Iran defiant as world weighs action

They said foreign ministers of Britain, China, France, Russia, the US and Germany would seek a consensus before the 35-nation board of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) gathers in Vienna to weigh what to do about Iran.

The US and its European Union allies say it is time for the IAEA to turn Iran’s nuclear dossier over to the Security Council. China and Russia have urged caution.

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan said he doubted any decision on referral could be reached at the February 2 meeting.

Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said his country would immediately halt voluntary dealings with the IAEA, which include snap checks on its atomic sites, if sent to the council.

Iran, going beyond its Non-Proliferation Treaty obligations, allows impromptu inspections by the UN nuclear watchdog.

Mottaki urged the EU’s Britain, France and Germany to renew talks they halted this month when Iran removed UN seals on uranium enrichment equipment and resumed nuclear fuel research.

Tehran positive to Moscow enrichment plan

Moscow: Signalling a conciliatory stance ahead of the meeting in London of the five veto-wielding permanent members of the Security Council plus Germany next week, Iran on Wednesday welcomed the Moscow offer of a joint venture to enrich uranium for Iranian nuclear power plants.

‘‘Our attitude to the proposal is positive. We tried to bring the positions of the two sides closer,’’ said Ali Larijani, Iran’s top nuclear negotiator and secretary to the country’s Supreme National Security Council, after talks with Russian counterparts.

Asked if third countries, China, for example, could participate in the joint venture, he said, ‘‘We welcome the participation of other countries in this respect, but no proposal concerning China’s participation came up at the talks.’’

The Moscow proposal to set up a joint venture on Russian territory to enrich uranium for Tehran is aimed at clinching a compromise on the issue. The US, EU-3 (Britain, France and Germany), Russia and China are trying to reach a consensus before the IAEA Board of Governors meets in Vienna on February 2. — Dadan Upadhyay