Iran firm against West pressure

Iran: Iranian leaders are standing firm against pressure from the West over its nuclear programme.

Representatives from European Union member countries say that talks with Iran over its nuclear programme have come to a standstill.

The US and the European Union's three most powerful members — Germany, Britain and France — think that the Iran issue should be put before the United Nations Security Council.

This could eventually lead to international sanctions on the world's fourth biggest oil exporter.

However, Iran's chief nuclear negotiator maintains that the country's nuclear plans are for peaceful means.

The former president of Iran, Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, now head of Iran's top political arbitration body says, "The subject is now very serious and sensitive and is the top issue. It seems that the West doesn't want Islamic countries to get new technology. They want us to remain backward but we are determined to have this technology."

Meanwhile, the UN Secretary General Kofi Annan spoke with Iran's chief nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani.

"Basically, I called him to urge him to avoid any escalation," said Annan.

Meanwhile US, Germanu, Britain and France will have to fight hard to win Russia and China over to their side.

Russia and China are permanent Security Council members and have veto powers.

With the two countries on the side of the European Union and the US, Iran might just be facing serious action by the United Nations for re-starting nuclear research.