Annan urges Iran to freeze nuclear plans, talk

UNITED NATIONS:U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan urged Iran to freeze its nuclear activities so negotiations can go on with Russia and European Union powers over Tehran's nuclear ambitions.

Iran has announced it would resume enrichment of nuclear fuel after the governing board of the International Atomic Energy Agency voted last weekend to report Iran to the U.N. Security Council over its nuclear program.

"What is important is that both sides have said negotiations are not dead, both sides are prepared to talk. I would urge them to continue," Annan told reporters.

"In the meantime, it will be important that no steps are taken that will escalate the already tense situation, and I hope Iran will continue to freeze its activities the way they are now, to allow talks to go forward," he said.

Annan also appeared to side with Russia and China - and against the United States and EU - in a dispute over the meaning of last Saturday's IAEA board vote.

"If the issue were to be referred here to the (Security) Council, I would work with the member states to find the best way to deal with it," Annan said. United Nations,Friday Reuters