EU-U.S. drive to refer Iran's nuclear program to the U.N. Security council faces troubles

A U.S.-European drive to refer Iran to the U.N. Security Council is encountering fierce opposition and could be postponed despite deep international concerns about Tehran's nuclear agenda, diplomats and government officials said Thursday.

The diplomats and officials some in Vienna, others elsewhere in Europe told The Associated Press that the idea of giving Iran a deadline of several weeks to comply with international demands on its nuclear activities is gaining favor.

"It would not be a change in policy but a change in timing," said one official about the possibility of delaying but not withdrawing the U.N. Security Council threat in the face of strong opposition from more than a dozen nations on the board of the International Atomic Energy Agency to a demand for referral at next week's board meeting.

The officials and diplomats demanded anonymity because of the delicacy of the negotiations on what tack to take on Iran.