U.S., Other Nations Meet to Discuss Iran
By BETH GARDINER, Associated Press Writer
LONDON -- The United States, EU, Russia and China met Monday to discuss Iran's nuclear program, with Washington and the European Union pushing to bring the Islamic state before the U.N. Security Council.
Iran's decision to restart its nuclear program alarmed the West, which fears the regime intends to build an atomic bomb. Iran, which insists it only wants to produce electricity, has threatened to end cooperation the U.N. nuclear watchdog if it is brought before the Security Council....
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Britain, France and Germany said last week they want Iran referred to the Security Council, declaring more than two years of tense negotiations at a "dead end."
But they need the support of Russia and China, which have close commercial ties with Iran and have resisted such a measure in the past. Straw said talks with the two countries_ which have veto power on the Security Council -- was of "crucial importance."
Monday's talks aim to build consensus on what action to take ahead of an emergency board meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency, the U.N. nuclear watchdog, expected in February....
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