国际英语新闻：U.S. remains committed to peaceful resolution on Iran's nuclear issue: Clinton

WASHINGTON, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) -- The Obama administration remains committed to a peaceful resolution on Iran's nuclear stalemate, but also increases pressure for Tehran's refusal on living up to its responsibility, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said on Friday.

"We remain committed to a diplomatic, peaceful resolution. But . .. Iran is not living up to its responsibilities, and we are working with our partners in the international community to increase pressure on Iran to change course," said Clinton before her meeting with Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak.

The defense minister told Clinton that Israel appreciates the effort made by the Obama administration on imposing new, tough and effective sanctions on Iran.

Both the two countries voice deep concerns on Iran's nuclear program, saying Tehran may obtain the uranium fuel needed for nuclear weapons by the same process to purify uranium. Iran insists its nuclear program is for peaceful purpose.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton (R) and visiting Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak attend a press briefing before their meeting at the Department of State in Washington D.C., capital of the United States, Feb. 26, 2010. The Obama administration remains committed to a peaceful resolution on Iran's nuclear stalemate, but also increases pressure for Tehran's refusal on living up to its responsibility, Hillary said on Friday.

Israel, labeling Iran's nuclear program as major threat to its security, refuses to rule out the possibility on waging unilateral military strike against Iran's nuclear facilities.

The Obama administration, avoiding from sending war threat to Tehran, has been trying the so called dual-track, namely engagement and sanction, to bring the international community together to make Iranian leaders realize the "importance of changing their actions and decisions concerning their nuclear program."

In hearings at the Congress this week, Clinton told lawmakers that Iran's refusal to live up to its responsibility has left the international community "little choice but to impose greater costs for its provocative steps."