January 25, 2006	Wednesday	Zilhaj 24, 1426

WASHINGTON, Jan 24: The United States said on Monday it was ‘absolutely’ crucial to refer the row over Iran’s nuclear program to the UN Security Council, but suggested the world body might wait before taking action.

President George Bush and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice both sought to maintain pressure on Iran 10 days before a key international meeting on Tehran’s suspected plans to build a nuclear bomb.

Mr Bush said that unless Iran eases concerns, referral to the UN Security Council would be the ‘next logical step’ when the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) meets in Vienna on Feb 2.

Ms Rice was more blunt about US expectations for the meeting of the IAEA board of governors, which in September declared Iran in breach of its international nuclear non-proliferation obligations.

“It seems to me that the case for referral is very strong and that’s what we intend to seek at the IAEA board of governors meeting,” Ms Rice said after talks with Italian Foreign Minister Gianfranco Fini.

“The Security Council can then take up the matter at a later time but the referral absolutely has to be made,” Ms Rice told a joint press conference.

Ms Rice did not elaborate on her comment suggesting a lag in Security Council action, but State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said it could give time for a negotiated settlement to the confrontation.

“Our hope is that once Iran is referred to the Security Council that that provides a context in which a diplomatic solution can be found,” McCormack told reporters at the department’s daily briefing.

He insisted the United States had the votes within the 35-member IAEA board for a UN referral. But White House spokesman Scott McClellan said, “We’re continuing to talk to others to broaden that consensus.”

Washington and its European allies decided to push for Security Council action after Tehran broke off talks on its nuclear program and announced it was resuming sensitive research on uranium enrichment.

Countries such as Russia and China have balked against taking a tougher line with Iran, which says its nuclear program is for strictly peaceful purposes. But Rice insisted UN involvement was key at this point.

“Without going to the Security Council we are not going to have the context in which Iran will understand that it’s truly isolated on this issue and must deal with the international community’s just demands,” she said.

Mr Bush, on a visit to the midwestern US state of Kansas, pledged to defend Israel against any threats from Iran, whose president has said the Jewish state should be eradicated.

“The world cannot be put in a position where we can be blackmailed by a nuclear weapon,” Mr Bush said.

Ms Rice saw little use in reviving negotiations that had been led by Britain, France and Germany in an effort to persuade Iran to give up any nuclear weapons ambitions for a package of economic and other incentives.

She said it was the Iranians who walked out on talks and broke seals on a key nuclear facility. “I don’t see much room for further discussion in any format while those conditions exist,” Rice said.—AFP