Cheney warns on Iran's nuclear ambition

SYDNEY, Feb 24 (Reuters) US Vice President Dick Cheney said on Saturday that the United States and its allies must not allow Iran to become a nuclear power and raised concerns about Tehran's actions and ''inflammatory'' rhetoric.

The stern comments from Cheney, who is known for his hawkish views, followed Tehran's refusal to heed a UN deadline to halt uranium enrichment and a vow by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to stand up to the rest of the world and not show weakness by acceding to the West's demands.

''They have made some fairly inflammatory statements,'' Cheney said of Iran at a joint news conference with Australian Prime Minister John Howard. ''They appear to be pursuing the development of nuclear weapons.'' Iran insists it is not trying to acquire nuclear weapons and that its enrichment activities are for peaceful purposes.

In addition to Iran, the two leaders touched on issues ranging from the Iraq war to China and Australian Guantanamo Bay inmate David Hicks.

Howard pressed his insistence on a speedy trial for Hicks.

Howard also offered warnings about Iran, saying that a sudden withdrawal of US forces from Iraq would only bolster Iran's clout and influence in the WAsia.

''I can't think of a country whose influence and potential clout would be more enhanced in that part of the world than Iran would be,'' if the United States and its allies were to be forced to exit Iraq, Howard said.

''That would be a nightmare scenario,'' he added.

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