Rice insists Iran strike 'not on agenda'

She insisted the US and the UK shared a "unity of purpose" in dealing with the Tehran regime.

But she warned that the Iranians had been offered a diplomatic way of fulfilling their international obligations and "they ought to take it".

There has been speculation that tension exists between London and Washington over President George Bush’s aggressive tone towards Iran - one of his "axis of evil" countries.

The UK, with France and Germany, has been involved in diplomatic efforts to get Iran to abandon any military nuclear programme in return for co-operation with a civilian power project.

Ms Rice told reporters after her talks: "Let me state quite clearly what we hope to achieve concerning the Iranian regime.

"We have complete unity of purpose on a number of areas. First of all that Iran engages in activities that are destabilising to the region, particularly when it comes to support for terrorism.

"Secondly, we are completely united in our view that Iran should not use the cover of civilian nuclear development to sustain a programme that could lead to a nuclear weapon.

"The Iranians ought to take the opportunity that’s being presented to them to show that they are living up to their international obligations.

"Thirdly, we are united in our view that the Iranian regime should have transparent relations with its neighbours in Afghanistan and Iraq.

"Fourthly, we have all been concerned about the abysmal human rights record of the Iranian regime."

She added: "I find there’s very little difference between us in the challenges we face in dealing with the Iranian regime. We have many diplomatic tools still at our disposal and we intend to use them fully."

Mr Straw agreed, saying any success the EU initiative had had was only made possible by the backing of an international consensus and "fundamental to that international consensus has been the support we have received from the United States".

Ms Rice was asked if she could envisage a military strike against Iran and replied: "The question is simply not on the agenda at this point in time. We have diplomatic means to do this."

She added Iran was "not immune" to changes in the region and said the spectacle of exiled Iraqis and Afghans voting in Iran in their home country elections must have had an effect on the Iranian people.

Earlier, Ms Rice had breakfast talks in No.10 with Mr Blair on the first step of what she described as a "whirlwind" diplomatic mission which will see her travel on to Paris and the Middle East.

A wide range of issues, including the Middle East peace process and next month’s Palestinian conference in London - which Ms Rice will attend - were discussed in yesterday’s talks.