UNITED NATIONS, May 10 (UPI) -- U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan hopes Security Council attention to Iran's nuclear program will lead to a diplomatic resolution.
He advised Tehran Wednesday to pursue dialogue on the issue.
"I think it is important that the Iranians remain open and that they back away from this aggressive posture, and be open to discussions," Annan told reporters after meeting with members of the panel of 15.
The council has been considering since May 3 its response to the latest report of the International Atomic Energy Agency, which says Tehran has defied the council's call to suspend uranium enrichment and allow inspections of its program.
"No one is saying that they are not entitled to peaceful use of nuclear energy, but they have a responsibility to communicate and to show that their intention is peaceful," he added.
"The council has a greater voice when it speaks with one voice, and I hope we can find a solution," said the secretary-general. "What is important here is that everybody seems to realize that we need to intensify diplomatic efforts and find a solution, and I hope in the meantime we will reduce the level of the rhetoric."
Possible actions being considered by the council include a draft resolution, backed by Britain, France and the United States, that would demand compliance from Iran under the U.N. Charter's Chapter VII, making it a legally binding decision that could be followed up by enforcement measures such as sanctions in the case of further defiance.
Earlier this year, the IAEA referred the matter to the council after Director General Mohamed ElBaradei had repeatedly reported it was unable to conclude there were no undeclared nuclear materials or activities in Iran.
