The administration is preparing tough sanctions in case offers of diplomacy are rejected or ineffective with Iran, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says.

"(We) are more than willing to reach out to the Iranians to discuss a range of issues, assuming they're willing to reach back," Clinton told the House Foreign Affairs Committee Wednesday. "As the president said in his inaugural address, we'll hold out our hand. They have to unclench their fist."

However, "we are also laying the groundwork for the kind of very tough ... sanctions that might be necessary in the event that our offers are either rejected or the process is inconclusive or unsuccessful," she said.

Clinton said the administration's diplomatic efforts to engage Iran on its nuclear aspirations and other issues would put it in a position of strength if additional sanctions are necessary. The United States already has committed to group negotiations with Iran on its in nuclear work.

"We actually believe that by following the diplomatic path we are on, we gain credibility and influence with a number of nations who would have to participate in order to make the sanctions regime as tight and crippling as we would want it to be," she said.

Concerning Iranian-American freelance journalist Roxana Saberi, sentenced to eight years on spying charges, Clinton said Saberi was being held in "an arbitrary and terribly unfair, unprecedented, unjustified way, she should be able to come home."

United Press International, April 22, 2009