US secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said on Wednesday, that a diplomatic solution to Iran’s nuclear programme was ‘‘in our grasp’’ if Europe sent the same tough message as Washington, threatening U.N. sanctions.She also appeared to accept that the European Union would lift its arms embargo on China despite U.S. misgivings, and hailed what she called NATO’s new unity in working to help Iraq after three divisive years in transatlantic relations.After talks with NATO foreign ministers, Rice played down policy differences with Europe. ‘‘I believe a diplomatic solution is in our grasp if we can have unity of purpose, unity of message with Iranians, and if Iranians understand the international community is serious about it living up to its obligations,’’ she said.Rice’s comments came as Britain, France and Germany held another round of talks with Iran in Geneva on a deal where Tehran would be expected to give up uranium enrichment in return for economic benefits and security guarantees.‘‘(The) Iranians need to hear that if they are unwilling to take the deal, really, that the Europeans are giving. then the Security Council referral looms,’’ she earlier said.British PM Tony Blair played down any division with Washington, telling Parliament in London that the European policy of engagement had the United States’ full support.Rice also sounded a conciliatory note on China after Washington had publicly warned the EU for months against ending the arms embargo it imposed in 1989 after the crushing of a Chinese pro-democracy movement in Tiananmen Square.‘‘We are still in discussions and open discussions about how to deal with the prospect of the lifting of the EU arms embargo on China. I really have to underscore how much the Europeans have tried to take account of our concerns, how good the discussions have been,’’ she said. —Reuters
