West warns Iran time running out for nuclear accord

The United States, Britain and France warned Iran on Thursday that time is running out for a negotiated settlement to the showdown on its nuclear program.

“Time is wasting,” U.S. ambassador Susan Rice told a U.N. Security Council meeting on nuclear sanctions against Iran.

Iran is “at a crossroads,” Britain’s U.N. envoy Mark Lyall Grant told the meeting at which western nations also slammed Iran for its arms deliveries to Syria and alleged links to terrorism.

The meeting was held amid mounting speculation that Israel is planning a military strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities. Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is to speak at the U.N. General Assembly of world leaders next week.

A series of reports by the International Atomic Energy Agency, the U.N. nuclear watchdog, have said Iran is stepping up uranium enrichment and not providing proof that its nuclear activities are peaceful.

The western powers say Iran is seeking a nuclear bomb but the Tehran government says its drive is peaceful.

Rice said the international powers -- Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and United States -- cannot pursue their nuclear talks with Iran “indefinitely”.

“We will not engage in an endless process of negotiations that fail to produce any results. We must therefore remain clear and united in seeking resolution of the international community's concerns regarding Iran's nuclear program. Time is wasting,” the U.S. envoy said.

“The Iranian regime is at a crossroads,” said Britain’s ambassador.

“It can continue to ignore the international community’s concerns over its nuclear program, or it can negotiate a settlement that will help to realize the benefits of a civil nuclear program.

“It can support the oppressive regime in Syria in suppressing freedom, or it can play a constructive role in its region. It can be an exporter of terrorism or a responsible member of the international community. But it must make these choices soon,” Lyall Grant said.

France’s U.N. ambassador Gerard Araud said: “We are asking Iran to negotiate, but Iran is not negotiating.”