BEIJING, Jan. 13 -- The foreign ministers of Germany, Britain and France said on Thursday that negotiations with Iran over its nuclear programme had reached a "dead end" and that Tehran should be referred to the U.N. Security Council for possible sanctions. 

 ;   In a joint statement, they cited Iran's "documented record of concealment and deception" and charged that its government is "intent on turning its back on better relations with the international community."

    German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said in Berlin after meeting with his French and British counterparts and the European Union's foreign policy chief, Javier Solana, that they have decided to let the Council of Governors of the IAEA know that EU's talks with Iran have come to a dead point.

    "We are asking the Council of Governors to deal with this situation. We are willing as before to solve this problem in a diplomatic, within a multilateral frame and with peaceful means. Therefore we are going to consult in the following days and weeks with our important neighbour states and members of the IAEA's Council of Governors"

    Solana said the EU and national governments were left with no choice but to call for Iran's referral. But he would not rule out a new round of negotiations with Tehran.

    The EU's Berlin meeting came two days after Iran broke U.N. seals at a uranium enrichment plant and said it was resuming nuclear research after a two-year freeze.

    (Source: CRIENGLISH.com)