US considering diplomatic presence in Iran, says Rice

Astana: The Bush administration is still considering setting up a diplomatic outpost in Iran, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said on Sunday.

Her comments came after a report that the US government has abandoned plans to open an “interest section'' in Iran.

"We continue to look at the idea, think it's an interesting idea," Rice told reporters who asked about a possible US "interest section" in Tehran.

She was speaking on her plane en route to Kazakhstan, where she planned to have talks with the government.

"But we are going to take a look at it in the light of what it could do for our relationship with the Iranian people," Rice said. She did not comment further.

Rice arrived in Kazakhstan on Sunday on a visit designed to cement energy ties with the country.

Rice will meet President Nursultan Nazarbayev and other officials during her five-hour stopover.