U.S. official: Iran moving to brink of nuclear weapons capability

World powers tell Islamic Republic that the 'door remain open' for dialogue, urges Iran to cooperate with UN nuclear watchdog.

Iran is moving to a point where it will have the ability to produce nuclear weapons, the U.S. State Department's senior adviser for non-proliferation and arms control said on Wednesday.

"We believe Iran is moving to the threshold of a nuclear weapons capability," Robert Einhorn said in response to a question at a Washington think-tank event.

Still, Einhorn said, the United States does not  "see breakout as imminent at this stage."

Earlier Wednesday, world powers told Iran on Wednesday that "the door remains open" for dialogue on its disputed nuclear program, urging the Islamic Republic to cooperate with the United Nations atomic watchdog to resolve concerns it may have military aims.

The six powers issued a rare joint statement at a meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), in a bid to show unity and to step up pressure on Iran after their talks with the Islamic state in December and January failed to make progress.

It was issued after IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano on Monday, the first day of a meeting of the agency's board, said information his office recently received added to concerns about possible military aspects to Iran's atomic activities.

Amano voiced growing frustration at what the Vienna-based body sees as Iran's failure to address allegations it may be working to develop a nuclear-armed missile.

The statement from the United States, Russia, Britain, France, Germany and China said: "We call on Iran to cooperate fully with the Agency ... Outstanding issues need to be resolved in order to exclude the existence of possible military dimensions to Iran's nuclear program."

It was the first joint statement by the big powers at the IAEA since March 2009.

Iran denies Western accusations it is seeking nuclear weapons capability, saying its atomic activities are aimed at generating electricity so it can export more of its oil and gas.

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