UNITED NATIONS ( CNN ) -- The Obama administration will work to stop any `` illicit '' nuclear aspirations by Iran , U.S . Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice told the U.N. Security Council on Thursday . U.S . Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice said the U.S. will try to end Iran 's `` support for terrorism . '' Rice spoke briefly about Iran in her speech , which was primarily focused on the Obama administration 's approach to Iraq and its people . She called on the international community to provide greater support to the millions of Iraqi refugees who have been displaced because of the war . Her comments on Iran came toward the end of her speech , when she mentioned that the United States plans to pursue a `` comprehensive strategy '' in the Middle East , including relations with Syria , Israel and the Palestinian people . The United States `` will seek to end Iran 's ambition to acquire an illicit nuclear capability and its support for terrorism , '' Rice said . President Barack Obama has said the United States is looking for opportunities for `` face to face '' dialogue with Iran , though he has `` deep concerns '' about Tehran 's actions . `` We are showing the world that a new era of engagement has begun . For we know that America can not meet the threats of this century alone , but the world can not meet them without America , '' Obama said Tuesday during his first speech to a joint session of Congress . `` We can not shun the negotiating table , nor ignore the foes or forces that could do us harm . We are instead called to move forward with the sense of confidence and candor that serious times demand . '' President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has said his country welcomes talks with the United States `` in a fair atmosphere with mutual respect . '' In response to Rice 's speech , Iran 's ambassador to the U.N. , Mohammad Khazaee , sent a letter to the president of the Security Council , Yukio Takasu , defending Iran 's nuclear program and challenging U.S. allegations about the program . `` It is unfortunate that , yet again , we are hearing the same tired , unwarranted and groundless allegations that used to be unjustifiably and futilely repeated by the previous U.S. administration , '' Khazaee wrote . Iran has repeatedly said , and the letter echoed , that Iran 's nuclear program is peaceful and the country has not and will not seek to acquire nuclear weapons . The letter also called U.S. allegations against Iran on terrorism `` equally baseless and absurd . '' Iran tested its first nuclear power plant on Wednesday at the Bushehr nuclear power plant using `` dummy '' fuel rods . Officials said the next test will use enriched uranium , but it is not clear when the test will be held or when the facility will be fully operational . Last week , the Washington-based Institute for Science and International Security released a report stating that Iran has reached `` nuclear weapons breakout capability '' -- it has enough uranium to make a nuclear bomb . The report was based on an analysis of data from the International Atomic Energy Agency , the U.N. nuclear watchdog agency . However , an IAEA official who asked not to be named cautioned against drawing such dramatic conclusions from the data , saying Iran 's stock of low-enriched uranium would have to be turned into highly enriched uranium to be weapons-grade material . That has n't been done , the official said . CNN 's Katy Byron contributed to this report .
Susan Rice says U.S. plans to pursue a ` ` comprehensive strategy '' in Middle East . Rice : We want to end Iran 's ` ` illicit nuclear capability and its support for terrorism '' Rice talks briefly about Iran in a speech that mostly focuses on Iraq . Iran 's U.N. representative calls remarks ` ` unwarranted and groundless . ''