Any sanctions imposed on Iran over its nuclear programme would not target the Iranian people, the Bush administration said on Thursday in a scathing attack on the Islamic republicâs leadership. Condoleezza Rice, US secretary of state, gave assurances that scholars, musicians and athletes â a reference to Iranâs World Cup soccer team â would not be penalised, as the US joined the three leading European powers in announcing their determination to refer Tehran to the United Nations Security Council over its plan to begin uranium enrichment. Ms Rice would not be drawn on what kind of UN sanctions the US was considering. There was a âmenu of possibilitiesâ, she told reporters in Washington.The Bush administration, which is looking at ways to support the Iranian opposition, made clear it wanted to target the leadership. Condemning the anti-Israeli comments of Mahmoud Ahmadi-Nejad, Iranâs president, Ms Rice said: âHe has increased Iranâs isolation every time he has opened his mouth."
Ms Riceâs statement came after foreign ministers from France, Germany and Britain declared that efforts by the so-called EU3 over the past two years to negotiate with Iran over its nuclear ambitions âhad come to a dead endâ.
Kofi Annan, the UN secretary-general, said that Ali Larijani, Iranâs chief negotiator, told him yesterday that Tehran remained interested in âserious and constructive negotiationsâ. But it wanted talks âwithin a timeframeâ, as âthe last time they did it for two and a half years with no resultâ, Mr Annan said He initiated the telephone call, which lasted 40 minutes, but a senior UN official played down suggestions of an independent initiative by the secretary-general. Mr Annan urged Iran to exercise restraint. âIt is part of his continued efforts to keep the diplomatic process on track,â said a UN official. Mr Annan was due to brief the EU3, the US and Russia last night.
But speaking in Berlin after a meeting of the countriesâ foreign ministers, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, representing the hosts, said an extraordinary meeting of the board of governors of the International Atomic Energy Authority, the UNâs nuclear watchdog, would be convened âwith a view to referring the issue to the Security Councilâ. The step follows Tehranâs decision this week to resume a âpilot projectâ to enrich uranium â the process that can lead to making weapons-grade material. Some diplomats describe Iranâs activity as a âsmall production lineâ, but Tehran has not yet begun enrichment, which takes time to set up.
Philippe Douste-Blazy, French foreign minister, called on Russia and China, which have both been reluctant to involve the Security Council in the past, âto show greater awareness of the increased unityâ in the international community. China called for Iran to return to talks and urged all parties to exercise restraint, while Russia urged Tehran to freeze its activities. Senior EU3 diplomats are to meet counterparts from China, Russia and the US in London on Monday. Other meetings were likely to follow, before the IAEA meeting was convened âwithin a few weeksâ, diplomats said.
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