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Iran: efforts to rope in China, Russia

United Nations: In an effort to increase pressure on Iran, Britain and France, backed by the U.S., circulated to 10 non-permanent members a proposed tough statement they would like the U.N. Security Council to issue on Teheran nuclear issue even as they were still trying to persuade Russia and China to support their plan.

Generally, the five permanent members go to the 10 only after they have come to an agreement among themselves. But Britain and France decided to circulate the statement in the hope they would find an overwhelming support among them and that would increase the pressure on Russia and China to fall in line.

Britain, France and the U.S. want the UNSC to call on Iran to end its uranium enrichment programme which they suspect is aimed at making nuclear weapons. Teheran strongly denies that and contends its aim is to produce fuel for its nuclear power plants.

Appeal for help

In Teheran, Iran urged Russia and China to defend its nuclear programme, the Foreign Ministry said.

``We hope that Russia, China, permanent and non-permanent members of the Security Council ... pay heed that defending Iran is rather defending international organisations, collective work and multilateralism,'' a spokesman told reporters. — Agencies

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