IAEA to meet on Feb 2 to consider Iran N-tangle

However, diplomats said it is unlikely to refer the issue to the UNSC for action especially as Russia and China are still not on board.

The Governing Board of the Vienna-based IAEA will meet on February 2 to consider the Iranian nuclear tangle but diplomats said it is unlikely to refer the issue to the Security Council for action especially as Russia and China are still not on board.

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Britain, France and Germany, the European 3 (EU3) who had cut off the talks with Tehran after it broke seals on nuclear material and equipment put by IAEA inspectors, had sought the meeting in an effort to ratchet up pressure on Iran and were drafting a resolution to refer the issue to the Council in New York.

But Russia, also seeking Iranian stoppage of research into nuclear fuel cycle, was still advocating a negotiated settlement and was not in favour of a formal referral, which, diplomats said, would force the Council to take action.

One of the options being explored, diplomats said, was to allow the Council to debate the issue to put pressure on Iran without a formal reference. Some analysts thought that it would do the trick but others were not so sure.

While the United States and EU3 were talking tough, media reports quoted EU foreign policy chief as saying that Russia had proposed that IAEA ask for special debate in the Council without formally referring the issue to it. The proposal was being discussed, he added.

But Iranian President Mahmoud Ahamdinejad was not impressed by the move and described it as "politically motivated." He also asked the EU3 to act with a little logic and decided to send his top officials to developing nations, including India and South Africa, to seek their support.