US strike on Iran 'not on the cards', says Annan

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan said today Iran is co-operating with European countries in discussing its nuclear energy programme and that he did not foresee a military strike by the US, which accuses Iran of developing nuclear weapons.

Until recently, the US said that while it would pursue diplomatic means to persuade Iran to give up its nuclear programme, it was not prepared to take the military option off the table.

But after Europe made clear it would not support the use of force against Iran, Washington changed tactics, toned down its rhetoric and agreed to offer Tehran economic incentives in return for permanently freezing its nuclear programme.

However, Iranian President Mohammad Khatami has said no incentives exist that would persuade Iran to give up its nuclear ambitions. The current round of negotiations with the European powers is scheduled to end on Friday.

“There are serious discussions going on between Iran and three European countries – Germany, the UK and France. Iran has been co-operating with them very well,” Annan told reporters during a visit to India.

Asked whether he expected US military action against Iran, he said “I don’t think that is in the cards.”

Earlier today, Annan said countries should decide before a UN General Assembly meeting in September whether to reform the United Nations, including making the Security Council more representative.

Expansion of the Security Council would require a change in the UN Charter, so a resolution would have to be approved by two-thirds of the 191-member General Assembly. It also must avoid veto by any of the five permanent Security Council members.

“Member states should agree to take a decision one way or the other before the summit meeting this September on the proposal before them, including making the Security Council more broadly representative of the international community as a whole and of the geopolitical realities of today,” Annan said at a public lecture.

China, one of the five permanent members, said this month it opposes a timetable for expanding the council, a blow to the four countries – Japan, Germany, India and Brazil – seeking permanent seats through a resolution to that effect by this summer.