Slim chance for Iran to avoid Security Council

‘‘If we come under a military attack, we will respond without very effective missile Defence,’’ said Yahya Rahim Safavi, commander in Chief of the Revolutionary Guard.

Straw would not say directly if he still expected the the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to decide on a Security Council referral at the February 2 meeting.

He said that Iran was ‘‘not complying with its nuclear non-proliferation obligations and we are trying to persuade Iran to come back into compliance. We will make judgments in the light of discussions which will occur on Monday in London amongst the permanent five Security Council foreign ministers.’’

Speaking earlier at the World Economic Forum, Straw said the London meeting would discuss what resolution to put to the IAEA over Iran’s atomic fuel research.

‘‘If that remains the position, then the chances of them avoiding a reference to the Council are low,’’ Straw said.

‘‘We would much prefer to resolve this within the IAEA, that’s what it’s there for, but the IAEA statutes states that where you can’t resolve this issue and they’re non-compliant—and they are—then the matter goes to the Council.’’

While Iran denies seeking nuclear weapons, Straw said ‘‘we have no certainty that they have those (weapons) intentions,’’ he said. But he added: ‘‘The assumption in the international community is that it is prudent to assume at the least that Iran is seeking to develop a nuclear weapons capability so that they can have the choice at some stage… to activate it.’’