U.S. views on Iran's nuclear activities

Iran is not acknowledging all of its nuclear-related activities and the issue needs to be referred to the U.N. Security Council, according to Secretary of State Colin Powell.

Powell said he believed the September 1 report from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) indicates that there are many problems with Iran's performance and many questions that remain unanswered. Powell spoke to reporters September 1 en route from Panama to Washington.

"[W]e still believe that the Iranians are not fessing up to everything," he said. "They still have a program that, in our judgment, is a nuclear program designed to develop, ultimately, a nuclear weapon. And unless there are assurances otherwise that the international community can count on, I think it is appropriate for it to be referred to the Security Council."

Powell said there is still a diplomatic track available to resolve the issue, but added that if the matter is brought before the Security Council, the United States will look at "the range of possible actions of a political, economic, diplomatic and other nature that might be taken."