U.S. President George W. Bush said on Friday that sanctions against Iran were "certainly a real possibility" if Teheran does not renounce its nuclear weapons program.

When asked whether sanctions would work against Iran in an interview with the CBS, Bush said: "I have said that is certainly a real possibility."

Bush said it is not only the United States, but also the international community that does not want Iran to have nuclear weapons.

"And that is why our strategy is to present and hold together a united front, to say to the Iranians: Your designs to have a nuclear weapon or your desire to have the capability of making a nuclear weapon is unacceptable," Bush said.

When asked if the United States might launch military action against Iran, Bush said: "I think it's best I just leave it that all options should be on the table, and the last option is the military option."

The Bush administration has insisted on referring Iran to the United Nations Security Council for possible sanctions and it has endorsed diplomacy to try to resolve the impasse on Iran's nuclear issue.

Iran has said that it will never give up its legitimate rights even before the UN Security Council, warning that it would resume uranium enrichment at the industrial production level if the case was submitted.

Iran has rejected the U.S. charge as politically motivated, saying its nuclear research is completely peaceful.

Source: Xinhua