ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates - Sanctions have set back Iran's nuclear program, giving major powers more time to persuade Teheran to change tack, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said on Monday.

"The most recent analysis is that the sanctions have been working. They have made it much more difficult for Iran to pursue its nuclear ambition," Clinton said in Abu Dhabi, where she is on an official visit.

"Iran had technological problems that have made it slow down its timetable, so we do see some problems within Iran. But the real question is how do we convince Iran that pursuing nuclear weapons will not make it safer and stronger but just the opposite ... We have time, but not a lot of time."