UN Security Council powers meet on Iran atomic case

By Madeline Chambers

LONDON (Reuters) – The European Union and United States
will on Monday seek to persuade Russia and China to back tough
diplomatic action against Iran over its disputed nuclear
program before a crunch meeting on Thursday.

Three days before the United Nations nuclear watchdog holds
an emergency session in Vienna, at which the board could decide
to send Iran to the U.N. Security Council, foreign ministers
from the world powers will try to agree on a strategy.

The European Union — represented by France, Germany and
Britain — and United States want to haul Iran in front of the
Security Council, which can impose sanctions, but Russia and
China are not convinced.

The Western nations fear Tehran will use its nuclear
technology to develop atomic bombs. Iran says its program is
meant only for peaceful purposes, including power generation.

“The meeting comes at a crucial time and we will be seeking
clarification of the Russian and Chinese positions,” said a
diplomat from the EU trio of France, Germany and Britain, which
earlier this month called off talks with Iran.

“We are still arguing for Iran to be reported to the
Security Council,” added the diplomat.

Speaking to reporters en route to London, U.S. Secretary of
State Condoleezza Rice said the meeting, over a private evening
dinner, would look at many issues, including referral of Iran
to the Council as well as a Russian compromise proposal.

Reluctance from veto-wielding Security Council members
Russia and China over imposing economic sanctions on Iran,
threaten to undermine U.S. and European plans.

Russia has business interests in Iran as it is helping to
build Iran’s first atomic reactor and China relies on oil from
Iran, the world’s fourth-biggest exporter of crude.

IRANIAN PLEA

On Sunday, Iran’s foreign minister said negotiations were
the only way to solve the dispute.

Manouchehr Mottaki urged the nations to reconsider plans
for Thursday’s extraordinary meeting of International Atomic
Energy Agency (IAEA).

He said a delay would provide an opportunity for further
talks but warned escalating the case would have consequences,
such as halting Iran’s cooperation with the IAEA.

Also on Monday, diplomats from the EU trio will meet top
Iranian officials in Brussels.

“It’s up to Iran to explain how they will avoid what looks
likely to happen at the IAEA next week,” said the EU3 diplomat.

Britain says nothing short of resuming a freeze on its
sensitive nuclear activity will stop it seeking a referral.

The EU3 has been tweaking the wording of a resolution for
the February 2 IAEA meeting to reassure Moscow, say diplomats.

Russia has suggested the IAEA could ask the Security
Council to discuss Iran, but not consider sanctions, and then
send it back to the IAEA.

The foreign ministers will also discuss a compromise plan
under which Russia would enrich Iranian uranium fuel.

Rice said that had been proposed for some time and that
Iran was becoming more interested in it only because of the
possible vote on sending Tehran to the Security Council.

“I think that says something about how really interested
the Iranians are in the Russian proposal,” she said.

Dissidents revealed in 2002 that Iran had hidden nuclear
activity for 18 years, prompting western nations to take
action.

Their resolve has been stiffened by Iran’s calls to wipe
out Israel and the EU trio’s patience wore out last month when
Iran removed IAEA seals from equipment that purifies uranium.