Related: Statement from permanent five on Iran nuclear issue

    LONDON, Jan. 31 (Xinhuanet) -- The permanent five members of the U.N. Security Council agreed on early Tuesday that this week's IAEA meeting should report Iran to the Security Council over its nuclear program, said a joint statement.

    But the foreign ministers of the permanent five members also said the Security Council should wait until March to take up the Iran case, after a formal report on Tehran's activities from the UN watchdog agency.

    "(Ministers) agreed that this week's extraordinary IAEA(International Atomic Energy Agency) Board meeting should report to the Security Council its decision on the steps required of Iran," said a joint statement after the meeting held in London between the foreign ministers of China, Russia, the United States, France and Britain as well as Germany.

    "(Ministers) underlined their commitment to the NPT and their determination to prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons," said the joint statement.

    The foreign ministers also shared serious concerns about Iran's nuclear programme, and agreed that an extensive period of confidence-building was required from Iran.

    The ministers called on Iran to restore in full the suspension of enrichment-related activity, including R&D, under the supervision of the IAEA, said the statement.

    "(Ministers) agreed that the Security Council should await the Director General's report to the March meeting of the IAEA Board, which would include a report on the implementation of the February Board's Resolution, and any Resolution from the March meeting,before deciding to take action to reinforce the authority of the IAEA process," said the joint statement.

    The statement added that the ministers also confirmed their resolve to continue to work for a diplomatic solution to the Iran problem. Enditem