UNITED NATIONS, April 20: Secretary-General Kofi Annan has called for a ‘negotiated solution’ of the Iran crisis.

“We need to intensify the diplomatic efforts to find such a solution,” he said while talking to reporters on Tuesday.

“I also believe that the Iranians, who have repeated time and again that their intention is a peaceful one, should find a way of reassuring the international community that indeed their intentions are peaceful and get everybody back to the table,” Mr Annan added.

Asked if he agreed with the assessment of some American and European officials that Iran is much closer to making weapons grade uranium, Mr Annan said, “I really don’t know. I have to wait for the report of Mr ElBaradei.”