview, Rice said U.S. President George W. Bush still supports "diplomatic solutions to the Iranian problem."



But Rice also declined to rule out an American military strike against Iran for its refusal to give up nuclear program which, the United States alleged, is to develop a nuclear weapon.



"The president's never going to take his options off the table and frankly no one should want the American president to take his options off the table," she said.



Iran, branded by the United States as one of the "state sponsors of terrorism," has been under UN sanctions for its refusal to suspend uranium enrichment, which produces nuclear reactor fuel but can also be used as material for an atom bomb.



Iran rejects U.S. allegations, and insists its nuclear program is solely aimed at generating power to meet its energy needs.



The United States has severed diplomatic ties with Iran since 1980, five months after Iranian students occupied the American embassy in Teheran. Fifty-two Americans were held hostage for 444 days.



Editor: Yan Liang
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