TEHRAN, May 19: Iran’s decision to resume some of its sensitive nuclear work is “irreversible” despite the danger of being referred to the UN Security Council, a senior official told AFP on Thursday. His comment followed the European Union exerting pressure on Tehran over its nuclear programme — ahead of crisis talks between the two sides slated for next week — with an EU warning that it could yet haul the Islamic state before the UN Security Council.

On Thursday, nuclear negotiator Hossein Moussavian spelled out Tehran’s decision and also cautioned that it was “not certain” that the crisis talks will take place next week with the foreign ministers of Britain, France and Germany. The holding of the talks, he said, were subject to experts from both sides reaching a “mutually acceptable” basis of an agreement over the coming days.—AFP