"Iran must abandon her nuclear ambitions," Bush said during a campaign event, stressing international diplomacy at a time when his Democratic White House rival, Senator John Kerry, has accused him of alienating US allies.

"We've got to continue to keep pressure on the government, and help others keep pressure on the government, so there's kind of a universal condemnation of illegal weapons activities," said Bush.

The president also noted that the international community had convinced Iran to sign the additional protocol to the nuclear non-proliferation treaty, providing for beefed-up inspections of nuclear sites.

But he also suggested that there were few arrows in Washington's diplomatic quiver, noting that Washington and Tehran do not have formal relations and that "we're out of sanctions" because most of those that can be applied have already been imposed.

"And so we've relied upon others to send the message for us. And the foreign ministers of Germany, France and Great Britain have gone in as a group to send a message on behalf of the free world that Iran must comply with the demands of the free world," he said.

Bush said that the United States was trying to promote a change of government in Iran, using radio broadcasts and urging Iranians living in the United States "to send message to their loved ones."

He also said that building a democracy in nearby Iraq "is going to send a clear message to people in Iran, as well, that free societies are possible."

"In other words, there are reformers and people who want to be free watching carefully as to whether or not this country, which is the beacon of freedom, is strong enough not to wilt when the pressure gets significant," he said.

WAR.WIRE