Top US Official: Iran "Fairly Isolated"

The Associated Press, China Daily:

A senior U.S official on Friday said Iran has been "fairly isolated" and must return to negotiations with European countries to seek a diplomatic solution to the stand-off over its nuclear program. "The Iranians must feel fairly isolated and fairly alone in the world these days," U.S. Undersecretary Nicholas Burns told reporters during a visit to New Delhi. READ MORE

Governments across the world were increasingly becoming critical of Iran's stance of not disclosing enough about its nuclear program to the United Nations watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, Burns said.

The United States and its allies suspect Tehran's nuclear activities _ undetected for nearly two decades before 2002 _ is a front for weapons ambitions. Iran says it is interested only in generating electricity.

The IAEA board last month declared Iran in violation of the nuclear arms-control treaty, opening the way to Security Council referral when the 35-nation board meets November 24. The board acted after Iran walked out of negotiations with a group of three European countries mediating over the issue.

Burns said Iran could still avoid a referral to U.N. Security Council if it returned to negotiations with the European countries.

"There is still a possibility for Iran to sit down with the European countries and seek a diplomatic solution to this very important problem and our advice to the government of Iran is to do that," Burns said. "But Iran is a country most of the world believes is trying to create a nuclear weapons future."

If Iran is referred to the Security Council, the council could impose sanctions if it determines that Iran violated the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, although that is unlikely because veto-wielding China and Russia oppose referral.

Burns, who is in New Delhi to discuss implementation of a civilian nuclear deal between India and the United States, said he planned to discuss Iran in his meetings with India's foreign minister on Saturday.

India is longtime ally of Iran and has previously resisted U.S. efforts to impose sanctions against Tehran. But at last month's IAEA meeting, New Delhi made a surprise decision and voted with Washington. The Congress party-led government in New Delhi has been under increasing pressure from its leftist allies not to repeat its choice at the November 24 meeting of the IAEA board.