Abu Dhabi: Iran is trying to provoke new conflict in the Middle East to divert attention from its nuclear programme, US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said in Abu Dhabi on Monday.

She urged the Arab world to reject such attempts, sharpen enforcement of sanctions, and back Israeli-Palestinian peace talks.

Clinton is in the UAE on a three-nation tour which also includes Oman and Qatar.

She made these comments during a pan-Arab television talk show Kalam Nawaem at Abu Dhabi's Zayed University campus. The show will be aired on the MBC 1 channel.

Clinton claimed that sanctions against Iran "are working, because Iran had technological problems, which have slowed its progress in developing nuclear weapons".

She, however, cautioned that the world has to keep up the pressure on Iran or risk a disastrous arms race in the region if Tehran produces a nuclear weapon.

"Let's be blunt here. Iran does not want to negotiate to work this issue out. With [interfering in] the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, if they [Iran] can shift attention from [their nuclear activities], they will be happy. We cannot let that happen," she said.

Refraining from commenting on Israel's nuclear weapons, Clinton said: "We would like to see a nuclear free Middle East and a nuclear free world."

On the Palestinian-Israeli issue, Clinton said the US is committed to the two-state solution. "We are pursuing it everyday. Each side has to make decisions [which are] tough to them."

Clinton also said that the WikiLeaks episode will not affect US foreign relations.

"It was an unauthorised theft of our documents. We have every right to condemn and prosecute those who stole them. Most [nations] understood that it was unforeseen and unfortunate and something we regret."

Clinton also praised the UAE's support for women.

"I am happy to be in a country that made real commitment to education and the inclusion of women in, if not all, most segments [of the society]. I would also strongly urge women to get the best education and continue what they are doing," she said.

Clinton also said that she is against imposing a dress code on women.

Replying to a question on women’s freedom to choose what they wear, Clinton said: “ I am in favor of women having the right to choose what they want to wear. I am against imposing a particular code of dress on women”.

— With inputs from AP

Family ties: Bill ‘still handsome'

"I think he was incredibly handsome, still do," US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said as she spoke about how she met her husband Bill Clinton during their college days. Both of them met at Yale Law University as students. "He would always keep looking at me ... but I was the one who approached him," she said.

Referring to her daughter Chelsea, who was recently married, Clinton gave an insight into her close relationship with her son-in-law. "We are extremely happy ... I am also glad they live nearby."

Clinton also said she will not run for presidency again. "I will not run for presidency again. I am happy doing what I am doing now..I had tried in 2008 and had extraordinary experience," she said.