US President warned that the window to resolve the crisis over Iran’s nuclear program diplomatically was shrinking, and that Tehran would face consequences if it didn’t take fresh talks seriously

US President Barack Obama warned Wednesday that the window to resolve the crisis over Iran’s nuclear program diplomatically was shrinking, and that Tehran would face consequences if it didn’t take fresh talks seriously.

“Because the international community has applied so many sanctions, because we have employed so many of the options that are available to us to persuade Iran to take a different course, the window for solving this issue diplomatically is shrinking,” Obama said during a Rose Garden press conference with British Prime Minister David Cameron.

“I hope that the Iranian regime understands that this is their best bet for resolving this in a way that allows Iran to rejoin the community of nations and prosper, and feel secure themselves,” Obama said.

Obama was responding to a reporter’s question of whether the talks recently announced by the P5+1 group of world powers were Tehran’s final opportunity to resolve the nuclear issue before military action was taken.

Russian newspaper Kommersant reported Wednesday that US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton sent a message to Iran, via Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, that the negotiations were Iran’s “last chance,” according to an unnamed Russian diplomatic source.

“I have sent a message very directly to them publicly that they need to seize this opportunity of negotiations with the P5+1 to avert even worse consequences for Iran in the future.”

Cameron joined Obama in warning that should Tehran refuse to meet the conditions on its nuclear program imposed by the international community, the US, Britain and other international partners would “continue to increase the political and economic pressure to achieve a peaceful outcome to this crisis.” He added that “nothing is off the table.”

Iran’s Secretary of Supreme National Security Council Saeed Jalili said in a letter forwarded to EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton on Wednesday that Iran welcomes political will of Group 5+1 to return to negotiating table.

Jalili called for regular contacts by the two parties’ representatives to set the venue and time of the upcoming talks. Jalili reiterated Iran's interest in constructive and unconditional talks in line with developing sustainable cooperation between the two parties.