EU-3 Take Steps To Refer Iran To Security Council

Demonstrators outside the Foreign and Commonwealth Offices in London today urging Britain to refer Iran to the UN Security Council (epa) 16 January 2006 -- Germany, France, and Britain have decided to draft a resolution referring Iran to the United Nations Security Council over Iran's nuclear program.

Britain's Foreign Office said the three countries -- often referred to as the EU-3 -- will call for an emergency meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency's Board of Governors on 2 February, at which the resolution will be considered.

The announcement followed a meeting of diplomats from Germany and the five permanent members of the Security Council in London today.

European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana said he was "confident" that Russia and China would back the EU initiative.

Speaking earlier today, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Moscow's position on the Iranian nuclear issue is now "very close" to that of European countries and the United States.

China has not made a public statement.

Iran claims the right to pursue its civilian nuclear program and denies it is developing nuclear weapons.

(Reuters, AP)