The British Foreign Secretary, Jack Straw, has said it is inconceivable that the US would try to bomb Iran.
'I don't see any circumstances in which military action would be justified against Iran, full stop,' Mr Straw said.
He was speaking on BBC Radio in response to speculation that the US President, George W Bush, would take a more aggressive approach to the country.
Earlier this week, Iran's President, Mohammad Khatami, said that his government was ready to pledge not to pursue the development of nuclear weapons.
