WASHINGTON, March 13 (Xinhuanet) -- The United States will not support a military strike by Israel against suspected Iranian nuclear sites, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said on Sunday.

    Responding to a report in the London-based Sunday Times newspaper that Israel may launch a unilateral attack on Iran if diplomacy fails, Rice told ABC television that Washington is committed to following a diplomatic course.

    The United States has now, with the European allies, put forward a strengthened diplomatic hand for the European three to play, Rice said, referring to Britain, Germany and France.

    "It really is now up to the Iranians to do what they need to do.Obviously, the president of the United States always has his options open, but we really do believe that this can be resolved diplomatically."

    "What we've forged with Europe is a common front, a common approach to dealing with Iran that says Iran must not develop a nuclear weapon, that Iran's international obligations must be upheld," Rice told ABC.

    "That means they cannot develop a nuclear weapon under cover ofcivilian nuclear power," she said.

    "It says that if Iran is not willing to live up to those obligations, then there will be a supported referral to the (UN) Security Council." Enditem