EU powers say talks with Iran have reached a 'dead end' - Haaretz

[Coastie for Truth]

Tensions between Iran and Western powers over the Muslim state's controversial nuclear program touched a new peak on Thursday as the foreign ministers of Germany, Britain and France said that negotiations with Iran had reached a "dead end" and that Tehran should be referred to the UN Security Council for possible sanctions.

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice joined the European powers on Thursday and said Iran must be referred to the UN Security Council. Rice also called for an emergency meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency.

But UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan said on Thursday that Iran remains interested in "serious and constructive negotiations" with the European Union on its nuclear program, as long as the talks don't go on too long.

Annan said after a 40-minute telephone conversation with Iran's chief nuclear negotiator, Ali Larijani, that Larijani had told him Tehran was "interested in serious and constructive negotiations, but within a time frame," Annan told reporters.

At the same time, former Iranian president Hashemi Rafsanjani said Thursday that confrontation with Western states has reached a climax and Tehran is determined to press ahead with its controversial program despite "colonial taboos.

European foreign ministers said Thursday that nuclear talks with Iran had reached a dead end after more than two years of acrimonious negotiations and the issue should be referred to the U.N. Security Council.

The top diplomats from France, Germany and Britain, however, held back from calling for the 15-nation council to impose sanctions and said they remained open to more talks.

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice also said a "strong message" had to be sent to Tehran but said she was not ready to talk about what action should be taken to curtail Iran's nuclear ambitions.

Iran's top nuclear negotiator, Ali Larijani, told U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan that Tehran was interested in resuming "serious and constructive negotiations" with the Europeans but this time wanted a deadline

U.S. Senator and former Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry said on Thursday that Iran was making a dangerous choice in pushing ahead with its nuclear ambitions.

``Iran has made a dangerous and silly decision of confronting not just the U.S. government but the entire international community,'' Kerry told reporters in the southern Indian technology hub of Hyderabad during a visit to India.

Kerry's statement came as officials from Britain, France and Germany plan to meet their counterparts from China, Russia and the United States in London next week to discuss Iran's decision to restart sensitive nuclear work.

Kerry said Iran could be referred to the U.N. Security Council if the crisis continued.