All 15 members of the Security Council were informed on Tuesday that the three Western powers want the council to adopt in response to a recent report on Iran's programmes released by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

The 35-nation IAEA board in Vienna has asked Iran to suspend uranium enrichment-related activities, which Western countries believe are a cover for bomb making, and said Iran should co-operate with IAEA inspectors. However, Iran denies it is trying to make a nuclear weapon.

Russia and China would like a simple statement acknowledging a report sent to the council last week from the IAEA that formally opened the door to Security Council action. Their aim was to have the IAEA and not the Security Council control the crisis.

The Western nations would like a statement that would call on Iran to stop all uranium enrichment-related activities and for the IAEA to report back to the Security Council in a short period of time. Britain suggested 14 days but any date is likely to be closer to 30 days.

Reuters