He spoke on the day the U.N.'s International Atomic Energy Agency was issuing a report on Iran's nuclear program. The report said Tehran had ignored a U.N. Security Council call to suspend all nuclear fuel enrichment and had accelerated the program, diplomats said in Vienna.

After a meeting at the White House with Azeri President Ilham Aliyev, Bush said, "I assured the president of my desire to solve this problem diplomatically and peacefully."

According to Reuters news agency, it was not clear if Bush, who has not ruled out military action against Iran, was yet aware of the contents of the IAEA report. The document was being sent to the U.N. Security Council, which could impose sanctions against Iran.

Aliyev earlier this week ruled out any role for Azerbaijan if the United States decided to take any military action against Iran.