Russia said yesterday it opposed reporting Iran to the UN Security Council over its nuclear program, putting itself on a collision course with the US in a global body where Moscow holds a veto.

US and EU officials have warned they will push for Iran's nuclear case to be sent to the Security Council -- which could impose sanctions -- if Teheran does not halt all nuclear fuel work and resume negotiations with the EU.

"In these circumstances we see no reason why the question should be sent to the UN (Security Council)," the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on its website www.mid.ru.

Russia, which has built a nuclear power plant for Iran and sees Teheran as a key ally in the Middle East, is a permanent member of the Council and can use its veto power to block any move against Iran. The remaining four members with a veto are the US, Britain, China and France.

The West has criticized Russia for developing nuclear ties with oil-rich Iran and believes Teheran's atomic energy program conceals ambitions to make nuclear weapons.

Iran denies having secret plans to make atomic bombs. But it infuriated the West by resuming uranium conversion last month at a plant in Isfahan, which led EU officials to threaten Security Council referral.

Russia, while calling on Iran to halt uranium conversion and improve ties with the UN nuclear watchdog, has long warned against using force to stop Teheran's nuclear program and called for diplomatic ways to resolve the stand-off.

"There are a number of questions related to Iran's past nuclear activities which need an additional investigation by the (International Atomic Energy) Agency together with the Iranian side," the Foreign Ministry said.

The report by IAEA chief Mohamed ElBaradei, circulated to diplomats on Friday, said the agency was still not able to say Iran did not have secret nuclear materials or activities. The IAEA board is due to meet on September 19 to discuss Iran.

"We expect the September 19 session of the IAEA board of governors to thoroughly discuss the report and outline further steps aimed at solving the remaining questions," the Foreign Ministry said.

Iran says it has answered almost all the UN nuclear watchdog's outstanding questions about its nuclear program and that nothing has been uncovered that would justify sending Teheran to the Security Council.

Opposing voice from Germany

Germany's most likely next foreign minister also insisted yesterday that Iran should not be referred to the UN Security Council for punitive action.

Wolfgang Gerhardt, foreign policy spokesman for Germany's opposition Free Democrats, said the EU's three biggest powers -- Britain, France and Germany -- should first try to revive talks with Teheran.

The three powers suspended the talks after Iran restarted work at Isfahan.

"I think that the Iran negotiations are not yet a topic for the Security Council, rather the negotiations should be revived," said Gerhardt, who is expected to become foreign minister if Angela Merkel's conservatives win the September 18 election and form a coalition with the FDP.

(China Daily September 6, 2005)