Brussels, 18/01/2006 (Agence Europe) - According to a European diplomat with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) cited by AFP on Wednesday, the Iranian nuclear dossier will, in one way or another, be taken before the UN Security Council during the exceptional meeting of IAEA governors that is most likely to be held, at the request of Europeans, on 2 and 3 February in Vienna. In substance, however, he added that such a transfer would not change the situation, alluding to Russian and Chinese reticence to impose sanctions. At the Governing Board, which takes decisions by simple majority, Europeans and Americans are for now sure of having the undeniable support of over fifteen of the 35 Council member nations: 9 EU Member States, Norway, United States, Canada, Australia, Argentina, Ecuador, Japan, and South Korea. According to the diplomat cited, taking the abstention of China and Russia into account, 21 countries may support referral to the Security Council. Europeans, however, hope to obtain the broadest consensus possible, and European diplomacy will therefore step up its contacts during the next two weeks with the non-aligned countries of the governing council in order to explain the EU-3 approach and rally them to their initiative. Those mainly targeted are countries such as South Africa, Brazil, India and Indonesia. Community sources explain that the EU-3 has chosen to develop a gradual approach so that the Security Council strengthens the authority of the IAEA and of its resolutions. This approach will not lead straight into sanctions, an official of the Foreign Office explains in The Times on Wednesday, before going on to add that “we see a gradual build-up of moves that will take place over time. We are not going to the [UN Security Council in] New York to introduce punitive sanctions against Iran. That is not our approach”. According to a diplomat in Vienna cited by Reuters, a draft resolution to be submitted early February to the Governing Council and which invites the IAEA to forward the Iranian nuclear dossier to the Security Council is already doing the rounds at the Agency. Furthermore, London and then Paris rejected a proposal from Teheran to resume discussions with the EU-3. The Iranian dossier is on the agenda of the visit to Moscow by French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy on Wednesday and Thursday.