Obama Developing New Sanctions for Iran

WASHINGTON (AP) - The United States is developing a "significant regime of sanctions" after Iran apparently spurned an offer to negotiate over its suspect nuclear program, President Barack Obama said Tuesday.

In his most extensive remarks on Iran in some time, Obama said Iran appears to have spurned his offer of engagement. He says Iran is still pursuing a nuclear program that would lead to nuclear weapons.

"They have made their choice so far, although the door is still open," Obama told reporters at the White House.

Obama said work to broaden economic sanctions applied by the United Nations Security Council is moving along quickly, but he gave no specific timeline. He hinted at a troublespot, saying China's crucial vote is not assured.

Obama also said the United Nations penalties are only one part of an international squeeze on Iran, a reference to a sequence of economic strictures that could be applied by the European Union and individual countries over the next several months.