Clinton urges Iran to accept U.N. nuclear offer

BERLIN (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Monday urged Iran to accept a U.N.-drafted proposal to have uranium for a medical reactor enriched abroad.

Clinton, visiting Germany for celebrations marking the 20th anniversary of the collapse of the Berlin Wall, said there would be consequences if the Iranian leadership "failed to fulfill their obligations" on the nuclear issue.

"We believe that this offer represents an important opportunity for Iran both to meet the medical and humanitarian needs that the Tehran research reactor fills and to begin to restore international confidence in their nuclear program," she told a joint news conference with German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle.

The plan calls for Iran to send low-enriched uranium abroad to be further enriched for use in its medical research reactor.

Clinton said the countries involved in nuclear talks with Iran -- the permanent members of the U.N. Security Council plus Germany -- were pursuing diplomacy with Iran as well as a second track that would show the Iranians "there were consequences if they failed to fulfill their obligations."

She said it was premature to discuss what steps might follow or when. Last week in Washington she said negotiators would not wait on Iran "forever."

Her German counterpart Westerwelle, echoed her, saying the patience of the international community was "not infinite."

Iran says its nuclear enrichment program is for peaceful purposes, but the United States and other members of the group negotiating with Tehran fear the aim is to produce a nuclear weapon.

(Reporting by David Alexander; additional reporting by Sarah Marsh; editing by Robin Pomeroy)