Door wide open for UN action against Iran

The board of governors of the UN watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, meets in Vienna on Monday to consider a report on Iran's nuclear programme that could set off Security Council punitive measures.

"The report is presented to the board and then has to go to the Security Council," IAEA spokesman Peter Rickwood said Saturday.

The IAEA's 35-nation board of governors had reported Iran on February 4 to the UN Security Council but left a month open for diplomacy before the world body decides what measures, if any, to take.

EU powers and Iran failed Friday to strike a deal in talks that could have blocked possible Security Council action over Western fears that Tehran is secretly developing atomic weapons.

"Time is running out," German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said after two hours of talks in Vienna that had been requested by Iran's top nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani.

The Vienna talks, which also included Britain, France and EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana, were held "in a constructive atmosphere, but finally we were unable to reach agreement," Steinmeier added.