MOSCOW, Sept 5: Russia said on Monday it opposed reporting Iran to the UN Security Council over its nuclear programme, as signs emerged that European support for such a measure could be waning. European Union and US officials have said they will push for Iran’s nuclear case to be sent to the Security Council — which has the power to impose sanctions — if Tehran does not halt all nuclear fuel work and resume negotiations with the EU.

“In these circumstances we see no reason why the question should be sent to the U.N. (Security Council),” the Russian foreign ministry said in a statement.

Russia has been criticized by Washington for building a nuclear plant in Iran, but is a permanent member of the Council and can use its veto to block any move against Iran. The United States, Britain, China and France are the other permanent members who wield vetoes on the Security Council.

Iran, which denies wanting nuclear weapons as suspected by Washington and the European Union, angered the EU by resuming uranium processing work at a plant in Isfahan — a move which led EU officials to threaten the Security Council referral.

But on Monday, senior British and German officials toned down their rhetoric and called for more diplomacy.

Wolfgang Gerhardt, who could become Germany’s foreign minister after the Sept 18 general election, said Iran should not be referred to the Security Council.

“The Iran negotiations are not yet a topic for the Security Council, rather the negotiations should be revived,” he said.

Separately, a senior British government official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the Council’s task was to reinforce diplomatic efforts to resolve the impasse rather than “take a punitive approach”.

“We disagree with the Russians on what they’ve said so far and we’ll take forward these discussions,” he said. “The Prime Minister (Tony Blair) will probably raise this in China and we’ll see where we are at the end of this week.”

RUSSIANS & EUROPEANS: Russia has long warned against using force to stop Tehran’s nuclear programme and called for diplomatic ways to settle disagreements. At the same time Russia has called on Iran to halt uranium conversion and improve ties with U.N. nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).