Europe rejects Iranian request for nuclear talks

Europe and the United States on Wednesday dismissed the possibility of talks with Iran on its nuclear program, cranking up international pressure on Tehran to suspend uranium enrichment.

Until &to=http://english.pravda.ru/mailbox/22/101/399/16708_iran.html' target=_blank>Iran halts nuclear activity, "there's not much to talk about," U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said. Iran's president, meanwhile, accused the West of acting like the "lord of the world" in denying Tehran the peaceful use of the atom.

The quick rejection of Iran's request for a ministerial-level meeting with French, British and German negotiators focused attention on the next step: the U.S. and European push to refer Iran to the U.N. Security Council, which could impose economic and political sanctions.