Saturday, March 25 2006 12:44 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

United Nations: In an effort to break the deadlock over the Iranian nuclear programme, envoys of the five veto-wielding permanent members of the UN Security Council are working to produce a consensus statement on the issue by early next week.

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice also discussed Iran with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov over telephone yesterday. Russia has taken the toughest stand against the daft submitted by Britain and France on Iran.

However, diplomats at the UN said that the Ambassadors of the veto-wielding permanent members of the Council would continue their labour over the weekend in an effort to produce a consensus draft by early next week.

It was not clear whether Lavrov has given any assurance though Rice said they had agreed to continuation of negotiations over the weekend for a statement through which, Americans and its allies, want to send a clear message toIran that its programme to enrich uranium is not acceptable to the international community.

The tough draft backed by the US expresses concern over Iran's uranium enrichment programme, asks Tehran to stop it and calls on the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to report within two weeks on Tehran's compliance.

Diplomats said Britain and France are prepared to modify slightly the draft but would like to know beforehand whetherthe amendments would be acceptable to Russia. Though China also supports Russian position, diplomats say Beijing has shown more flexibility.

If the Ambassadors' efforts fail, the next logical step would be for the Western countries to bring in a resolution and dare Russia and China to veto it. A resolution needs nine votes in the 15-member Council for being adopted provided there is no veto.

Russia has been pressing that the Council issue a small political statement backing IAEA's efforts to persuade Iran to stop its uranium enrichment activities and hold out no threat.

It would like IAEA to continue efforts to persuade Iran to give up its nuclear enrichment plans. But Britain and France would like the Council to deal with it.