Iran "can't wait us out" in nuclear dispute-Bush

STRALSUND, Germany, July 13 (Reuters) US President George W Bush warned Iran today it did not have an unlimited amount of time to settle the dispute over its nuclear programme.

''The Iranians must realise that they can't wait us out,'' Bush told a news conference after meeting German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Iran said earlier today it would not abandon its right to nuclear technology in a defiant statement after Tehran's case was referred back to the UN Security Council in its atomic dispute with the West.

Five permanent Security Council members, the United States, France, Britain, Russia, China, plus Germany have backed a package aimed at reining in Iran's atomic work but yesterday asked the council to intervene after Tehran failed to reply.

''We said 'reasonable period of time'. Weeks not months,'' Bush said. ''They evidently did not believe us. Now we're going to the UN Security Council.'' Merkel said other steps would be necessary if Iran did not respond to an offer aimed at reining in Tehran's atomic work.

''If Iran does not agree to this offer, then unfortunately we need to go down other routes,'' said Merkel at a joint news conference with Bush.

''The door is not closed for negotiations, but Iran needs to know that those who have made that offer -- and this has been the success of yesterday, Russia, China, the EU3 and the United States -- that those are willing to act together and make this clear through the UN security council resolution,'' she added.

REUTERS SHB KN1717