President Barack Obama said Tuesday that little wiggle room exists for Iran in the global talks on its nuclear ambitions, stating that the Iranians must guarantee their intentions are for peaceful use of nuclear power. "If they meet what technically gives us those assurances, then there is a deal to be made. If they don't, there isn't," Obama said during a joint appearance with French President Francois Hollande, who is in Washington on a formal state visit this week. The two addressed the easing of sanctions on Iran as part of a temporary global agreement to curb its nuclear program while negotiators attempt to forge a longer-term deal. Obama has stressed that the United States would enforce those sanctions that remain, pending a permanent accord.

Obama said any businesses violating U.S. or U.N sanctions on Iran would "do so at their own peril now, because we will come down on them like a ton of bricks," adding that the United States expected allies such France to fully comply with existing sanctions.

Hollande said it was critical that "Iran renounces" nuclear weapons in a "comprehensive manner" in talks going forward. The parties will start negotiating February 18 in Vienna. Iranian and International Atomic Energy Agency officials jointly said Sunday that Iran has agreed to take additional steps by May to ease international concern over Tehran's nuclear program.

It will give more accounting for the mining and refinement of uranium, and will provide more transparency around issues related to a heavy-water reactor at Arak, which is of concern because it can be used to produce plutonium.

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