"Iran is a troublemaker in the international system, a central banker of terrorism. Security assurances are not on the table," Rice said on "Fox News Sunday."

European officials have not asked the United States for security guarantees as they discuss options for dealing with Iran, Rice said.

"What we're talking about is a package that will make clear to Iran that there are choices to be made," she said. "Either that there will be sanctions and actions taken against Iran by the international community or there's a way for them to meet their civil nuclear concerns."

The secretary of state said she thought it was strange even to discuss security guarantees when Iran threatens Israel, promotes terrorism in the Middle East and stirs up violence in southern Iraq to the detriment of U.S. forces.

It was reported that Mohamed ElBaradei, chief of the International Atomic Energy Agency, is to meet with Rice and President George W. Bush's national security adviser, Stephen Hadley, this week in Washington.

Representatives from the five permanent UN Security Council members, the EU and Germany also plan to meet over Iran's nuclear issue in London.