Asked after talks in London if Washington was planning a pre-emptive strike on the Islamic republic, which it claims is developing nuclear weapons, Rice answered: "The question is simply not on the agenda at this point in time."

Rice said that her government was still pursuing diplomacy in dealing with Iran's controversial nuclear programme.

"We have many diplomatic tools still at our disposal and we intend to pursue them fully," she said after talks with British counterpart Jack Straw.

Britain and its EU partners Germany and France have been pursuing diplomacy with Tehran, which has agreed to suspend some of its nuclear activities while talks are ongoing.

Earlier Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice met British ally Prime Minister Tony Blair yesterday as differences over Iran marked the start of a tour intended to repair US ties with Europe over Iraq.

Rice -- whose visit comes ahead of a trip to Europe by President Bush this month -- thanked Blair for his leadership and the British people for their support.

"We have lots of work to do ... especially as we try to bring Israel and Palestine a chance of a permanent peace," she added as the pair headed in for breakfast.

On her first foreign trip since taking office, Rice is also visiting the Middle East, where Europe wants to see a stronger US push for peace.

Blair congratulated her on her new post: "I look forward to working with you in the months and years to come. We will be discussing Iraq, the Middle East and various other issues," he said as they met at his Downing Street office.

En route to London, where she will also meet Foreign Secretary Jack Straw, Rice made clear the United States was reluctant to get involved in Europe's nuclear talks with Iran.

"The Iranians know what they need to do. It's not the absence of anybody's involvement that is keeping the Iranians from knowing what they need to do," she told reporters.

"They need to live up to their obligations, they need to agree to verification inspection, they need to stop trying to hide activities under cover of civilian nuclear power."

Iran -- grouped by Bush in an "axis of evil" with pre-war Iraq and North Korea -- denies US charges it is pursuing a nuclear bomb. It says its programs are for peaceful power generation needed to keep up with its growing population.