The United States dismissed on Friday the idea of holding direct talks
with Iran and insisted that Iran's nuclear issue is between it
and the world rather than with the United States.
"Because it's not a bilateral issue between the United States and
Iran, it's a problem that Iran has with the world. This is a regime that is a
threat to the region by its own actions and its own behavior. This is a regime
that continues to move in the opposite direction of the rest -- or most of the
Middle East," White House spokesman Scott McClellan said at a briefing.
"And that's why we're working with the international community to
pressure the regime to change its behavior, because all it is doing is isolating
itself and its people from the rest of the world," the spokesman said.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel, during her talks with U.S. President
George W. Bush in the White House on Wednesday, urged the United States to hold
direct talks with Iran. However, the United States has ruled out such talks with
Iran.
The United States has sought to impose sanctions on Iran through the
United Nations Security Council.
