EU powers want Iran referred to UN Security Council

BERLIN (Reuters) - The European Union's three biggest powers said on Thursday talks with Iran had reached an impasse and agreed it should be hauled before the U.N. Security Council for possible sanctions because of its nuclear program.

"Our talks with Iran have reached a dead end," German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said after meeting with his British and French counterparts, Jack Straw and Philippe Douste-Blazy, and EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana.

"We believe the time has now come for the Security Council to become involved to reinforce the authority of the IAEA Resolutions," Steinmeier told reporters, referring to the International Atomic Energy Agency's board of governors.

"We will therefore be calling for an extraordinary IAEA board meeting with a view for it to take the necessary action to that end."

The "EU3," like the United States, believe Iran is developing nuclear weapons under cover of a civilian atomic energy program. Iran denies the charge, insisting its nuclear ambitions are limited to the peaceful generation of electricity.

By agreeing to refer Iran to the Security Council, the ministers signaled an end to 2-1/2 years of diplomatic efforts by the EU trio to convince the Islamic republic to abandon its uranium enrichment program.

Iran escalated its nuclear standoff with the West on Tuesday when it began removing the U.N. seals on equipment used to enrich uranium -- a process of purifying it for use as fuel in nuclear power plants or, when very highly enriched, in bombs.

Iran removed seals at three sites -- Natanz, Pars Trash and Farayand Technique. Iran has installed some 164 centrifuges -- machines that enrich uranium by spinning at supersonic speeds -- at Natanz but the diplomat said they were mostly not functional.