Rice warns Iran of 'punitive measures' over nuclear drive

She was referring to the UN Security Council, which has so far imposed three rounds of sanctions on Iran.

Rice said she did not expect any “imminent action” as August is a slow month at the Security Council but expected work to begin soon after on drafting another round of “punitive measures.”

Rice said Undersecretary of State William Burns’s presence in Geneva helped strengthen diplomacy involving the five permanent UN Security Council members - the United States, Russia, China, France and Britain - as well as Germany.

The United States has in the past met resistance for tougher sanctions from Russia and China, which have strong economic ties with Iran.

Rice would not elaborate on prospects for setting up a US diplomatic presence in Iran for the first time since US-Iranian ties were severed in the wake of the Islamic revolution in 1979 and the seizure of US hostages.

But she said any effort to set up an “interests section” would focus on improving US contacts with the Iranian people.

“We have an interests section in Cuba, so I wouldn’t read thawing of relations into anything,” Rice said.

Rice said Burns would not return to talks with the Iranians in two weeks.