The United States on Wednesday sought the involvement of the United Nations Security Council in the Iran nuclear issue to enforce the IAEA's role and investigation.

"The time has come for the Security Council to act," U.S. ambassador Gregory Shulte told a board of governors' meeting at the Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Shulte outlined the Security Council's approach, which he said should be incremental.

"As a first step, we envision a call for Iran to cooperate with the Agency and take steps identified by the Board to restore confidence," he said.

"The Council will also be able to provide the wider authority the Agency needs to investigate Iran's deeply troubling nuclear activities," said Shulte in his statement.

"It should emphasize that Iran will face consequences if it does not meet its obligations," the U.S. diplomat warned.

But the ambassador also insisted that the U.S. had not yet abandoned hopes for a diplomatic solution.

"This new phase of diplomacy is intended more forcefully to convince Iran to turn back from its nuclear weapons ambitions," he added.

Source: Xinhua