Iran says Security Council vote means end of talks

Iran struck back today at the Big Five powers' decision to refer the country's nuclear file to the Security Council, saying it would be the end of diplomacy.

At a London meeting that lasted into the early hours of today, envoys of Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States decided they would recommend that the International Atomic Energy Agency, when it meets on Thursday, should report Iran to the UN Security Council. They also decided the Security Council should wait until March to take up Iran's nuclear file after a formal report on Tehran's activities from the atomic agency.

"Reporting Iran's dossier to the UN Security Council will be unconstructive and the end of diplomacy," said top nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani, according to state television.

Iranian Foreign Ministry officials could not be reached for further comment today.