Nations unite over Iran nukes

LONDON – China and Russia agreed with the United States, Britain, Germany and France on Monday that Iran must completely suspend its nuclear program, the British Foreign Office said. Although the countries failed to agree on whether Iran’s case should be referred to the U.N. Security Council, the Europeans applied new pressure on the Iranian government by calling for an emergency meeting of the U.N. nuclear watchdog agency on Feb. 2.

With all six nations declaring that they sought a diplomatic solution to the escalating confrontation with Iran, Russian President Vladimir Putin offered a glimmer of hope for a compromise. Putin said the Iranian government was considering a proposal from Moscow that Russia would produce enriched uranium for Iran to ensure the material could be used only for peaceful purposes.

Iran has adamantly reserved the right to develop its nuclear program, stating that its intentions are peaceful. But many world leaders are increasingly alarmed by the attitude of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad – who has called for Israel to be “wiped off the map” – and fear he could be trying to build nuclear bombs. Intense deliberations began last week after the Iranian government ordered the removal of seals on equipment at an enrichment plant where it had ceased operations two years ago.

“The onus is on Iran to act to give the international community confidence that its nuclear program has exclusive peaceful purposes,” said British Foreign Minister Jack Straw. Straw added that confidence in Iran has been “sorely undermined by its history of concealment and deception.”

Britain, France and Germany – the three countries that have been leading negotiations with Iran – and the United States all favor referring the case to the Security Council. Following a meeting of the six nations in London on Monday, a British Foreign Ministry official said Russia and China now agree on the importance of Iran “fully suspending” its nuclear program. On the issue of referral to the Security Council, another government official said China remained “slightly hesitant” but that Russia was “coming around” on the issue.

Britain, France and Germany then called for an “extraordinary” meeting in Vienna next month of the International Atomic Energy Agency. The U.N. agency’s 35-nation board could refer the issue to the Security Council. Iranian officials have threatened to block U.N. inspections of Iran’s nuclear facilities if the case is referred to the council.

In addition, Iranian officials have warned that U.N. sanctions would lead to major increases in world oil prices, which already have increased because of the deadlock with Iran, the world’s fourth-largest oil exporter.

Putin spoke in Moscow after discussing Iran in a meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel. Offering rare optimistic words on the issue, Putin said: “Our partners said that they do not rule out the possibility of putting our proposal into practice.”

Putin also cautioned against what he called any rash moves in dealing with Iran, a close economic partner of Russia and China. “The Iranian nuclear problem requires a very accurate approach without rash or erroneous moves,” Putin said. “Russia will continue to cooperate with European and U.S. colleagues in promoting a solution to the issue. Russia, Germany, our European partners and the United States – we all have very similar approaches to the Iranian problem.”

U.S. and European officials said the scheduling of the Feb. 2 IAEA meeting gave Iran time to halt its resumed enrichment-related work and seriously re-examine the Russian offer. U.S. officials also said they hoped the outcome of the London meeting would be seen as a clear message both to Iran and to other members of the IAEA board that the five permanent members of the Security Council – China, Russia, France, Britain and the United States – were united on some basic aspects of the Iran case.

The IAEA, in its third year of an investigation of Iran’s nuclear program, has not found proof of a weapons program. But a final conclusion is impossible, IAEA officials have said, until the Iranian government provides full access to several sites and provides answers to outstanding questions about the history of the nuclear effort.

U.S. officials had been pushing for an IAEA board meeting next week ahead of President Bush’s State of the Union address. But Europeans officials felt strongly that more time was needed to win support from Russia, China, India and some other influential board members, such as Brazil and South Africa.