Iran looks set to be referred to the UN Security Council over its nuclear programme. The five permanent members of the Council agreed unanimously after a long meeting in London that Tehran should be asked to send representatives to New York to answer questions about its nuclear ambitions.

This week’s meeting of the UN’s nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency or IAEA, will consider a request to report Iran to the Council. Earlier this month, UN seals were broken open at a nuclear facility in Iran, with the intention that research would be resumed.

The EU and the US are concerned that the Iranians are trying to make nuclear weapons, but Tehran insists it is a civilian programme designed to generate power. But now, it seems Russia and China have taken the same view as their Security Council counterparts.

But the Iranians remain hopeful of a diplomatic solution. “Hopefully we can solve this through negotiation,” said government minister Javad Vaedi.

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