UN should act against Iran: Britain

Berlin: Britain wants the UN Security Council to take action against Iran, after it resumed nuclear fuel research.

British, French and German foreign ministers are meeting on Thursday to discuss a response, after Iran veered closer to United Nations action by pledging to continue sensitive nuclear research.

The three European Union countries have been seeking a negotiated solution for two years.

However in recent times both Britain and the United States have warned that Iran was likely to be referred to the UN Security Council for possible sanctions.

However, Iran is undeterred. The President of Iran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, says they will not give in to western pressures and will continue the nuclear research.

On Tuesday Iran broke the UN seals at the Natanz nuclear plant to resume research into uranium enrichment.

And though Ahmadinejad reiterated that the country's nuclear programme is entirely peaceful and for civilian purposes, the action has prompted a furious reaction from world leaders who fear Tehran is trying to develop nuclear weapons.

Despite protests by the United States, the United Kingdom, the European Union and Australia, Ahmadinejad vowed not to be intimidated by the "fuss" and said he hoped atomic energy would soon "serve the progress" of the country.

Former president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, now head of Iran's top political arbitration body said, "With wisdom we will get our rights, and if they create any trouble for us, they will regret it in the end and Iran will emerge triumphant."

US Vice President Dick Cheney has said referral to the Security Council would be the probable next step and British Prime Minister Tony Blair has demanded that the UN impose punitive action on Iran.

UN Secretary General Kofi Annan has said that he is "very concerned" over Iran's activity, but that it is up to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to deal with the matter.

IAEA director Mohamed ElBaradei is expected to make a special report on Iran's lack of cooperation with agency inspectors.

(With inputs from AFP)