Rice says Iran 'feeling heat' on nuclear issue

Reuters:

Iran is "feeling the heat" of international pressure over its nuclear program and Washington will insist the issue be formally referred to the U.N. Security Council, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said on Thursday.

In an interview with Reuters, Rice showed little patience with Iran's belated interest in a Russian compromise proposal that would keep the case out of the Security Council.

"I think that says something about the role of (international) pressure ... The Iranians are doing nothing but trying to throw up chaff so that they are not referred to the Security Council and people shouldn't let them get away with it ... The time (for referral) has come," she said. READ MORE

Iran and China expressed support on Thursday for a Russian compromise proposal to resolve Tehran's standoff with Western governments which suspect it of secretly planning to build a nuclear bomb.

Tehran has previously shown little interest in the idea, intended to ensure it does not covertly divert enriched fuel toward a weapons program. It has repeatedly insisted it has no plans to build bombs but has the right to enrich uranium fuel on its territory for nuclear power generation.

Iran's apparent change of heart, coupled with backing from major power China, raised the possibility that a Feb. 2 meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency could decide to delay a decision on referral to the Security Council, which could impose sanctions. Many states are reluctant to push a confrontation with Iran, a major oil producing state.