Annan doubts decision on Iran possible in early Feb

Reuters: U.N. chief Kofi Annan said on Wednesday he doubted that a U.N. nuclear watchdog would be able to come to a decision by early February on referring Iran to the Security Council over its nuclear programme. DAVOS, Switzerland, Jan 25 (Reuters) – U.N. chief Kofi Annan said on Wednesday he doubted that a U.N. nuclear watchdog would be able to come to a decision by early February on referring Iran to the Security Council over its nuclear programme.

Annan told Reuters that Mohamed ElBaradei, the director-general of the Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency, did not expect to have a report on Iran ready until the end of February, for the IAEA’s regular board meeting in March.

“I am not sure that they will be ready to refer (Iran) to the Security Council if the official report of the board has not been released and deliberated upon by the board and a decision taken,” Annan said on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum.