U.S. presses Iran on refusal to discuss nuclear program

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Iran would show its failure to meet its international obligations if it sticks to its refusal to discuss its nuclear program in talks with the United States and other world powers, the White House said on Monday.

"If Iran is unwilling to discuss their illicit nuclear weapons program, I think all that does is strengthen the hand of the international community in underscoring the obligation again that the Iranians are failing to live up to," White House spokesman Robert Gibbs told reporters.

Iran has agreed to wide-ranging talks with six world powers but has ruled out discussing its nuclear activities, which the West suspects is meant to develop nuclear weapons but which Tehran says is for peace generation of electricity.

The Obama administration has insisted it will make Tehran's nuclear efforts the focus of the negotiations.

Gibb, speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One as President Barack Obama headed from New York to Washington, said it would "speak volumes around the world" if Iran held to its resistance on the issue. "It will be part of that discussion," he insisted.