China is backing Iran’s relentless drive toward nuclear weapons: Iran wins key backing from China in nuclear stand-off.

“There is no reason to send the issue to the Security Council,” Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing said in a press conference with his Iranian counterpart, Kamal Kharazi.

“It would only make the issue more complicated and difficult to work out,” Li said, contradicting Washington by saying “the Iranian government is having a very positive attitude in its cooperation” with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Li refused to speculate on whether China would use its veto in the Security Council in the event of Iran’s case being sent there. He did say he had told US Secretary of State Colin Powell and British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw “that China supports a solution in framework of the IAEA”.

Russia, for all Vladimir Putin’s strong words against terrorism, is more interested in the money they can make than the threat of mullahs with A-bombs:

Russia, another permanent and veto-wielding Security Council member, has also voiced its strong opposition to Iran’s case being referred there by the IAEA. The country is helping Iran build its first nuclear power plant in a deal worth some 800 million dollars.

And the European Union continues spinning their wheels in the sand, trying to get Iran to accept the same deal that was part of John Kerry’s foreign policy, while Iran jerks Europe’s chain and laughs:

Europe’s three powers are offering Iran nuclear technology, including access to nuclear fuel, increased trade and help with Tehran’s regional security concerns if the Islamic Republic halts enrichment.

Official sources here said talks with Britain, France and Germany were set to continue in Paris on Saturday, amid reports of a deadlock between the EU’s so-called “big three” and Iranian officials.

The negotiations, which began Friday, were said to have stalled over the duration of a suspension as well as the timing or scope of incentives that the EU could offer Iran.

“Negotiations are going on between the representatives of Iran and the three European countries in Paris. They are complicated and very difficult. Both sides are intending to continue the negotiations and we have to wait and see what the outcome will be,” Iran’s foreign minister said.

“I think it would be to the benefit of both sides to reach a consensus,” Kharazi added. “Iran is determined to use nuclear technology for peaceful purposes. This is Iran’s legitimate right and nobody can deprive us of this right.”