'Military option against Iran remains open for US'

Underlining that United States President Barack Obama is committed to using all instruments of national power to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, the ruling Democratic Party has warned that the preferred diplomatic option is not going to remain open for an indefinite period.

"The President is committed to using all instruments of national power to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons," said the Democratic Platform, similar to a party's election manifesto, to be adopted by the Democratic National Convention.

"When President Obama took office, Iran was ascendant in the region, and the international community was divided over how to address Iran's nuclear violations," it said, adding Obama's early offer of engagement with Iran -- quickly rebuffed by the regime -- allowed the US to expose Iranian intransigence and rally the international community as never before.

Working with European allies, Russia and China, the Obama administration gained unprecedented agreement for the toughest ever United Nations sanctions against Iran, laying the foundation for additional national financial and energy sanctions imposed by the US and other nations, it said, adding that as a result, Iran is now increasingly isolated and the regime faces crippling economic pressure.

"President Obama believes that a diplomatic outcome remains the best and most enduring solution. At the same time, he has also made clear that the window for diplomacy will not remain open indefinitely and that all options -- including military force -- remain on the table," the platform said.

"But we have an obligation to use the time and space that exists now to put increasing pressure on the Iranian regime to live up to its obligations and rejoin the community of nations, or face the consequences," the party warned.

According to the platform, Obama will continue to confront North Korea, another regime that ignores its international obligations by developing nuclear weapons and missile technology, with a stark choice: take verifiable steps toward denuclearization or face increasing isolation and costs from the United States and the international community.

"That is why the administration worked with international partners to impose the harshest multilateral sanctions on North Korea in history. And this is why the President has made clear that the transfer of nuclear weapons or material by North Korea to states or non-state entities would be considered a grave threat to the United States and our allies, and we would hold North Korea accountable for the consequences of such action," the platform said.

Obama, it said, has led a global effort to secure all loose nuclear materials around the world, hosting a nuclear security summit in Washington, and making concrete progress in locking these materials down.

"This is an important goal because the prospect that Al Qaeda or another terrorist organisation might acquire a nuclear device represents an immediate and extreme threat to global security," the platform said.

"At the same time, the United States will continue to work with international partners to break up black markets, detect and intercept nuclear materials in transit, and use financial tools to disrupt this dangerous trade," it said.