UNITED NATIONS, March 9: The five permanent members of the UN Security Council met on Wednesday to chart a strategy to deal with the Iranian nuclear issue after its referral to the council by the IAEA’s board of directors.

The envoys of China, Russia, France, Britain and the United States met informally to consider their response. The five ambassadors described the meeting as preliminary. Another session was set for Friday, and more meetings are likely next week.

American Ambassador John Bolton said he feels a sense of urgency given Iran’s uranium enrichment activity and attempts to overcome technical difficulties in their nuclear program.

“We’re going to be talking about the way ahead, particularly in view of the Iranian enrichment in violation of their commitments and obligations under the IAEA resolutions, and to discuss what the appropriate response and role of the Security Council will be,” he said.

China’s UN Ambassador Wang Guangya called the situation ‘serious’. But he told reporters ‘all measures must not irritate the situation’.

French envoy Jean-Marc de La Sabliere suggested the council would approach the issue cautiously. “The action of the council should be gradual, and we will follow a gradual approach. Why are we following a gradual approach, because what we want is Iran to go back to suspension,” he said.