US attacks Iran nuke programme
EU trio hold talks
France, Britain and Germany tried to put talks on Iran's nuclear programme on track yesterday, but the United States said a showdown on Tehran's atomic ambitions was likely in the UN Security Council.
The European Union's "big three" met Iranian officials in great secrecy in Paris. Diplomats confirmed the meeting took place but declined to give any details of the outcome and said they did not expect any statements would be issued.
They said the short-term aim was to secure Iran's compliance with its obligations to the UN's nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and the long-term goal was to ensure Tehran does not develop nuclear weapons.
The EU three hope to persuade Tehran to comply fully with demands set by the IAEA so that the watchdog's board does not refer its nuclear activities to the United Nations Security Council, which could impose sanctions on Iran.
The United States says Iran is trying to develop nuclear weapons, a charge Tehran denies, and urged the three on Wednesday to "hold firm" and make no deals with Iran.
US Secretary of State Colin Powell maintained the pressure yesterday, reiterating the US view that Iran has not met its IAEA obligations or kept its commitments to the EU three.
"It is getting more and more likely that this matter is going to have to be referred to the Security Council," he said during a visit to Kuwait. "You just can't ignore it any longer."
Iran has been in protracted negotiations over demands from the IAEA to explain the nature of its nuclear programme.
Diplomats say Iran has defied pressure and resumed testing a facility for converting uranium, a key part of the process of enriching the element for use as fuel or in a nuclear bomb.
The IAEA, whose board would have to vote to send the Iran nuclear issue to the Security Council, declined to comment. Germany, Britain and France are looking for a way forward before the Vienna-based IAEA's board meets.
"There is a lot of pressure coming from the US to escalate the whole issue to the UN Security Council. But everything really now depends on what Iran comes up with," said a Western diplomat who asked not to be identified.
"The aim is to get the process back on track to where we were before the Iranians took themselves off the track. Ultimately, the aim is to get them to throw out the idea of getting a bomb, but that's longer term," the official said.