United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan is calling on the United States to hold direct talks with Iran over its nuclear program. In an televion interview televised in the U.S. Thursday, Annan says Washington should join negotiations taking place between Tehran and the European trio of Britain, Germany and France. Annan says the Iranians probably believe the Europeans are consulting with Washington anyway. He says if all the key players engaged in dialogue, it may result in a satisfactory agreement.
The U.N. Security Council has begun debate over a draft resolution that invokes a section of the U.N. charter which can be used to authorize sanctions against Iran, as well as military force as a last resort.