The new U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, Susan Rice, said earlier on Monday that the Obama administration would make Iran's nuclear program, which Western countries fear is a cover to build atomic weapons, a top diplomatic priority and would pursue direct talks with Iran.
Gibbs told a White House news conference that Rice was simply restating comments made by Obama on the presidential campaign trail and should not be seen as suggesting a new diplomatic initiative by the United States.
(Reporting by Ross Colvin, editing by Jackie Frank)
