Britain, Germany warn Iran

Britain and Germany warned Iran yesterday it could be hauled before the UN Security Council over its nuclear ambitions, but both countries said they still hoped for a diplomatic way out of the impasse. Since Iran's 18-year secret nuclear programme was...

Britain and Germany warned Iran yesterday it could be hauled before the UN Security Council over its nuclear ambitions, but both countries said they still hoped for a diplomatic way out of the impasse.

Since Iran's 18-year secret nuclear programme was exposed three years ago, European Union nations Britain, France and Germany have tried to find a way to ensure Iran cannot make an atomic bomb while developing civilian nuclear technology.

Their patience has worn thin after three years of talks and the "EU3" has backed American calls, endorsed unanimously by the US Senate on Friday, for Iran to be reported to the Security Council for a vote on economic sanctions.

Foreign ministers of the five permanent Security Council members, plus Germany, will meet in London tomorrow to see if they can agree to call for Iran to be referred to the UN at an emergency meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna on Thursday.

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