Blair, Rice Discuss Iran’s Nuclear Plans

British Prime Minister Tony Blair and U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice say they are determined to deal with Iran’s nuclear ambitions.

The pair met Sunday in Britain, affirming their shared concern about the need for Iran to meet its international obligations, a Blair spokesman told the London Times Online.

Almost two years of talks between Iran and the European Union broke down in August when Tehran broke U.N. seals at the Isfahan plant, where uranium is converted into a gas that can be used to make nuclear reactor fuel or bomb warheads.

Iran said Sunday it wanted to return to negotiations but gave no ground on the EU’s demand that it halt all nuclear fuel processing before talks can resume.

Washington and the EU are trying to persuade the governing board of the International Atomic Energy Agency to refer Iran to the U.N. Security Council next month for violating international nuclear obligations — a move that could trigger sanctions against the country.