Annan warns against rash U.N. action on Iran

Monsters & Critics:

U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan said Thursday he is 'extremely concerned' about the growing crisis over Iran's nuclear programme and said Iran should only be referred to the U.N. Security Council if all other possibilities are exhausted.

Annan offered to mediate in the dispute but suggested there still was room for handling it within the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the U.N. nuclear watchdog.

'First of all, I think we should try and resolve it if possible in the IAEA context,' Annan told reporters after a 40-minute telephone conversation with Iranian nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani.

IAEA chief Mohammed ElBaradei is 'doing his best' to resolve Iran's escalating clash with Europe and the United States, Annan said.

He said Larijani told him that Iran is 'interested in serious and constructive negotiations, but with a timeframe' and had a 'serious interest' in resuming talks with Britain, France and Germany, the so- called E.U.-3. READ MORE

Late Thursday, Annan met with U.N. diplomats from the United States, Germany, Britain, France and Russia to brief them on his conversations with Larijani and ElBaradei.

During the phone conversation with Larijani, Annan also offered Larijani 'my good offices' to help resolve the standoff.

Earlier Thursday, the E.U.-3 called for an emergency meeting of the U.N. nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), to have Iran sent to the Security Council.

That move was backed by the United States, with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice blaming Teheran for choosing 'confrontation with the international community over cooperation and negotiation'.

The situation over Iran's nuclear programme escalated this week after Iran broke international seals on its nuclear facilities and declared its intention to resume enrichment research, effectively ending E.U.-led negotiations aimed at preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons.