US President George W. Bush was leaning today toward backing Europe in offering incentives to Iran to persuade it to give up nuclear ambitions, US officials said, in a significant shift in strategy toward an arch enemy.
Mr Bush was to discuss Iran at an afternoon meeting with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who met on Tuesday in London with foreign ministers of the three nations handling European negotiations with Iran, Britain, France and Germany.
White House spokesman Scott McClellan said Mr Bush had not made a final decision. He declined to discuss any details.
"We're continuing to look at how we can best support the European efforts, and make sure that those efforts are successful, to get Iran to abandon its nuclear ambitions," he said.
US officials said under the new strategy, the United States would not block Iran as it seeks to start the process of joining the World Trade Organization, and would not stand in the way of European allies if they want to sell Tehran parts for civilian aircraft.
An announcement of the president's strategy was unlikely today but could come this week, the officials said.
In exchange for not standing in the way of the incentives, the United States would insist that Iran abandon uranium enrichment, a demand Tehran so far has refused to accept.
Some US officials believe offering incentives will strengthen the international community's hand by providing a united front for punitive measures, such as UN sanctions, if the incentives do not work.
Supporting Europe on the incentives would mark a significant shift in strategy for Mr Bush, who has been reluctant to consider them before to avoid being seen as rewarding Iran for bad behavior.