Europe Moves Toward Delay of Iran Referral

The New York Times:

By STEVEN R. WEISMAN Published: November 22, 2005

WASHINGTON, Nov. 21 - The leading countries of Europe conferred about Iran on Monday, with growing indications that they would not move later this week to refer Iran's recent actions in its nuclear program to the United Nations Security Council for possible sanctions.

Western diplomats said it remained important to keep a consensus on Iran, not only between Europe and the United States but also with China, Russia and India, all of which have said they oppose a referral to the Security Council at this time.

The diplomats, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the talks while they were in progress, also said no final decision had been made about whether to seek a referral at the next opportunity, a meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency's board on Thursday. The senior American envoy on Iran said talks with the Europeans were continuing.

"It's a period of great fluidity, diplomatically," said the envoy, R. Nicholas Burns, the under secretary of state for political affairs. He added that he found his recent talks with the Europeans, the Chinese and the Russians encouraging because "a wider circle of countries" was working "to send one message to Iran."

If Iran's case is not referred to the Security Council on Thursday by the atomic agency, its next opportunity would be well into next year.

American officials say that one topic of discussion with Iran is a recent offer by Russia to enrich uranium for Iran to use for energy purposes, thus preventing Iran from enriching uranium itself to the point at which it could be used to make a bomb.

Iran, however, has warned that if it is referred to the Security Council, it would bar United Nations inspectors from its nuclear sites.