U.S. in no position for another war, Iran says

TEHRAN, Iran — Iran's foreign minister said Saturday the United States was in no position for another war, and maintained that negotiations — not threats — were the only way to resolve the standoff over its nuclear activities.

Manouchehr Mottaki was responding to Vice President Dick Cheney, who renewed Washington's warning to Iran earlier Saturday that "all options" were on the table if Tehran continues to defy U.N. demands to halt uranium enrichment.

Mottaki said the U.S. could not afford to settle its differences with Iran by launching a third war after Afghanistan and Iraq.

"We do not see America in a position to impose another crisis on its taxpayers inside America by starting another war in the region," Mottaki told reporters.

The United States and several of its Western allies fear Iran will use its nuclear program to produce an atomic weapon — charges Iran denies, saying its aim is to generate electricity.

The International Atomic Energy Agency reported Thursday that Iran had ignored a U.N. Security Council ultimatum and had expanded its uranium enrichment program by setting up hundreds of centrifuges.