Iran pressured by Moscow on nuclear plans

UNITED NATIONS - Iran came under new pressure to halt its suspected nuclear weapons programs on Tuesday when the United States and its allies took the issue to the full UN Security Council and Russia pursued its own initiative in talks in Moscow.

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei issued an unequivocal statement that any retreat on the nuclear issue would break the Islamic Republic's independence and force it to retreat in other areas.

"Therefore, the path is irreversible and the foreign policy apparatus must defend that right bravely," he was quoted as saying by state television. Iran says it is merely pursuing nuclear energy and does not want an atomic bomb.

The United States, France and Britain, in an informal meeting at the French mission of all 15 council members, presented a draft of a statement that would call on Iran to suspend uranium enrichment efforts, which the West believes are a cover for bomb making.

It would also ask for a quick progress report from the Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The world nuclear watchdog declared last week it could not verify Iran's assertion that its nuclear program was entirely for peaceful purposes.

Russia and China, which are the other two council members with veto powers and have a big commercial stake in Iran, are uneasy about involving the Security Council, which has the authority to impose sanctions. They want the IAEA to retain control.

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said she was confident a strong international consensus would emerge.

"I am quite certain that when everyone has a chance to think about the importance of sending Iran a very strong message --- that it is time for Iran to heed the call," she said during a visit to Jakarta.

At the United Nations, US ambassador John Bolton said the five permanent members would meet again on Wednesday after Britain and France briefed the council on the draft statement.

"We're going to keep talking about this. We think it is important to keep 'perm five' unity," Bolton told reporters. "We are united in our determination to ensure that Iran does not achieve a nuclear weapons capability.""

In Moscow, Iranian and Russian officials had a further round of talks following an outspoken Russian accusation on Monday that Tehran was obstructing efforts to find a diplomatic solution.

The Russian Security Council reported no progress in Tuesday's session, but said the talks would continue.

It did not say if the two sides were discussing Moscow's proposal to enrich uranium on Iran's behalf as a way to ensure Tehran can get fuel for nuclear reactors without being able to master technology that can also be used to build bombs.

Previous talks have stumbled on Iran's insistence on doing some enrichment at home. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Monday he was "disappointed" by Iran's approach.

China urged Tehran to cooperate with UN inspectors and pursue talks with Russia. "China believes that under current conditions, the Russian proposal remains a meaningful attempt to break through the stalemate," Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said.

If the split continues, the Western powers may drop the idea of a council statement, which requires unanimity. Instead they might put a resolution to a vote and force Russia and China to abstain or veto, diplomats at the United Nations said.

Russia and China oppose sanctions, which the UN Security Council has the power to impose. The Western nations believe the council could start with measures such as travel bans on Iranian leaders.

- REUTERS