VIENNA, Nov 13: Iran warned Thursday there would be an international crisis if the International Atomic Energy Agency referred Tehran’s controversial nuclear programme to the United Nations Security Council.

Such a move by the UN’s nuclear watchdog could “escalate the issue into an international crisis”, said Iran’s representative to the IAEA, Ali Akbar Salehi.

The IAEA’s board of governors is to meet next week to consider whether Tehran is in compliance with the safeguards agreement of the international nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

The United States accuses Iran, which is building a civil nuclear power station with Russian help, of secretly developing atomic weapons, a charge Tehran denies.

On Nov 20 the IAEA board will study a report from its director general, Mohamed ElBaradei, that accuses Iran of covert nuclear activities over the past 20 years.

But the report says there is as yet no evidence Tehran is trying to produce a nuclear bomb, according to a copy obtained by AFP.

The US wants the IAEA board to decide at the Nov 20 meeting to refer Iran’s case to UN Security Council, which could in turn impose punishing sanctions on the Islamic republic.—AFP