Washington, May 10, SPA -- U.S. President George W. Bush said Tuesday that diplomacy remains the first and most important option in the dispute over Iran’s nuclear program. “In the short term, … we’ll keep diplomacy going, knitted up with as many nations as possible,” he said as he answered questions at an appearance in Sun City, Florida. The U.S. president’s comments came a day after Iran’s president sent Bush an 18-page letter, which Bush administration officials dismissed as a move by Tehran to divert attention from the nuclear issue. Bush highlighted Monday’s meeting in New York City of the United States, China, Russia, Britain, France, and Germany to try to find a strategy to force Iran to give up uranium enrichment. Asked whether economic sanctions could be applied, he replied, “I’m not gong to comment on that.” Foreign ministers from the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council and Germany failed to agree on a common strategy to deal with Iran at Monday’s meeting in New York City. --SPA www.spa.gov.sa/359863