Iran urged the European Union on Sunday to return to negotiations on its nuclear programme, saying talks were the only way to defuse its nuclear standoff with the West. Britain, France and Germany called off the long-running talks after Tehran broke U.N. seals on uranium enrichment equipment earlier this month. "Iran still thinks that a solution can be found through talks," Foreign Ministry spokesman Hamid Reza Asefi told a weekly news conference. "We do not suggest the EU3 adopt any other way but restarting talks because then the Europeans would pay the cost as well." Asefi denounced as "politically motivated" the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) board's crisis meeting, at which the United States and the European Union are expected to press for Iran's referral to the Security Council for possible sanctions. Russia and China, IAEA board members who also have veto votes on the Security Council, have urged restraint and more talks with Tehran, according to a report of Reuters. "Iran has no fears of the Security Council, but it is a wrong method," Asefi said. "Threatening Iran with the referral is not appropriate."
