Visiting European Union (EU) foreign policy chief Javier Solana said here Wednesday that Russia had proposed a delay in confronting Iran at the UN Security Council over its nuclear program.

Solana, the EU high representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy, said the Russian proposal was tabled Monday at a meeting in London between senior diplomats from Britain, France and Germany and their counterparts from China, Russia and the United States.

"The position of Russia is the following: Why don't we have an extraordinary meeting (at the United Nations), debate the situation then go back to Vienna, continue discussions there and wait for the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) board meetings in March," Solana told reporters following discussions with U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

Solana did not rule out the Russian idea, but indicated that it had little chance of winning support from the United States and the European Union.

"The timing is wrong," Solana said, "The actions of the Iranians require a rapid response."

Solana expressed the belief that a planned referral will have technical and legal consequences on Iran's nuclear issue, adding that no UN sanctions could be imposed on Iran without a referral first to the Security Council.

As for Russia's offer to enrich uranium for Iran on the Russian territory and then retrieve the spent fuel after it is used for civilian energy purposes, Solana said Moscow's proposal remains a live possibility.

"We think the Russians have an important role to play," Solana said, adding he would have further discussions with Russian officials over the Iranian nuclear crisis later Wednesday or Thursday.

Source: Xinhua