Iran's Nuclear Aims Top Bush-Germany Talks

German Chancellor Angela Merkel, left, speaks with EADS Space Transportation chief Evert Dudok, right, as they visit the full scale model of the European space laboratory "Columbus" in Bremen, northern Germany, Tuesday, May 2, 2006. The EADS Space Transportation on Tuesday handed over the "Columbus" space laboratory to the European Space Agency ESA. The lab will be shipped to Cape Canaveral in the United States at the end of the month, and is scheduled to be flown aboard a space shuttle to the international space station ISS in the second half of next year. (AP Photo/Ingo Wagner, Pool) (Ingo Wagner - AP)

WASHINGTON -- President Bush and German Chancellor Angela Merkel presented a united front Wednesday on the need to stifle Iran's nuclear ambitions but tread cautiously in public on their uphill push for possible U.N. sanctions.

"We spent a lot of time on Iran _ after all, we're close allies in trying to make sure that the Iranians do not develop a nuclear weapon," Bush said after his Oval Office meetings with Merkel. "We will continue to consult with our partners as to how to achieve a diplomatic solution to this issue."

Other than Merkel's statement that it is crucial to "try to draw as many partners as possible" into the diplomatic efforts, neither leader would directly address how to bring Russia and China alongside the countries that are moving toward sanctions.

Earlier Wednesday, Britain and France introduced a U.N. Security Council resolution, with U.S. and German backing, that would be legally binding and set the stage for sanctions against Iran if the nation does not abandon uranium enrichment. Russia and China, permanent members of the Security Council with veto power, oppose sanctions against Iran, while Britain, France, Germany and the United States say they will seek to make the demand on uranium enrichment compulsory.

Asked what sort of sanctions he would prefer, Bush said: "That's the kind of question that allies discuss in private."

Merkel, who met last week with Russian President Vladimir Putin, said, "In order to pursue this diplomatic process successfully, we need to pursue this on a step-by-step basis."

Iran, meanwhile, continued to publicize the nuclear weapons work it insists it's doing to produce energy, not weapons.

The resolution mandates that Iran "shall suspend all enrichment related and reprocessing activities," according to the text presented to the council.

Bush also announced that he would be traveling to Germany in July as part of a trip to Europe for the Group of Eight summit in Russia. The stop in Germany was being kept secret, and Bush realized as soon as he said it that maybe he shouldn't have. "Am I supposed to say that?" he said to staff while reporters laughed.

Their reticence to talk strategy in public, however, did not dampen the leaders' unequivocal message to Tehran, which is suspected of seeking to develop nuclear weapons under the guise of a program Iran says is limited to civilian energy production.

"The Iranians must understand that we won't fold," Bush said. "Our partnership is strong and for the sake of world peace, they should abandon their nuclear ambitions."

Added Merkel: "Under no circumstances must Iran be allowed to come into possession of nuclear weapons."