China/Russia to discuss Iranian nuclear issue with EU/US
London, 12 Jan. (AKI) - Senior officials from Russia, China, the European Union and the United States are scheduled to meet in London next week to discuss Iran's decision to press on with its nuclear research. The decision to hold the meeting emerged on Thursday after foreign ministers from Germany, Britain and France announced that EU negotiations with Iran had failed following Tehran's unilateral decision to resume uranium enrichment research.
The three foreign ministers said after their meeting in Berlin that they now want the Iran issue to be discussed by an emergency meeting of the board of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) with a view to then havingit referred on to the UN Security Council.
Russia and China have both championed a a more lenient stance towards Iran's nuclear ambitions. However, on Wednesday Russia told the United States it will not block its efforts to take Iran before the UN Security Council.
It is not clear whether China would also favour UN action against Iran.
Tehran says it broke the UN seals on the Natanz nuclear research facility on Tuesday because it wants to produce electricity, not because it is pursuing nuclear weapons.
The three foreign ministers said after their meeting in Berlin that they now want the Iran issue to be discussed by an emergency meeting of the board of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) with a view to then havingit referred on to the UN Security Council.
Russia and China have both championed a a more lenient stance towards Iran's nuclear ambitions. However, on Wednesday Russia told the United States it will not block its efforts to take Iran before the UN Security Council.
It is not clear whether China would also favour UN action against Iran.
Tehran says it broke the UN seals on the Natanz nuclear research facility on Tuesday because it wants to produce electricity, not because it is pursuing nuclear weapons.
posted by Marko at 1/12/2006 10:07:00 PM
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