Tuesday, January 31 2006 15:06 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: With the five permanent members of UN Security Council deciding to refer the Iran nuclear issue to the world body, India today(Jan 31,2006)said it was reviewing the situation and would articulate its stand shortly.

"We are reviewing the situation and come out with our stand at appropriate time," Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee said here.

Responding to questions at his media interaction at 4th Def Expo, the Minister said there were still 48 hours for the International Atomic Energy Agency to vote on transferring the issue of Iran's refusal to cap its Uranium enrichment programme.

The IAEA, which meets on Thursday in Vienna, may refer Iran to the Security Council, which can impose sanctions against that country.

The five permanent members of the UN Security Council, including US, UK, China, France and Russia, met yesterday and unanimously decided to haul Iran before the body over its disputed nuclear programme. They however decided against taking any action against Tehran until March in a compromise with Russia and China who favored giving more time to the Persian nation.