Iran: EU-3 wants IAEA meeting

2006-01-16 21:37

London - Britain, France and Germany are to call an emergency meeting of the UN nuclear watchdog about Iran for February 2 and 3, said the foreign office on Monday after a meeting of international diplomats.

"The EU-3 informed the other participants of their intention to call for an extraordinary IAEA board of governors meeting on the 2nd and 3rd of February," a spokesperson told AFP.

The statement came at the end of closed-door talks in London involving senior diplomats from Britain, France and Germany - the so-called EU-3 - and their counterparts from China, Russia and the United States.

The discussions came amid calls for the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to refer Iran to the UN security council, a possible precursor for sanctions, after Tehran's decision to resume uranium enrichment testing.

"There was a valuable exchange of views among the participants," the foreign office spokesperson said, calling the meeting "an informal discussion".

"There was serious concern among the participants about Iranian moves to restart enrichment-related activities contrary to the appeals of the international community for them not to do so," he said.

"There was agreement on the importance of Iran returning to the full suspension and negotiating process.

"There was a thorough exchange of views on the role of the UN security council in reinforcing the continuing process at the IAEA in Vienna.

"These discussions will continue with the aim of reaching agreement on the way forward. The participants remain committed to a diplomatic solution."

- AFP