Iran's top nuclear negotiator met the head of the UN atomic watchdog today after announcing a plan to head off EU preparations to refer Iran to the UN Security Council for possible sanctions.
The EU has held two years of talks with Iran to persuade it to abandon sensitive atomic work, which is believed to be aimed at making the Islamic Republic a nuclear-armed power in the volatile Middle East.
The talks appeared close to collapse after Iran resumed uranium conversion work this month, prompting the EU to cancel a 31 August meeting.
Frustrated by Iran's refusal to stop its work, the EU is now preparing the road to possible sanctions.
