"It has been our belief, and it is that of the Europeans as well and a number of other states, that the time has come for referral" to the UN Security Council, Rice told the media after her meeting with visiting Italian Foreign Minister Gianfranco Fini.

    The United States will push for referral of the Iran nuclear issue to the United Nations at a special meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency early next month, Rice said.

    For his part, Fini said he fully agrees that Iran should be sent to the Security Council. However, Fini noted that as Iran's largest European trading partner, Italy might suffer economic consequences as well if sanctions are imposed on Iran.

    "The Security Council will evaluate the issue, we hope, with flexibility and with political farsightedness," Fini said. Enditem