Iran nuclear stand-off 'reaching critical state'

Iran has threatened to retaliate in the face of almost certain referral to the UN Security Council for its nuclear activities, and the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency said the dispute was ”reaching a critical phase”.

Before a decision by the IAEA’s 35-nation board, US and European delegates turned to behind-the-scenes diplomacy yesterday to build the broadest possible support for reporting Iran to the council over concerns it is seeking nuclear weapons.