Foreign ministers of the European Union (EU) said on Thursday that they will refer Iran to the UN Security Council unless Iran returns to talks on its nuclear program, the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) reported.

At an informal meeting of EU foreign ministers in Newport, Wales, the EU trio of Britain, France and Germany deplored the recent collapse of negotiations with Tehran and said UN intervention could well become the only option if Iran did not return to talks.

EU external relations commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner said Iran should not underestimate European resolve, according to the BBC report.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is due to report on Saturday on Iran's nuclear activities, following its decision to resume nuclear enrichment last month.

Iran denies US claims that it seeks nuclear arms, saying its purposes are peaceful. However, referral to the UN Security Council could eventually lead to sanctions against Iran, BBC said.

Negotiators from France, Britain and Germany suspended talks with Tehran after it resumed uranium conversion, but have said the door remains open for a return to negotiations.

Ferrero-Waldner said this invitation to negotiate the issue should not be seen as a sign of weakness.

"The Iranians should not make the mistake of underestimating the strength of us in Europe," she told reporters.

"Nobody wants to go to the Security Council but it might become unavoidable if they don't cooperate," she said.

However, speaking after the first day of meetings, British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said the EU would deal with matters "one step at a time."

The EU will wait for Saturday's IAEA report before deciding whether to go to the Security Council, he said.

By resuming its nuclear work, Tehran turned down an offer of economic incentives by France, Britain and Germany. Iran's new chief nuclear negotiator, Ali Larijani, said last week that Tehran would come up with new proposals for talks with the EU within a month.

The EU foreign ministers are gathering for a two-day informal meeting on Thursday and Friday.

Source: Xinhua