Iran UN referred to UN security council

The international standoff with Iran has reached a new phase as the UN security council prepares to examine Tehran’s nuclear activities.

An IAEA report on Iran's nuclear programme is being forwarded to New York for consideration of possible punitive action.

On Wednesday the UN nuclear watchdog said it could not "conclude that there are no undeclared nuclear materials or activities in Iran."

The nuclear body’s pessimistic conclusion sees the crisis enter a new stage as Iranian and western leaders ratchet up the rhetoric.

US vice president Dick Cheney pointed to "meaningful consequences" if Iran does not meet international demands.

Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad hit back with a warning that western countries  would suffer if they continued to try to impede Iran's attempts to develop nuclear technology.

One senior Iranian security official said Iran could inflict "harm and pain" to match whatever punishment Washington persuaded the security council to mete out.

"So if the US wishes to choose that path, let the ball roll," he added.

In a bid to ease tensions IAEA chief Mohamed ElBaradei has appealed to both sides to "lower the rhetoric."

"Everybody is looking forward to a political settlement...What we need now at this stage is a cool-headed approach," he insisted. 

Although Iran’s dossier has been sent to New York, sanctions remain a long way off and still might not come at all.

Russia and China – who both hold veto powers in the security council - are reluctant to see sanctions applied.

In the coming weeks we can expect the UN to step up its efforts to cajole Tehran into complying with IAEA requirements.

But this will require close diplomatic co-operation between the EU and US and Russia and China.

The security council is set to begin discussion of the Iranian dossier on March 12.

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