U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Monday that she fears Iran is moving to a military dictatorship and urged allies to back efforts to help change its course.

Clinton made the comment as she responded to a question about whether the United States was getting ready for military action in Iran during a session broadcast by Arabic-language network Al-Jazeera.

"No, we are planning to bring the world community together," Clinton said at the town hall meeting in Qatar. She warned that United States "will not stand by idly" while Tehran threatens neighbors and world.

Clinton reiterated her concern about Iran in a discussion with reporters later Monday.

"I think the civilian leadership is either preoccupied with its internal domestic political situation or ceding ground to the Revolutionary Guard, and that's a deeply concerning development," she said.

"I'm not predicting what will happen, but I think the trend with this greater and greater military lock on leadership positions should be disturbing to Iranians as well as to those of us on the outside."

A day earlier, Clinton called for tougher actions against Iran in the wake of its announcement that it is stepping up production of highly enriched uranium.

"Iran leaves the international community little choice but to impose greater costs for its provocative steps," she said. "Together, we are encouraging Iran to reconsider its dangerous policy decisions."

Speaking at the U.S.-Islamic World Forum in Doha, Qatar, Clinton said the United States is "working actively" with its partners "to prepare and implement new measures to convince Iran to change its course."

Iran already faces U.N. sanctions.

The five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council -- the United States, Britain, Russia, China and France, all of which have veto power -- have been engaged in discussions about possible further sanctions.

While Clinton was in Qatar, Adm. Michael Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, arrived in Israel on Sunday evening to meet with the nation's top military officials, including Defense Minister Ehud Barak.

"Right now, diplomatic efforts continue," Mullen said, according to the Israel Defense Forces Web site. "The option to attack Iran is still on the table, but we're not there yet."

Israel has often been the object of rhetoric by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who has said the Jewish state "must be wiped off the map." The United States has had to assure Israel that its interests will be protected to keep its military on the sidelines.

"Conflict with Iran would be a big problem for everyone," Mullen said. "I worry about the unintended consequences of an attack. While every situation has limits, we're not there yet. The diplomatic efforts must be exhausted until the end."

Iran said last week that it had completed its first batch of 20 percent enriched uranium and soon will triple production.

Uranium enriched to 20 percent can set off a nuclear reaction, scientists said.

The Islamic republic insists its nuclear program is solely for peaceful civilian purposes.

"But Iran has consistently failed to live up to its responsibilities. It has refused to demonstrate to the international community that its nuclear program is entirely peaceful," Clinton said. "And last year, the world learned of a secret nuclear facility near the city of Qom."

Iran could get the enriched uranium that it says it wants for medical research by accepting a proposal under which Tehran would ship its uranium abroad to be enriched and then returned, but the country has rejected the offer, Clinton said.

"This has only deepened the international community's doubts about Iran's nuclear intentions, along with the Iranian government's own isolation."

She added that Iran has also refused recent diplomatic efforts to reach a resolution.

A soon-to-be released U.S. assessment of Iran's nuclear program is expected to conclude the government has resumed limited work on a nuclear weapon, according to a U.S. official.

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